10 Things AEW Can Learn From WCW Nitro's Debut

2. Don’t Go Head-To-Head

AEW WWE
AEW WWE

On the most recent episode of Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer said AEW's earliest start date for TV is 1 October. Not-so-coincidentally, WWE move SmackDown to FOX that same week, albeit in a rearranged Friday time slot in the "short term". That leaves Tuesday night unopposed.

This is terrific news for anybody who wants to see All Elite flourish.

Back in 1995, the wrestling landscape was different. The WWF's Monday Night Raw show was often missable television that flashed past without much consequence, and that left the door open for WCW's Nitro to ramp up the excitement and competition. 2019 doesn't offer the same sort of freedom to AEW. Raw and SmackDown, despite sagging ratings, are the market leaders.

Though true that going head-to-head with Vince McMahon worked for WCW in the mid-90s, it wouldn't be wise in today's world. There's no need for AEW to try to eat into WWE's stranglehold. They can develop their own audience and steal viewers away by presenting a superior product that doesn't make fans choose.

Advertisement
In this post: 
AEW
 
Posted On: 
Contributor

Lifelong wrestling, video game, music and sports obsessive who has been writing about his passions since childhood. Jamie started writing for WhatCulture in 2013, and has contributed thousands of articles and YouTube videos since then. He cut his teeth penning published pieces for top UK and European wrestling read Fighting Spirit Magazine (FSM), and also has extensive experience working within the wrestling biz as a manager and commentator for promotions like ICW on WWE Network and WCPW/Defiant since 2010. Further, Jamie also hosted the old Ministry Of Slam podcast, and has interviewed everyone from Steve Austin and Shawn Michaels to Bret Hart and Trish Stratus.