Quick Links
When the hints began forming of an alliance between Saraya and a few others on AEW’s roster, there was some excitement amongst fans at the prospect of an AEW Originals vs. Ex-WWE Wrestlers storyline, especially at a time in which the women’s division is in need of something truly special to elevate to the next level. For the longest time, the AEW women’s division has been at the center of a lot of criticism from fans with it not being treated on the same level as other divisions, and it is still often put in the worst spot on the card, right before the main event - not to mention the lackluster storylines too. The Outcasts faction was a chance at something different and new, but they have unfortunately been a failure so far.
The Outcasts Should Have Caused A Major Shift In AEW
The idea of the Outcasts faction, which now includes Saraya, Toni Storm, and Ruby Soho, looked to be AEW’s own version of The Outsiders. The likes of Saraya have run down the AEW originals, in what looked to create a sort of civil war in the division. If handled correctly, it could have well been a red-hot storyline which featured a lot of chaos, animosity, and major matches - perhaps even a Blood & Guts match down the line between the major stars in the feud. That should have been the goal, but instead it feels as though Tony Khan is making the story up by the week.
Of course, there may be a long-term plan, but getting there has been a drag. The tug of war between the babyface and heels sides of Ruby Soho for instance could have created some stellar storytelling, much like the conflict in Daniel Garcia last year, but instead it was weeks of repetitive angles in which Soho was put in the middle and didn’t turn to the heel side. The flaw here was that there was no real development in her character, and instead she simply just turned on a whim after losing a title challenge. It is clear that attention to detail hasn’t been put towards this story.
The Outcasts Have Been Repetitive In AEW
A big issue which has cropped up in recent weeks is the lack of storyline progression. For what feels like an eternity, AEW Dynamite and Rampage has seen a member/s of the Outcasts win or lose a match, then proceed to beat up their opponent after the bell. They either stand tall or are chased out by some collection of babyfaces from the back. This happened for weeks on end without any development, and it has got to the point where it is boring to watch.
There is no creativity put into this storyline, no big backstage brawls, using the parking lot, big spots, or anything else to make it stand out from other stories on the roster that have more intrigue and are more entertaining. Of course, AEW could turn around and say everything has been done before, but it is their job to think up something new. Due to the repetitive cycle of events, those in the Outcasts have been getting less heat and there is less interest in what they are doing.
The Outcasts Have Been A Failure In AEW So Far
There are several factors into why the group has failed, even some of the minor details. For instance, the use of spray paint has not gotten over. They don't have any added heat for putting an “L” for “loser” on an opponent - something that feels hugely school-like in terms of an insult, and something right out of the “Divas” era playbook in WWE. Additionally, it seems as though seeds are starting to get planted for an eventual break-up. During an interview on Dynamite, the three members showed signs of disagreement over who would go on to try and win the AEW Women’s World Championship. Breaking them already would no doubt be a major mistake, and it would be a sign of AEW just giving up on a project instead of trying to fix it.
In a way, parallels can be drawn to WWE and their handling of Damage CTRL. Despite having three very talented individuals who could really cause a stir, they haven’t been treated like a main event act. Things have been slow, repetitive, and there haven’t been enough star-making wins for the group. Perhaps with an AEW Women’s Title win for one of the members would help, but more still needs to be done to make this storyline mean more, and there needs to be more focus on the whole “outsiders vs. originals” theme too to get fans further on the side of the babyfaces. Until now though, this has been a failed experiment.
ncG1vNJzZmivp6x7tbTErKeoqqSowaa%2BjZympmeRmsRuu9StmpqrpKh6p63CraCopl2WubOxwJ2wZp6Rnrm2vsRo