Let me tell you why the Death Riders aren’t working in AEW, and it’s not for the reasons you might expect. Before we begin, let’s get something straight.
This is not an nWo ripoff. First of all, the nWo were cool as hell from the start. They were anti-establishment, they wanted to take over the company, and they became so much of an identity that WCW basically turned into WCW/nWo for a while. The Death Riders have never, and will never, change the game on that level, so comparing them to the nWo isn’t an insult. If anything, it’s a huge compliment, and not one they deserve. So if you’re making that comparison, stop it.
Jon Moxley hiding the AEW World Championship inside a briefcase is supposed to make us hate him for concealing it. The problem? Nobody cares. We all know what the belt looks like. We don’t need Moxley holding it up in the air to recognize him as the champion. He can do whatever he wants with it, but locking it away isn’t making fans desperate to see it. His reasoning is that neither the fans nor the roster deserve to look at it. But if we really wanted to, we’d just go to Google, type in “AEW World Championship,” and there it is. Moxley and Tony Khan are seriously overestimating how much heat this is generating.
The group is getting some heat, but that doesn’t mean people care. It’s just annoying to see them beat people up all the time. Maybe that’s why some compare them to the nWo, because they did the same thing with more members. The difference is that the Death Riders aren’t vicious enough.
Wrestling is in a weird place right now where real brutality is rare, and when it does happen, it stands out. Moxley is supposed to be a hardcore veteran, so why isn’t he using his experience to torture his rivals in creative ways? Instead, he lets the others hit a few moves, lays someone out, and then they all run away when the cavalry shows up. And the suffocation gimmick? Come on. We know he’s not actually going to kill anyone, so it just looks silly.
I actually like what they’ve done with Marina Shafir. She looks cool, and having her in the group improves their presentation, but that’s all she does. She just stands there and looks cool. That’s a shame because she was struggling in the women’s division before this. She could be using this run to cement herself as a badass fighter, but instead, she’s just Moxley’s sidekick. Give her a match or two. Put her against some of the guys if you don’t want her running through the women’s roster.
AEW keeps pushing Wheeler Yuta, and I respect him as a wrestler, but he’s still not over as a character. There’s potential, but since ditching Bryan Danielson for the Death Riders, he hasn’t done anything to stand out. Right now, Claudio Castagnoli and Pac are carrying this group. Claudio has finally found his voice, and Pac is just trying to stay healthy.
If I had to sum up why this group isn’t working, it’s because there’s nothing original about it. When it started, we had the entire roster fighting back against the Death Riders, waiting for them in the parking lot like they were some unstoppable force. What happened to all that? What happened to the supposed “higher power” they hinted at? Moxley keeps saying they’re taking over AEW, but all they do is beat people up the same way every week. At this point, it’s not even heat, it’s just there. Nobody cares.
Adam Copeland getting involved has helped because he actually knows how to cut a promo that gets people to listen. He knows what buttons to press and when to press them, while Moxley still struggles to make anyone interested in what he’s saying. I took this discussion to Facebook, and the responses only reinforced this point. Here is what some fans had to say:
- A stable is meant to create stars, and the Death Riders are not doing that.
- It is not exciting and seems directionless since Bryan Danielson retired.
- Many do not believe Wheeler Yuta belongs in the group, as he is not a big enough star.
- They are very critical of Jon Moxley, saying he is limited, stale, has played the same character for years, and is sorely overrated, but is the only one who can cut a half-decent promo in the group.
- Young Bucks and Kazuchika Okada were mentioned as failing to take over AEW not long before the Death Riders claimed to be, making it feel like a copycat move.
- They do not like the group’s name, finding it weak and unoriginal.
- All they do is beat wrestlers, and there is no next chapter in a story to look forward to.
- They still have not explained what their goal is, as Moxley continues to speak in unanswered riddles.
AEW wanted the Death Riders to be the dominant force in the company, but right now, they aren’t delivering. It’s not about how many people they attack. It’s about making those moments count. If they want to keep this group relevant, they need to figure out what makes them stand apart from everything else on the show. Right now, they are just another faction that beats people up, talks in circles, and fails to make anyone believe they are taking over AEW.
There is still time for them to turn things around, but if something doesn’t change, they are going to fall short of what AEW needs them to be. They need to be ruthless, unpredictable, and dangerous. If they don’t evolve, they will keep losing steam until nobody cares at all.
Also Read: AEW Aware Of Fan Criticism With Storyline
What do you think? Are the Death Riders working for you, or do you feel the same way? Let us know your thoughts in the comments. Thanks for reading!
