5 Other Power Moves WWE Could Make To Thwart AEW

By Paul Grover / September 7, 2019

If there's one thing that Vince McMahon particularly hates (other than sneezing), it's competition. This fact was made abundantly evident by Vince buying up all the wrestling territories in the eighties that were once prominent throughout the US (a move his father - Vince Sr. - vowed never to make). WCW nearly driving WWE out of business in the mid-nineties would have only intensified McMahon's disdain for any potential business rivals even more so.

More recently, we've seen the sports entertainment powerhouse expand over seas with NXT UK, after the indie scene saw a boom in Britain, with ITV even airing their own wrestling show. Clearly, no corner of the globe is safe from Mr. McMahon's wrath!

Now, with competition emerging on his own soil, with another billionaire starting up their own wrestling promotion - Tony Khan's AEW - WWE have already started throwing their weight around and taking steps to weaken their opposition before the battle has even begun. NXT is to go live on the USA network in a two hour slot on Wednesday nights, right up against AEW's new weekly series on TNT; an action that will no doubt put a dent in the fledgling company's viewership.

This may be just the first of many schemes the wrestling conglomerate put into effect in an effort to snuff out their prey, however. What other tricks could the McMahon empire pull of the bag to lodge a speed bump in the path of AEW's trajectory?

5. Have Big Names/Legends Appear On NXT

We start with the most obvious entry. WWE have the TV time on Wednesday nights, now what do they do with it? In addition to the already talented NXT roster they have on hand, it's almost inevitable they'll bring over their big guns from the main roster for the odd appearance - in a blatant attempted to turn wrestling fan's heads away from the likes of Kenny Omega and Adam Page, and towards the bright lights of WWE.

Main event talent such as Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins can swing by to their old stomping ground for a match and/or promo to soak in the nostalgia. Not forgetting other heavy hitters who made their WWE starts in NXT would also make for logical cameos, which includes: Kevin Owens, Finn Bálor, Shinsuke Nakamura, Bray Wyatt, among others. Then there's the big name stars who have yet to ever grace an NXT ring. Seeing AJ Styles or Randy Orton pop up in Full Sail could make for compelling stuff.

WWE could even go balls out and have legends such as 'Stone Cold' Steve Austin and The Undertaker appear, advertised in advanced to guarantee a decrease for AEW's ratings. Though, such drastic (and expensive) moves may only come to fruition if WWE get desperate, due to AEW consistently toppling NXT in viewership.