10 Times Vince McMahon Had To Swallow His Pride

6. The Wednesday Night War (Full Stop)

WWE does not care about the competition. What goes on in the world of pro wrestling has absolutely zero impact on the decisions that get made in the world of Sports Entertainment. It doesn't matter what you've achieved in another promotion, when you arrive in the "big leagues" you've got to prove yourself all over again. WWE is an island.

Or at least, that's what they've spent every hour of weekly television since WCW folded trying to convince you.

When All Elite Wrestling formally launched with a disgruntled ex-WWE mid-carder at the wheel and an enthused billionaire pumping the gas, WWE broke the habit of a lifetime and reacted. They took NXT, their one unsullied asset, and weaponized it for Wednesday nights. Presumably scared of what AEW could do if allowed to broadcast unopposed every week, Vince moved mountains to ensure its potential audience was split.

The results have been nearly 2 million people tuning in midweek to watch wrestling, but their numbers fluctuating wildly between products. Still though, even making Vince blink like this represented a big win for AEW.