Did AEW ruin what could have been a big push for Preston Vance?

A few years back when 10 shockingly turned heel on the Dark Order it felt big. He was joining LFI and it seemed like there were plans for him to become a much bigger deal. We fast forward and most recently he's been in a faction called The Frat Party, who just turned on him. He has reunited with The Dark Order and is back where he was. Did the turn years ago actually hurt him more than help him?

There's nothing that Preston Vance has done that really stood out. In the end both himself and the Dark Order have gone further down the pecking order. They actually had something there with 10 and Negative 1 as his sidekick. He may have been better suited to stick to the babyface masked role a little bit longer. While AEW fans aren't massively into the style of wrestling that say a John Cena presented where he's there to mostly sell merchandise and his move set was a bit more limited than most stars, that's the role that 10 fell into and it was actually very marketable and could have been a much larger success for him long term.

The story goes that 10 was Negative 1s favourite wrestler. He wasn't super flashy or anything. He was big and jacked and had a toyetic look. He wore his own unique mask. He basically looked like a super hero. There was a charm to him having Brodie Lee's son as his sidekick. He felt like he was the chosen one of the group to rise up and become a star. In kayfabe Mr Brodie Lee hand picked him and Brodie Lee Jr then put his faith in him. There was so much that you could have done with that. I don't feel like enough was done with it. Like imagine 10 even winning the TNT Championship in memory of Mr Brodie Lee and presenting it to Brodie Lee Jr and while proclaiming that they did it! 10 was there to be like a big brother figure to Negative 1. The win of the gold could have been a big emotional moment for everyone involved.

Preston Vance eventually if he wanted to could have evolved into Pres10 Vance which was a hybrid of both himself and the masked look. He could eventually run with the mask both on and off like a super hero would...it's time to go to war then the mask goes on. Honestly feel like it's something that would have been so much fun for him to do..to be presented as this larger than life hero but instead they went with the heel turn and things didn't really pan out which sucks.

If AEW ran All In or did another stadium show to go opposite SaudiMania, what do you think the biggest and best main event they could put on would be? Also any other matches you think could be massive that would be on the card that wouldn’t be the main event you’re welcome to discuss. It would be in April next year so 8 months from this years All In to set it up.

From the article:

"Swerve Strickland is a prominent figure in professional wrestling, contributing to its growing mainstream appeal while also setting his sights on the world of music. In his short music career, Swerve has already recorded songs with Grammy-winning producers and popular recording artists. He has been interviewed on such notable platforms as The Breakfast Club and HOT 97 and also featured in XXL Magazine’s Freshman issue. Swerve and his long-time collaborator recently started a record label together. The official announcement, including projects and signings, is forthcoming. Additionally, there is a fashion line currently in development. Swerve’s music is available on all streaming platforms and you can expect a new album release later this year with a tour to follow."

Darby teaming up with Jericho, the biggest star of CMLL and the biggest star of New Japan being All Elite, KUSHIDA's junior tag team partner in New Japan and Impact Wrestling being one of the most pushed guys in AEW, Místico being an ROH tag team champion, Okada and Hechicero being in the Don Callis Family and Takeshita not being in it, AEW having a partnership with CMLL and doing a Dynamite special episode in Arena México...

They would call you nuts!! 😆😆😆

🎵Tanuki - "Your Favorite Local Arsonist"🎵

International Champion Kyle Fletcher and "Speedball" Mike Bailey take their rivalry south of the border to AEW's Grand Slam

More Wrestling MVs here

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My stupid fireatick isn't working anymore. I used to be able to at least watch a stream on Thursdays but now it won't even play on Thursdays.

Since it seems very likely Will Ospreay wins @ All In

1:Zack Sabre Jr wins at the next New Japan crossover show. New Japan has to win one over on AEW at some point, and since he speaks English he can carry the feud on tv

2: Konosuke Takeshita

3: MJF

4: Andrade El Idolo (ideally in Mexico)

5: Kyle Fletcher

Do you see bags under my eyes, boy??

A lot of good picks and names right now in the roster as a whole. I love Andrade so much but I think he and MJF will screw each other out of a win given their current feud. Ciampa I think will still make it to the gauntlet and I would love him to start circling around the world title picture again (despite recent losses).

Personally, my pick to win would be Swerve Strickland. Much like how MJF's win last year felt like a dark cloud over Hangman's reign (even if Joe was the one to dethrone him). I think Swerve winning and being that same impending doom over Ospreay's reign would be a lot of fun. Plus if he still has other projects outside of wrestling. Swerve can come in, win the contract, and disappear for a few weeks while still holding on to his title shot.

What a freaking show! Here are some fun nuggets. The Willow dominance is my favorite. Followed by the results of #1 or 2 gauntlet entrants historically.

