10 Things AEW MUST Do To Compete With WWE
7. Make House Shows Elite
TV is the key revenue stream. This isn't a matter of competing; it's a matter of survival.
TV is also precarious for any new production, much less pro wrestling, to which sponsors are averse. Moreover, the production costs of televised pro wrestling are so prohibitive that AEW had to change the very industry just to get on the negotiating table. TV is so precarious - this isn't WWE, the enduring pop culture cache of which means desperate TV stations will always aspire to it, no matter how desperate ratings get - that AEW must supplement that revenue stream with a live event loop.
This is a no-brainer, obviously, but the way in which AEW manages this is vital. As AEW chases the mainstream crowd, it must also massage its core, cult audience - and squeeze the maximum amount of dollar from them. The thing about devoted cult fanbases is that any threat of "selling out" is felt, emotionally, like a betrayal.
A break-up.
A short, initial loop, touring intimate venues with premium ticket prices, will make the early taste-making devotees feel special - while also preserving the body of Kenny Omega, who realistically cannot enter ***** performances on a RAW schedule.