AEW vs WWE: Which Is Better?

The world of professional wrestling is currently split between two major promotions: WWE and AEW. While WWE has evolved into a more mature, inclusive brand of wrestling, AEW is challenging its hegemony by focusing more on providing hands-on, intense wrestling. But which one of them is better? Surely WWE, with its global approach, has an edge, but AEW’s Tony Khan is also not far behind.

The tussle between them goes beyond the conventional fight between two giants of sports entertainment. It’s also about the kind of major shift that the professional wrestling space is bound to take if one of them dominates the other. WWE has established its prominence over the years.

Still, many within the wrestling community are increasingly getting frustrated by the kind of transition the company has undergone, prioritizing entertainment over matches and storylines. This is what has stoked the rise of AEW as a challenger for some time now.

AEW and WWE: Which Brand Has Better Viewership and Growth

Historically, WWE is a more mature brand. The company has gone through various eras of heightened growth and unexpected dips in viewership. The brand under Vince McMahon has seen the Attitude Era and Ruthless Aggression Era, where in-ring feuds grew in prominence over other things.

The modern-day outlook of the WWE is focused more on creating a global brand and continuing to become leaders in sports entertainment. In this regard, the company has shifted more towards providing the necessary push to young, emerging talents and creating long-term storylines, which has increased its viewership. The historic deal with Netflix, announced on January 23, 2024, by Netflix in a statement, and the WWE-ESPN deal for US audiences have also helped the company bolster its global footing.

While WWE is targeting audiences worldwide and enhancing its image as the brand of the world, AEW is capitalizing on what many feel WWE has abandoned. That is, to create intense matches inside the squared circle and provide viewers with the storylines they resonate with.

While the Triple H-led brand has shifted away from using graphic violence to add intensity inside the ring, apart from its limited use, AEW has not shied away from the viewers’ desire to witness high-octane, intense matches that challenge wrestlers to their limit.

This is evident from the kind of atmosphere that Jon Moxley and Hangman Page created at AEW’s All In Texas. Moxley, known to the WWE universe as Dean Ambrose, has been a major force to be reckoned with in the WWE. However, in a major turn of events, he lost the AEW Championship in an unprecedented manner to Hangman Page, marking an end to his 274-day title reign.

The clash was set against Goldberg’s retirement match against Gunther at Saturday Night’s Main Event in his hometown of Atlanta, Georgia. However, because of the sheer intensity between Moxley and Page, All In Texas also became an emerging talking point. The encounter between them further consolidated the kind of wrestling brand AEW is keen on pushing forward.

The viewership and gross revenue of both WWE and AEW have been rising at a constant pace, as per Wrestling Attitude and Net Worth Spot. A table illustrating the difference between the two professional wrestling promotions in this regard is as follows.

These figures reflect that the numbers are stacked in favor of the WWE thanks to its ability to reach wider audiences with the kind of content it has produced over the years and the dynamic media rights deals it has signed recently. This has become the reason why, despite challenges, the company has managed to achieve better results in comparison with AEW.

WWE Is Still Dominating Over AEW Despite Strong Challenges

WWE has faced several challenges over the years. However, the issues with the company have further exacerbated in the modern era. The company had to be on the receiving end of a heated controversy when its former head, Vince McMahon, had to resign as the head of the WWE. The reason for that is his involvement in the infamous Janel Grant lawsuit.

This was not the first time that McMahon’s name surfaced in predatory behaviour towards female wrestlers and employees. But, the allegations from Janel Grant and the subsequent lawsuit, citing charges of s*xual assault and trafficking charges, were the nail in the coffin of his time at the helm of affairs in the company.

Still, despite turbulent times, the company has managed to focus on the one thing important to them. And that is, creating engaging storylines and carving out interesting character work around wrestlers. As a result, WWE remained afloat despite struggles within the hierarchy and financial constraints.

During the pandemic, WWE faced another challenging period. However, the rise of Roman Reigns’ dominant persona and the formation of The Bloodline brought a wave of compelling matches and captivating promos. This storyline played a key role in keeping fans engaged and ensured that interest in WWE’s developments never truly faded.

The ability to create some of the most interesting storylines makes the company a complete package of nail-biting wrestling action and entertainment for the viewers at the same time. This is what sets WWE apart and successful as compared to AEW.

While it remains without a doubt that the success of AEW under Tony Khan has been massive and the challenges it has posed in front of WWE, in terms of creative liberty and intense matches are consequential. Perhaps, it will take some time for the promotion to match the level where its adversary is currently at. What remains to be seen, however, is the kind of journey both wrestling brands take to further glory.

Do you think AEW will one day be able to outperform WWE and become the dominant wrestling brand on the global stage? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below.