In this episode, I break down the AEW ring controversy from GrandSlam Australia, where AEW’s international event featured a ring that looked completely off. From its smaller size to its questionable construction, I take a deep dive into how wrestling rings are built and why this situation exposed more issues within AEW and the wrestling industry at large.
The Backstory:
This all started when a member of our wrestling community, AEWFUL Wrestling, posted a picture of the AEW GrandSlam Australia ring. Someone had told him—and he reported—that one of Kyle Fletcher's wrestling buddies loaned AEW their ring for the event. This went viral, and almost everyone had something to say. Wrestlers jumped into gaslight the post, while others engaged in damage control. These two groups likely didn’t even have a personal grudge against the user—it’s just how it played out on the timeline.
Instead of focusing on the real issue—the ring’s safety and stability—the conversation was derailed by personal biases and industry politics and gaslighting fans who clearly saw something wrong and off with their two eyes.
AEW’s Ring Rental:
QT Marshall stated that the ring came from PWA and was rented 3 months in advance for AEW GrandSlam Australia. This raised more questions than answers. The dirt sheets went quiet after initially reporting that AEW never planned to ship their standard ring overseas. While it is true that shipping and customs costs from the USA to Australia would be expensive, AEW, as Dave Meltzer often states, is supposedly a highly profitable company.
AEW is an LLC, meaning its financials are not publicly disclosed. Despite Dave Meltzer constantly pushing the narrative that AEW is highly profitable, the only person who truly knows is Tony Khan himself.
If AEW is indeed as financially strong as Meltzer claims, and not just the TV deal money and the "million-dollar gates," then why cut corners on something as fundamental as the ring? The ring skirts didn’t fit properly, and the boards weren’t placed correctly, raising further questions about AEW’s planning and quality control. I question the legitimacy of the three-month advance rental claim. If AEW planned this well in advance, why did the ring skirts not fit properly? Why was the ring so unstable? Wrestlers were tripping and rolling ankles. Where was the quality control?
Buddy Matthews Calls It Out:
Buddy Matthews, a native Australian wrestler, unknowingly validated what fans were saying when he hurt his ankle doing his usual entrance—jumping from the outside into the ring. In a now-deleted tweet, Buddy admitted the ring was 16x16 and called it “shit” because it caused him to roll his ankle. The smaller ring also impacted match flow, as Okada had his foot under the rope during a pin attempt, leading to a non-count. Wrestlers and industry figures gaslighting fans who pointed this out only made things worse.
AEW’s Inconsistency & Logistics Failures:
AEW’s handling of GrandSlam Australia raises major questions about their consistency. Why was this event seemingly thrown together, while AEW All In at Wembley was given full attention and production value? On top of that, AEW didn’t even provide pyro for the wrestlers, further diminishing the production value of the event despite being an international spectacle. AEW should be providing the same level of professionalism and quality for all international markets.
On top of that, why did Tony Khan decide to show up for this event but skip Wrestle Kingdom week when NJPW is AEW’s main partner? There’s a lack of consistency in decision-making, and that needs to be addressed.
Hospitality for Australian Fans:
Australian fans deserved better hospitality from AEW. The venue change took away fan choice—if a venue change occurs, standard practice is to offer refunds so fans can decide if they can still attend. AEW didn’t do that, forcing fans into the new location with no option. While the Australian crowd had fun, AEW still messed up.
Wrestler Safety vs. Fan Expectations:
One of the biggest issues in modern wrestling fandom is the obsession with “just give us matches!” Fans have become so conditioned to prioritize match quantity over wrestler safety and match quality that they dismiss serious concerns. The AEW ring situation in Australia was a prime example of this. A properly assembled ring isn’t just a preference—it’s a necessity. A wrestler can get paid well, but if they suffer a freak accident because of an unsafe ring, what’s the point? Wrestler safety should never be a secondary concern.
Understanding Ring Rentals & AEW’s Mishaps:
Renting a ring isn’t uncommon in wrestling. Indie promotions do it all the time. However, AEW—a major company—shouldn’t be cutting corners on something as vital as the ring. The issue here wasn’t just that they rented a ring; it was that there was an apparent lack of communication between AEW and PWA to ensure the ring was properly adapted for AEW’s needs. Just because a wrestler can work in different rings doesn’t mean they’re trained for every variation. The fact that a top-tier promotion allowed this oversight is unacceptable.
Final Thoughts:
This situation isn’t just about one bad ring—it’s about a culture of dismissiveness in wrestling where valid criticisms are ignored. AEW needs to do better. The industry needs to stop gaslighting fans who have valid concerns. And above all, wrestler safety should always come first.
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