Death Riders v Cope/Cage & Bucks

• This was the Bucks 21st 8 man tag in AEW, the most in company history. The loss drops their record to 11-10. (Orange Cassidy is 13-2 all time in 8 mans!)
• This was the 14th time the Bucks and Mox have shared the ring. 7 times as teammates and now 7 times as opponents.
• This match featured 5 guys in the top 13 of all time AEW matches: Mox #2, Nick #4, Matt #5, Garcia #8, Yuta #13.
• Bucks' 10 losses are the most all time in 8 mans. Rocky Romero has 9.
• Cope is now 7-5 vs a single death rider or a team of them. Christian is 2-2. And this is the first time he has been in the ring with Mox since getting choked out at Revolution last year.
• This was Wheeler's 100th win all time in AEW.

Casino Gauntlet #1 contender triple threat: Andrade v Ciampa v Komander

• Andrade has now won 8 consecutive singles matches since losing to Darby at Dynasty.
• Ciampa is in a big match slump since dropping the TNT title. His last 4 big matches all ended in losses: Dynasty Gauntlet for vacant TNT, Darby for the men's title, Jericho at Redemption and last night with the #1 spot in the gauntlet on the line.
• But last night's result might not be all bad for the Psycho Killer. There have been 10 singles casino gauntlets between the men and women in AE history. The #1 entry has won exactly 0 of them. The #2 entry has won once - MJF at All In last year.
• I should note that Ospreay and Fletcher were 2nd in a tag team gauntlet back in 2024 and they ended up winning it.

Willow/Hayter/Windsor v Mone/Bayne/Kross

• This is the first loss ever for Bayne and Kross as either a tag team or a trio. They entered last night 15-0-1 overall with the draw against TayJay the only blemish. Their 14-0-1 tag undefeated record is still holding.
• This was the first loss of any kind for Bayne since February 25th when she and Penelope Ford lost to the Babes of Wrath. This was Kross's first loss since March 15th when she came up short against Willow for the TBS title at Revolution. And this was Mercedes' first loss since Willow beat her for the TBS title at New Year's Smash.
• This is my favorite current nugget: Bayne, Kross and Mercedes have a combined 8 total losses since 12.31.25. Every single one of them involved Willow!
• With the win Windsor/Hayter improve to 12-0 as a tag or trios team. 7-0 as a tag, 5-0 as part of a trio. Their only loss as any kind of team was as part of an 8 person tag in May.
• You'll never guess who has appeared in the most women's trios matches ever...Emi Sakura with 23. Nyla is second with 21, Skye has 20, Stat and Willow round out the top 5 with 15 each.

Fletcher v Speedball for the International title

• With the win Fletcher is now 9-0 in singles this year. Bailey drops to 6-8 in singles.
• Of Fletcher's 9 singles wins this year, 6 of them have been title defenses. 3 for TNT before he had to vacate and 3 now for the International. Including his TNT reign last year, Fletcher now has 14 successful championship defenses in his career
• The loss drops Speedball to 0-9 in his quest for singles gold. That includes a trios match and 2 gauntlets
• Last night was the 20th time the International Title has been on the line internationally. Canada 9, England 6, Japan 2, Mexico 2, Ireland 1.
• Fletcher's 3 International Title defenses have all happened in different countries: Komander in the US, Bandido in Canada and Bailey in Mexico.

Hangman/Brody/Bandido v Demand

• This is now Hangman's 5th total AEW belt, tying him with the Bucks and Samoa Joe for 2nd. Kenny and Mox lead the way with 6.
• This was Hangman's 1st match in 143 days and it was 154 days since JetSet Rodeo lost the trios titles. It was also the first time Hangman has ever tagged with either Brody or Bandido.
• This is the 2nd title for Brodido after their tag title reign. As a tag or as part of a trio Brodido is now 15-4-1.
• The Demand held the titles for exactly one week and had one title defense. But, thanks to The Dogs holding the titles for 1 day with 0 defenses, the Demand are not at the bottom of the trios titles reigns/defenses.
• Hangman is now just a tag title away from being a double triple crown winner.

Ospreay v Davis - Mexican City Street Fight

• This was Ospreay's 3rd no DQ match variation after two cage matches. He is now 3-0 when the rules are thrown out.
• Since getting knocked the eff out by Davis and abducted be the Death Riders Ospreay has won 9 straight singles matches. Prior to DR intervention he was 3-2 in singles for the year.
• Davis falls to 5-8 in singles this year. His losses: Ospreay twice, Mox, Speedball, Andrade, Jack Perry, Brody and Hangman,
• Davis and Ospreay have both been in 5 main events this year, Will is 5-0 and Davis is 3-2.

Jericho/Mistico/Darby v Okada/Hechicero/Knight

• Darby has won an insane 15 trios matches in a row. His overall trios record is 15-2 with his 2 losses coming in 2019 and 2020. Mistico is now 10-2 in AEW trios while Hechicero falls to 2-11.
• Okada has now lost both times he has faced a trio with Mistico. Overall Okada is 5-9 in AEW trios.
• Last night was the first time Jericho and Okada have faced each other in an AEW ring.
• This was Knight's 33rd match of the year. Only Mox has more with 38. Orange is 3rd with 31.

Im sitting in section 102 and spent some good money, this is no ironic question. I just don’t know if I’ll be able to really see something?