Ever since it’s inception, AEW has found few ways to hook Greg DeMarco. Turns out the thing that could hook Greg–was Hook himself.

I’ve been ever critical of AEW from the start. In all too many cases, it’s wrestling for wrestling sake, with storytelling that doesn’t–for lack of a better word–hook me. And when you have the level of talent that AEW has, you can skirt by. But there’s a reason AEW Dynamite has seen ratings drop 26% from September to now, and it’s that we have a roster that is too deep, reminding me of a very important lesson: when your roster is deep, your storytelling isn’t. Far too many members of the roster are wrestling on Dark and Elevation, which is the AEW equivalent of sitting in  WWE catering waiting for your next opportunity.

The company does employ a few reasons for me to stop in and see what’s going on. First and foremost is a recent acquisition in Adam Cole (BAY BAY) who, thanks to the absence of Kenny Omega, is getting a chance to shine. Toss in his recent pairings with Bobby Fish and the ever-so-likely arrival of Kyle O’Reilly, and you have my attention. They also have the Greatest Tag Team Walking God’s Green Earth in FTR. They’re one Deonna Purrazzo away from the non-WWE trifecta, but alas.

But here’s the thing about my “trifecta” just listed: they’re all former WWE talents. Cole and FTR are more WWE-notable, but even Purrazzo was in the company prior to hitting Impact Wrestling and ascending to the top of all of women’s wrestling. AEW has yet to create a star from the ground-up. You can claim they did so with “Hangman” Adam Page, but the same fans who claim Adam Page is a homegrown star for AEW wouldn’t point to Seth Rollins and Daniel Bryan Danielson as stars WWE has grown. You can’t have it both ways, friends.

The point of all this is simple: AEW has yet to truly give me a new and unique reason to watch. Something I feel I simply can’t miss.

Until now.

That’s right, after much talk and speculation, AEW finally decided to “Send Hook,” and the rest is already history.

And I, Greg DeMarco, am for one…Hook’ed.

Hook is a former Division I Lacrosse player, and as Taz explained on commentary was a Top 100 player in the nation. He’s obviously got the pedigree, and his training can’t be questioned. But let’s be serious here…those things can be paid for. Anyone can get what I’ve listed here.

Hook has what you can’t teach: Hook has “IT.”

It Factor

It Factor can sound like such a cop-out. “I can’t explain it, she just has “it.”” “He has that “It-factor” that you just can’t teach!” It sounds like a buzz word you toss out when you can’t explain why you like someone, a fake argument to try to prove your point right. But time and time again, “it” turns out to be the difference between good, great, and legendary.

Let’s take the obvious example, Hook’s father Taz. Taz was undersized as an athlete. He learned the technical side and could throw a mean suplex. Taz could talk. But what’s the most iconic image of Taz? Is it him throwing suplexes?

No, it’s this:

You can’t teach that. You can’t teach a guy how to stand in a corner with his arms folded and be intimidating against an opponent a foot taller and a hundred pounds heavier then he is. But that’s exactly what Taz did. Why? He had “IT.”

Well apparently “IT” is hereditary–at least in this case–because Hook has “IT.”

New, Fresh, and Different.

Everything about Hook is different. His entire presentation screams two things: legit and unique. His entrance is different. It’s not just about the mainstream song, but his entrance video is just his name. The lighting package is simple. He has this no frills approach that makes him different, especially in a company where you have Cody Rhodes, The Young Bucks, and Kenny Omega selling all the frills. In fact, I was shocked that Hook’s trunks were green and not black. His dad, Taz, was known for orange being a huge part of his brand, so Hook might be going for that with the green.

Taz himself was the “Human Suplex Machine,” Hook seems to be a human throw machine. Taz stared a hole right through his opponent before their match–Hook turns his back to his opponent. Again, it’s all unique and different.

Some of it is my personal bias, as I love when wrestling is presented in a very “UFC-like” style. Hook’s presentation is all of that. Maybe that’s why I am “Hook’ed.”

I can’t explain it just yet, likely because it’s just “IT.” But there’s a list of everything that needs to be different in wrestling–regardless of company–and Hook has all that.

All that, and a bag of chips.