10 Ways WWE Hasn't Learned From Its Mistakes

3. Counter-Programming AEW

The Miz x2
WWE.com

NXT counter-programming AEW Dynamite has only worked on the odd occasion, and it surely cannot be worth the sad micropenis energy the brand has developed as a result. It is known among the same set of fans it was once catered towards - those with wide-ranging, discerning tastes - as something closer to a skidmark than a critically acclaimed, state-of-the-art brand.

Sasha Banks won a ratings war (in the overall viewership number advertisers don't care about). Halloween Havoc won a ratings war (in the overall viewership number advertisers don't care about). Keith Lee winning the two main singles championships won a ratings war (in the overall viewership number advertisers don't care about).

Beyond that, WWE's attempts to counter-programme haven't worked in the short-term, and in the long-term, this desperation has cloaked NXT's very perception. The mad scramble to just do petty things on a given week has even caused NXT to lose sight of itself. Is it developmental? Because the champion is 40 this year and yet every new name debuts on it.

Is it the workrate brand that puts the second W in WWE, and if so, why are 1,000 year-old dragon-taught warriors milling about with serial killers and fireball-throwing doomsday prophets? Why is Johnny Gargano this much of a goof?

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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!