AEW has made several production changes over the past year, but one recent update is leaving wrestlers feeling the brunt of it—literally. With AEW’s new HBO Max TV deal officially in effect, the company has brought back LED barricades and ring aprons, ramping up the visual presentation on television. However, that upgrade comes at a painful cost.
The return of LED boards was on full display during Forbidden Door, where wrestlers clearly adjusted how they took bumps into the barricades. It’s not just for show—those LED surfaces are significantly harder and protrude more than the standard setups AEW had been using. Fightful Select reports several wrestlers have gotten banged up from collisions with the new aprons and barricades, prompting concern among talent.
For a time, AEW had rolled back to simpler, more traditional barricades and canvas aprons, prioritizing safety and crowd interaction. That old-school approach was more forgiving on the body and generally preferred by those in the ring. Wrestlers reportedly told Fightful that they favored the standard setup because it was less physically taxing and safer to work around.
Still, there’s an understanding backstage that modern production expectations—especially with a premium streaming partner like HBO Max—demand a more polished, high-tech look. The visual upgrade helps give AEW a major league feel, even if it’s rougher on the performers.
This situation highlights the ongoing balancing act between showmanship and safety in pro wrestling. While AEW aims to enhance its TV product, the decision to reintroduce LED boards is already having a real-world impact on its talent—one stiff barricade bump at a time.
Do you think AEW made the right call bringing back LED boards for TV presentation? Or should wrestler safety come first? Drop your thoughts below—we want to hear from you.
September 7, 2025 7:32 pm
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