8 Things That Still Make No Sense About AEW
2. The Supposed WWE Rivalry
This isn't so much a shot at All Elite Wrestling, but it's more an observation about a certain percentage of the AEW fan base.
As wrestling fans, we all desperately want AEW to become as successful as can be, with the pro wrestling landscape having long been crying out for a genuinely viable rival for Vince McMahon's sports entertainment behemoth. But for people to talk about a war between WWE and AEW? That's extremely premature. And for those talking about a war between the NXT brand and AEW, even that is maybe a little bit of a skewed thought process.
For the majority of the weeks since they began going head-to-head, AEW has achieved better ratings than NXT. That's a cold, hard fact. The thing is, there are certain other factors to consider.
While both shows go out live, the simple fact that NXT is available on-demand instantly means that sitting down to watch the show on a Wednesday evening isn't as important as watching Dynamite live when it airs. Similarly, while some like to regularly point out the ratings of Dynamite and NXT, it's also worth noting that the oft-mocked Total Bellas managed to outdraw both with its Season 5 finale.
Additionally, despite WWE throwing around the 'third brand' phrase, NXT is still very much a developmental system for the most part - with it utilised to condition performers to WWE methods ahead of a move to Raw or SmackDown.
So, the NXT vs. AEW rivalry, let alone the WWE vs. AEW rivalry? I mean, it's there at a stretch if you really want to look for it, but it ultimately is more of a fabrication of some AEW fans rather than a genuine rivalry.