10 Common WWE Things You Won't See In AEW
With the Wednesday night wars about to begin, what can we expect to differentiate AEW?
“Make sure to pick a side AEW or WWE and be unreasonably mean on the internet to anyone who’s not on your side it will make you feel good.”
Words the philosopher (read: wrestler) Trent Beretta once said. After all, it is now officially time to get ready for the Wednesday night wars.
But in order for us all to hate each other correctly, we need the products to be different first, right?
Both AEW and WWE will learn from each other and find what does and doesn’t work. Luckily for AEW, they have plenty more film on their competitor to study. And there is certainly some history that they will be looking not to repeat: Jinder Mahal, Gene Snitsky, Muhammed Hassan, Katie Vick, and Shane McMahon's recent push to name a few.
Regardless of what word association you have with "bad WWE moments", the point remains AEW have plenty to study. And there are some things the WWE does that just aren't a part of what Cody and company are looking to do with their brand of wrestling.
Just like Coke or Pepsi, the branding helps you feel forced to pick allegiance by being differentiated from one another. Even though cola is cola, people will always have their preference. And wrestling (or sports entertainment/performance art if you so choose) is wrestling, but the branding and differences will be key in making people choose.
And you do have to choose, after all.
10. Stars Driving Themselves To Shows
With Brandi Rhodes herself saying “wrestlers won't be driving themselves”, this is all but confirmed to be the case. And it seems like this should be the standard and something we shouldn't even need to discuss. But the world of wrestling (particularly WWE) has been a place where the workers are forced to sacrifice for the hopes of proving they are a "company guy" or someone befitting the top tier where these sort of "luxuries" are afforded.
That is why it is so imperative that AEW continues on from this first step to try to make leaps and bounds in progressing the industry. Not just in the ring, but for the daily lives of the wrestlers as well. And although this will of course accomplish a great deal of good, it will also be a great decision from a PR standpoint.
In the era of social media boycotts and "cancelling" celebrities over scandals, it may be no better time than to stir the pot and cause a revolution of sorts. Taking a stand against a company with a checkered history both politically and/or ethically depending on your respective positions, whilst also progressing the industry standard for worker's rights?
Not bad for a brand new company, if they can accomplish this successfully.
The key here is that perception in media today is imperative, and it doesn't matter the product. Being the babyface wrestling company may very well be one of the most important things AEW can accomplish to differentiate themselves.