Modern pro wrestling today tends to prioritize lengthy matches that highlight athleticism and stamina over concise storytelling and shorter bouts. AEW’s Scorpio Sky has pointed out that much of wrestling criticism stems from this trend and referenced one of the shortest matches from WWE’s New Generation Era as an underrated example worth revisiting.
Sky expressed his enthusiasm for more brief matches during a discussion on the “Character Creation Podcast,” where a guest mentioned that the art of the “eight-minute match” seems lost. He recalled the quick, roughly three to four-minute bout between the 1-2-3 Kid and Owen Hart at the 1994 King of the Ring event—an encounter he considers a classic and urged others to watch.
He also noted that the sheer volume of wrestling content nowadays might be contributing to the heightened criticism, contrasting it with his childhood experience when watching wrestling required staying up late and missing a show meant missing out entirely. Sky feels that having wrestling available almost daily for hours can overwhelm viewers, potentially diluting its impact.
Fan Take: For AEW fans, Scorpio Sky’s nod to shorter matches is a compelling reminder that not every great wrestling moment needs to be a marathon. Embracing concise, impactful bouts could revitalize how stories are told in the ring and help preserve the sport’s entertainment value amidst today’s content overload.
