AEW President Tony Khan books all episodes of AEW programming in the way he wants to and that has not always panned out the way fans had hoped. That is likely why even Matt Hardy has criticized Tony Khan for catering to the hardcore online fan base.
AEW Full Gear will be taking place on November 23rd and one of the matches featured on the Zero Hour pre-show will see social media star Costco Guy AJ square off against QT Marshall in singles competition and this decision has led to a lot of backlash from the AEW audience.
While speaking on the Extreme Life of Matt Hardy podcast, Matt Hardy shared his opinion on Tony Khans approach to AEWs audience, stating that he focuses too much on hardcore online fans and criticizing him for the same. Hardy explained that while some fans, called sickos, prefer fast, high-energy matches, not enjoying slower matches doesnt mean a wrestler has go-away heat. He said heels who know how to create real heat are very important for pro wrestling, and AEW needs more of that.
Hardy also talked about the criticism of acts like the Costco Guys, stating some fans called them bad or boring. Hardy thinks Tony Khan has focused so much on pleasing hardcore fans that casual viewers might enjoy some acts, but those hardcore fans could reject them just because they appeal to a wider audience.
This puts Khan in a tough spot because hes catering heavily to the die-hard fans he calls sickos. Hardy warned that relying too much on those fans could hurt AEWs ability to attract more casual viewers. He suggested that Khan should find a balance between making the hardcore fans happy and bringing in new, casual audiences.
On the other hand, Tony Khan recently bragged about AEW licensing music the right way. Many fans will likely agree with what Matt Hardy had to say about Tony Khan catering to the AEW hardcore fan base online rather than casuals, as the companys current state makes it clear they need a new direction.
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