AEW's Growing Problem: The Impact Of NXT & TNA's Alliance
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If there is one thing Vince McMahon instilled in Triple H, Nick Khan, and anyone still working for WWE, it is to be ruthless in business. The only other promotion that could come close to being competition is AEW. While it struggles creatively, WWE has found an opportunity to exploit its weaknesses while the iron is hot.
Several years ago, TNA Wrestling was in dire straits. It was on the verge of going under, but Anthem Sports stepped in, cut back costs, and slowly rebuilt it. Scott D’Amore and Don Callis were instrumental in this turnaround, though it took a monumental effort from everyone involved.
When Mickie James appeared in the Royal Rumble as TNA Knockouts Champion, it was a massive moment. Vince McMahon had long kept WWE within its own bubble, refusing to acknowledge anything outside of it. That changed when TNA was recognized, and after McMahon exited WWE, the goodwill between the two companies only grew stronger.
Let's not forget that The Rock appeared in TNA via satellite to induct Ken Shamrock into its Hall of Fame. Despite being a smaller company, TNA has earned the respect of many major figures in wrestling. Fans, however, were not always as kind. For years, it was ridiculed, dismissed as “LOLTNA,” and many openly wished for its demise. Only recently has it begun to gain more widespread respect as a legitimate alternative.
With AEW positioned as the first true alternative to WWE, it suddenly made business sense for WWE to give TNA a helping hand. The stronger TNA becomes, the more likely it is to take market share from AEW. And if it does take anything from WWE, the impact would be minimal. WWE makes so much profit that it could buy TNA multiple times over without blinking.
Another key benefit of the NXT-TNA partnership is the talent exchange. Many of TNA's wrestlers bring something invaluable to NXT: real-world experience. These are performers who have spent years working the independent scene, promoting themselves, and learning how to survive in the industry without the resources of a corporate machine. That is not something you can teach an athlete fresh out of college. They already know what it means to be a professional wrestler on the road, handling travel, bookings, and keeping themselves relevant.
There is only so much veterans like Shawn Michaels can teach at the Performance Center. Bringing in talents like Rosemary, Moose, Joe Hendry, and Jordynne Grace allows younger NXT wrestlers to learn firsthand from those who have lived the current grind. They do not have to go elsewhere to develop crucial survival skills. They can learn how to stay motivated, be creative, and navigate the demands of life on the road while staying within WWE's system.
The Performance Center was already a powerhouse of training, but allowing NXT wrestlers to work in TNA takes it to another level. We have never seen this kind of cooperation between two wrestling promotions. The goodwill being built is staggering, and it only makes WWE a more attractive destination.
If you are a young AEW wrestler right now, where would you rather be? Many of them are strongly considering NXT. How could they not? They would be foolish not to. But competition is fierce, and WWE can afford to be selective. If someone like Ricky Starks jumps ship, as we saw this past week on NXT, he knows he has to deliver every time. There are plenty of other guys waiting to step up if he does not.
And the worst part for AEW? There is nothing they can do about it. They do not have the leadership or infrastructure to counter this move. The NXT-TNA partnership will continue to hurt them. While some may celebrate AEW's struggles, the reality is that this hurts the industry. AEW needs to respond. They need to improve their creative direction and find ways to better train their talent. But realistically, can they do that in any significant way in the short term? Doubtful.
The bigger the gap between WWE and AEW, the closer we get to another near-monopoly. We are already seeing how expensive WWE tickets are getting, and that trend will continue as its dominance grows. Wrestlers will see AEW as a less appealing alternative, and those released by WWE will feel stuck with nowhere to go.
If you only care about WWE and TNA, this is great news. But if you, like me, want stronger competition across the board, this is heading in the wrong direction. AEW has to figure something out fast. Because if they do not, their decline will continue, and no wrestling fan should want that. Do we really want history to repeat itself? What can be done to ensure that doesn’t happen? Let us know in the comments. Thanks for reading.
Also Read: Death Riders: Why AEW's Top Faction Isn't Working
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