10 Things AEW Can Learn From WCW Nitro's Debut

2. Don’t Go Head-To-Head

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.