WWE Changes Strategy When Dealing With AEW Competition

WWE went on a signing spree in 2019 to stop Superstars from talking to AEW. They don’t seem to mind that as much right now as the company has released 16 Superstars in the last month and more could be on the way.

Vince McMahon is cutting a ton of costs from the company’s bottom line. That included firing over 60 internal employees to consolidate multiple departments into one division. This also made plenty of people believe that WWE is gearing up for sale.

The Wrestling Observer Newsletter noted that “the reality is the company had signed up far more talent than it needed until last year to trying to keep people from AEW. The mindset is clearly different right now in that regard.”

WWE has a different mindset now when it comes to AEW. Vince McMahon’s company knows that they can’t put AEW out of business and WWE isn’t about overpaying their Superstars so they don’t leave anymore.

There are two key realities. The first is that the mathematical trajectory that AEW would be beating WWE ratings in 18-49 by the end of this year is no longer the case. The second is, no matter what is done, WWE can’t put AEW out of business either.

We’ll have to see how AEW’s move to TBS changes things in 2022. A lot of things are on the table right now, but WWE doesn’t seem as worried about Tony Khan’s company. At this point, they know that AEW isn’t going anywhere and they are just going to continue concentrating on their own goals.

Will AEW ever beat WWE in the ratings or viewership? Sound off in the comments!