Why Vince McMahon Has Failed To Kill AEW

by Michael Sidgwick
Kenny Omega Kip Sabian
AEW

The last NXT success, at time of writing, came on December 18, which between its two, big Championship matches, two feud-settling midcard encounters, minimal promo segments and angle progression was essentially the televised TakeOver as advertised. With NXT once more in a state of storyline transition, Dynamite has dominated the ratings battle in 2020.

This pattern indicates that fans aren't much interested in NXT as an episodic television show in its own right. Fans aren't engaged in NXT storylines - only the intrigue of brand warfare and the echoes of those glorious Saturday nights. NXT's strict and risk-free formula has proven unsuccessful as a live, weekly concern. The strong emphasis on in-ring action clearly isn't enough. It was once such awesome tonic, in comparison to WWE's often nonsensical storyline developments, but what once was so refreshing for its simplicity now just feels basic and unadventurous. NXT's remit was once easy - WWE production values - bullsh*t + great wrestling - but now, it will prove far more difficult to appeal to an audience tiring of it.

None of this is to suggest that AEW Dynamite is set for 83 weeks of dominance, nor that it is a perfect show, but it's a very successful show that Vince McMahon has failed to kill. AEW draws the young crowd WWE cannot, because NXT doesn't do enough that the young crowd hasn't already seen in 20 years.

This is a very, very hasty take, so early in the company's life, but it's a promising sign that the successor to the COO cannot kill AEW, either.

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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 surefire Undisputed WWE Universal 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!