The Young Bucks and Cody Rhodes have once again shocked the world with All Elite Wrestling. In there Quest to “Change The World” all we can do is sit back and enjoy the ride.
For the first time in 20 years, there are two major companies in Sports Entertainment – WWE and AEW. AEW can’t hold a candle to the financial backing and name brand recognition of the WWE. However, they can provide a different style of programming. They can bring a more wrestling oriented show instead of a sports entertainment show like Monday Night Raw.
The dream would be for the Elite to go mano a mano against Monday Night Raw. For there brands success, however, it’d be wise to go for the legs of WWE’s monster – Tuesday night’s Smackdown Live (the show will be moving to Fox on October 4 with a primetime spot).
Tuesday nights are for the hardcore fans of WWE, as Smackdown Live is the more wrestling-oriented of their two cable-broadcasted brands. If All Elite Wrestling wants to make a dent in WWE’s armor this is where they start. With the heavily rumored TNT and TBS T.V. deal in the works for AEW, a new age Monday Night Wars could be cooking.
As most of you reading this you’re scoffing at the idea of a new “Monday Night Wars.” Hear me out.
2019 is a pivotal year in the wrestling industry. With many wrestlers contracts expiring in 2019 like Kenny Omega who’s announced he’s leaving NJPW, The Good Brothers, and Pentagon Jr. Key color commentators such as Jim Ross and Mauro Ranallo are set to expire as well.
With Jacksonville Jaguars co-owner Tony Khan funding AEW with $100 million of his own money, AEW will have a chance to sway wrestlers away from WWE.
WWE’s “New Era” is beginning in 2019. It’ll be interesting to see how the program will change. Will once disgruntled employees see the change and stay instead of defecting, or will the damage be done and the war for talent begins between the companies? With Kenny Omega’s shocking departure from NJPW, the first bidding war between them is underway.
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