The grind of the post-Dynasty slump

Coming off the back of AEW Dynasty, the promotion feels like it is stuck in neutral. We just watched Will Ospreay defeat Hechicero on television, a match that served only to remind us how talented Ospreay remains even after a brutal loss to Jon Moxley. However, putting a guy like Hechicero in a spot where he takes the pin feels like a waste of his CMLL Heavyweight Championship credentials.

Booking these high-level workers in exhibition-style matches without a clear narrative direction is a recipe for diminishing returns. Tommaso Ciampa beating Dezmond Xavier on the April 15 episode highlights the same issue. Ciampa is clearly meant to be a heater after missing out on the TNT Championship, but squashing one-third of The Rascalz feels like mid-card filler that keeps the viewer from investing in a genuine feud.

The structural cracks in the booking

The transition from the MJF era is proving to be a jarring gear shift. Watching the Spring Breakthru segments, the lack of a dominant, singular focus makes the product feel fragmented. We are seeing a lot of action, but very little payoff.

Contrast this with the WWE approach leading into WrestleMania 41. Even minor segments in Stamford feel like they have stakes. In AEW, we get Steven Borden appearing in dark matches, which is cool for the nostalgia heads in Everett, but it does nothing to advance the actual program. The audience needs a villain to hate and a hero to trail, not just a series of high-work-rate contests that end with a 1-2-3.

The path to Double or Nothing

We are only 38 days away from Double or Nothing. If the current creative strategy continues—prioritizing technical proficiency over long-term storytelling—the buy rate will suffer.

  • Ospreay needs a program that goes beyond winning matches to prove he is still motivated.
  • The TNT title picture requires a singular face to ground the chaos of the Casino Gauntlet leftovers.
  • Management must stop treating CMLL imports as glorified jobbers if they want their partnerships to matter in the rankings.

My prediction? Tony Khan will be forced to pivot hard after the next pay-per-view. Expect a shock title change or a prominent roster heel turn to regain the momentum lost in the last three weeks. The current 5-star match culture is not enough to carry the company through the summer months, especially with the World Cup looming in June to siphon off eyeballs.