Well, it was only a matter of time until this statement came out.
Since AEW’s inception, there has been very little talk of the two companies being competition. This is due to the fact AEW have only been around for less than 3 years, while WWE is a company that has been around for decades. Fans have also taken sides and social media is a frenzy mess regarding the AEW vs WWE tribalism that several stars have commented on in the past.
While speaking with Forbes, AEW President Tony Khan talked about the differences between AEW and other pro wrestling companies. Khan stated that he feels AEW is a legit competitor unlike other promotions.
“The reason that no other wrestling company in the last few decades has had the foothold we’ve had is, in my opinion, two-fold. And it’s kind of a chicken-or-the-egg thing. We’ve had the great exposure with the big TV contract that gives us great legitimacy and also gives us great penetration, so it’s a very easy show to find, and it feels like a big event every Wednesday. Because we have this partnership with TNT and Warner Media and went with such a powerful media partner, it makes us feel more legitimate.”
“Which brings me to my other point — none of the other wrestling companies that have come along in the last 20 years actually felt like a legitimate competitor, a real thing. They felt like fun, niche, wrestling products, and if you’re a big wrestling fan, they’re things that you might watch but they’re not going to take households by storm. They weren’t things that were going to win the night on TV. They might, on their night, get some wrestling fans to watch their show, but there hasn’t been anything in wrestling that’s come along in two decades that would be competitive in terms of a second national wrestling company. Where it could stand to be the number one show on cable in its night or even a top-five show. There’s nothing that’s been like that.”
Tony Khan to Forbes
Of course, Tony Khan wants to one day challenge WWE at the top of the mountain for wrestling promotions. It is hard to argue against the statement that no company has done what AEW has. What do you make of Tony’s claim? Let us know in the comment section and on our social media pages.
h/t Wrestling Inc
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