Why AEW Should Be Worried About The New WWE

The utopian image of Triple H and Stephanie McMahon's WWE is intoxicating but unlikely.

WWE is primarily a business-to-business enterprise in 2022, not a direct-to-consumer group, with the percentage of revenue generated from its audience shrinking by the year. This approach has made the market leaders more profitable than ever before. In monetary terms, getting creative right isn't as critical as it used to be and beyond that, this is still a cynical, cold-blooded, bottom-line-first mega-corporation.

"Philanthropy is the future of marketing," remember.

But while the idea of the changes WWE's new leadership team may implement will likely end up exciting than the eventual reality, Hunter and Steph are well-positioned to at least soften the Sports Entertainment giant's image. If they are successful, WWE may become a more attractive proposition not only for lapsed and current fans, but wrestlers as well.

Re-signing and pushing former AEW EVP Cody Rhodes effectively was already an excellent marketing tool. Is an MJF now likelier to make the jump, knowing his uncompromising style may stand a greater chance under Triple H than Vince? Sasha Banks will be a lot easier to convince to come back to work with McMahon gone. Free agents like Johnny Gargano may see a brighter WWE future that didn't necessarily exist anymore, where main roster prospects are no longer hindered by dated ideas of what makes a star.

Vince McMahon's hastened retirement has dealt American wrestling its latest seismic change. Let's see if Stephanie, Triple H, and Nick Khan's ascents become a catalyst.