AEW Slammed for Weak Title Tuesday Build as NXT Stacks Showdown Card

AEW’s Title Tuesday is shaping up to be a massive letdown—and critics aren’t staying quiet. With WWE stacking NXT Showdown like a pay-per-view-level event, all eyes turned to what AEW would bring to the fight on October 7. So far? Not much.

The head-to-head clash is now official. AEW Dynamite: Title Tuesday airs live from Daily’s Place in Jacksonville—the same night WWE airs its loaded NXT Showdown special on the CW Network. And while WWE has built its lineup with Survivor Series-style matches, title-for-title bouts, and major star power, AEW has offered up just one match: Mercedes Moné vs a mystery opponent from Florida.

Bryan Alvarez and Dave Meltzer weren’t having it. On Wrestling Observer Radio, they made it clear: AEW isn’t showing up with enough ammo.

“Well, we’ve also got to try and draw a number from the AEW Title Tuesday. And at this point, though, they haven’t.” — Bryan Alvarez

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Dave Meltzer echoed the disappointment with even less patience. “Done anything for that.” The problem? AEW’s big “Homecoming” event is almost here, and the card is still paper-thin.

“Yeah, they did not do, they didn’t do a good job at all, at all, at all, at all on that. You know, I mean they’re going in there head to head. They’re, they’re gonna get beat. I mean, they’re gonna get beat handily.” — Dave Meltzer

Meltzer compared AEW’s approach to WWE’s own missteps earlier this year when they also put out a lackluster show in a competitive slot.

“It’s like when WWE on July 12… you’re going head to head and you put on an average two-week show. It’s the same thing. You’re going head to head, you got to put up a fight.”

And while WWE has been building to NXT Showdown with consistent segments, promos, and storyline momentum, Meltzer said AEW simply isn’t matching that energy.

“If you watch the NXT show on Tuesday and the AEW show on Wednesday, you know which show better promoted next Tuesday. I mean it’s, it’s not even a fight… everything was building towards Tuesday. They’re peeking for this thing and AEW has a show called Title Tuesday. And we have Mercedes Moné against a wrestler from Florida, you know who. What does that mean? I don’t know what that means.”

Alvarez didn’t disagree. “I don’t know what that means. Means nothing to me. It’s just a match.” And if AEW is hoping the mystery opponent angle will sell itself, Meltzer thinks that’s a mistake too.

“If it was somebody good, they should announce it and if it’s somebody bad, that shouldn’t be on that show and it certainly shouldn’t be the only match announced.”

While WWE continues to fire on all cylinders with its NXT crossovers, AEW’s lackluster rollout for Title Tuesday has fans and insiders scratching their heads. If this is AEW’s shot at reclaiming momentum, they’re starting way behind the curve.

Please credit Ringside News if you use the above transcript in your publication.