In some interesting booking news, AEW apparently has plans to push Konosuke Takeshita. No time window was announced but these months could be big for him. Currently, he is working with Don Callis which should prove to be a good pairing as he has already gotten reactions for his turn. The end goal is for 28-year-old Takeshita is to be a big babyface down the line.
AEW Has Plans to Make Konosuke Takeshita One of the Company’s Biggest Stars
Apparently, this will be a slow-burn project. In wrestling there was a saying about how every great babyface was a heel first. This is because a heel would know now to get the fans behind the babyface while also being someone who is just a nefarious rule-breaker.
Wrestling Observer Radio mentions that AEW owner Tony Khan believes that Takeshita could hit that mark and become that big babyface but the path starts with Callis. The good thing about this bit of creative having a longer-term approach is that viewers will have time to see Takeshita develop.
This isn’t some starter pack boost or something. The build-up could achieve so much as the show pace is different and we can see him become a layered persona. This would add more and might even prevent him from being typecasted into martial artist or athletic foreign star.
The choices have always been minimal when it comes to gimmicks for Japanese talents in wrestling in the West. There’s some variation of three particular gimmicks but at it’s core, the guy was given a hard gimmick to escape. Takeshita could actually avoid that since there’s investment from the company in his success.
Not that AEW would just give Takeshita the gimmick but the roster is at a size where organizing can be difficult. What works about this is that Takeshita can remain involved in-ring and backstage. The key with every push is to remain visible—to never fall out with modern fans.
It’s a balancing act with some work thrown but many superstars in the company believe Takeshita has the tools but needs the patience. Some luck that nothing happens and the plans change right when they should remain the same.
Let us know what you think! Is this a failed project or is it a smart approach from the start or is Khan playing it was wise and building up Takeshita in AEW
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