5 Things AEW Does Better Than NXT (And 5 NXT Does Better Than AEW)

1. Women's Wrestling

This is a gulf.

Discounting all-female promotions like SHIMMER and the Japanese joshi scene, NXT has the best women's division in the world. It isn't even close. The black-and-gold brand houses a rich, varied group with standout talent on every level, boasting one of the finest wrestlers in the world regardless of gender in Io Shirai, a top all-rounder in Charlotte Flair, one of the most promising young performers on the planet in Rhea Ripley, and more.

The Tegan Nox/Dakota Kai rivalry will springboard both to stardom. Candice LeRae, long considered an independent standout, is flourishing in her new role, Mia Yim, Mercedes Martinez, Kacy Catanzaro, Chelsea Green: these are talented, exciting wrestlers, all of whom would be major players for other promotions, yet they operate on NXT's midcard. That's how deep this division is.

AEW's scene has improved, but only incrementally. They lack in-ring performers on Martinez and Shirai's level and stars on Charlotte's tier, and offer only one or two short segments and matches to the division each week. The difference between it and NXT remains stark.