10 Secrets Behind The Rise Of AEW

3. Exposing An Ancient Take

Becoming All Elite
WWE.com

AEW throughout its two-year lifespan has evolved from alternative to competition.

Dynamite handily defeated NXT in year one; in year two, it has beaten RAW in key demographics on select occasions and has out-sold WWE in live event ticket sales in major markets. AEW's flagship is on course to humiliate RAW in Long Island, New York as each show enters the territory weeks apart across November and December.

None of this happens if an apparent Vince McMahon truism was not in fact total bullsh*t.

In 2019, wrestling discourse was ablaze with talk of renewed competition mobilising WWE into improvement; after all, the last time WWE was faced with stiff opposition, in 1995, Vince responded with the Attitude Era boom. Quite obviously, it wasn't 1997 in 2019. Vince had lost his promotional genius and the framework that supported it. He didn't listen to close, knowledgable confidants. He surrounded himself with sh*t-scared writers who penned scripts with the express purpose of popping his daft awld head off.

WWE didn't get better when challenged by the well-received upstart. The Roman Reigns Head of the Table character embodies the concept of a rule-proving exception. Elsewhere, WWE is the same old directionless, illogical f*ck finish bullsh*t it was then. Look at that men's Survivor Series match, for Christ's sake.

AEW got over by challenging the wrestling world - and the clichés that surrounded it.

Contributor
Contributor

Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!