AEW vs. WWE: The Ultimate Showdown of Wrestling Titans on Tuesday Nights

The wrestling world is buzzing with the possibility of a new ratings war between AEW and WWE. We’re about to return to those nostalgic days of Monday Night Wars, as a crazy rivalry is slowly brewing up between WWE and AEW.

Yes! AEW Dynamite and WWE NXT are set to begin Tuesday Night Wars. On October 10, 2023, AEW’s flagship show Dynamite will air on Tuesday night for a one-time special, going head-to-head with WWE’s NXT on the USA Network.

This will be the first direct competition between the two since NXT moved to Tuesday nights in April 2021, ending the Wednesday Night Wars that lasted from October 2019 to April 2021.

The Tuesday Night Wars is a result of AEW Dynamite being pre-empted by the MLB playoffs on its usual Wednesday night slot on TNT.

AEW President and CEO Tony Khan has stated that he wants NXT to be the most-watched wrestling show on Tuesday and that he has prepared four title matches for the occasion. WWE, on the other hand, has also loaded up NXT with big names such as Asuka, Paul Heyman, and John Cena. So, the rivalry is hot and we have some exciting wars coming up!

1. NXT Vs. Dynamite: Who Will Win?

The stakes are high for both AEW Dynamite and WWE NXT, as both AEW and WWE seek to attract more viewers and establish their dominance in the wrestling industry.

As of now, it is hard to pinpoint one winner. Dynamite has an edge over NXT in terms of demographic ratings and average viewership count. However, both shows are at par in terms of in-ring action and storylines.

AEW has been consistently beating NXT in both total viewership and in the key 18-49 demographic rating during the Wednesday Night Wars and has also surpassed WWE’s main roster shows Raw and Smackdown on some occasions.

WWE, however, has a larger global fanbase and a more established brand name, and has recently revamped NXT with a new look and a new roster of talent. It has been renamed to WWE NXT: Level Up.

For instance, here’s a quick look at the 2023 and 2022 viewership and demographic rating details for AEW Dynamite and WWE NXT.

AEW Dynamite:

Viewership	Average Viewer Count	Demographic (18-49) per episode
2023	876,800	0.31
2022	963,160	0.33

WWE NXT: Level Up:

Viewership	Average Viewer Count	Demographic (18-49) per episode
2023	641,400	0.18
2022	624,560	0.14

As it is clear from the two tables above, AEW Dynamite is ahead in the race as of now. However, WWE has a huge advantage of its loyal fanbase.

Both NXT and Dynamite are known for their good quality wrestling and well-written storylines. One may argue they are the top two wrestling shows right now, even ahead of WWE’s most popular shows, RAW and Smackdown.

The rivalry between AEW Dynamite and WWE NXT is similar to the Monday Night Wars that took place between WWE and WCW in the late 1990s and early 2000s.

Monday Night Raw and WCW Monday Nitro aired at the same day and time, leading to a massive war between the two companies.

It escalated to a degree where the company losing the war would have to shut down. As WWE Raw was clearly ahead of WCW Monday Nitro in every way, they won the war.

As a result, WCW was acquired by WWE, and it became the biggest wrestling company in the world. WWE (then WWF) established itself as a monopoly in the wrestling industry after acquiring WCW.

The WWF vs WCW era is still considered the good old days by wrestling fans and it’s exciting to see some rivalry brewing up after all these years. However, the war between Dynamite and NXT will not be so one-sided, which makes it more interesting.

It seems like WWE finally has some worthy competition with the rise of AEW. Both Dynamite and NXT have good storylines and also promote good wrestling. In terms of quality, they’re the best in AEW and WWE respectively.

So, we have to wait and watch who wins this war. It is not that predictable this time.

2. Why is Dynamite Competing with NXT Instead of RAW or Smackdown?

Some fans may wonder why AEW Dynamite is not facing WWE’s main roster shows Raw or Smackdown, which air on Monday and Friday nights respectively.

The answer lies in different networks and contracts that each show has. NXT’s timings can be controlled by WWE, unlike their other shows. The similarity between Dynamite and NXT in terms of quality is another reason.

Raw airs on the USA Network, which is owned by NBC Universal, while Smackdown airs on Fox, which is owned by Fox Corporation. AEW Dynamite airs on TNT, which is owned by WarnerMedia.

Each network has its own expectations and demands for their respective shows, and they are unlikely to allow any changes to their schedules or formats that would jeopardize their ratings or revenue. For instance, Fox reportedly pays WWE $205 million per year for Smackdown, while TNT pays AEW $45 million per year for Dynamite.

These deals are based on the assumption that each show will air on their designated nights and timeslots, and any deviation from that would require renegotiation and compensation.

NXT, however, is a different case. NXT is also owned by WWE, but it airs on the same network as Raw, the USA Network. This means that WWE has more control and flexibility over NXT’s schedule and format than it does over Smackdown’s.

WWE can decide to move NXT to another night or time slot without affecting its contract with NBC Universal, as long as it does not interfere with Raw’s airing.

This is why NXT was able to move from Wednesday nights to Tuesday nights in April 2021, after AEW Dynamite proved to be a formidable rival.

3. Why AEW Dynamite is Similar to WWE NXT

NXT is also a better match for AEW Dynamite in terms of style and quality. It is considered by many fans to be WWE’s best show, as it focuses more on in-ring action and storytelling than on comedy or drama.

NXT features some of the most talented and charismatic wrestlers in the world, such as Bron Breakker, Rhea Ripley, Cameron Grimes, Raquel Rodriguez, Shinsuke Nakamura, Fyre, and Cora Jade.

Compared to Raw and Smackdown, which are more of entertainment, NXT focuses more on pure wrestling. AEW Dynamite also emphasizes in-ring action and storytelling over comedy or drama.

Like NXT, Dynamite also features some of the most talented and charismatic wrestlers in the world, such as Kenny Omega, Cody Rhodes, Jon Moxley, Britt Baker, MJF, Darby Allin, Hangman Page AEW and Ruby Soho.

Dynamite also showcases some of the best matches in wrestling history, such as Kenny Omega vs Jon Moxley at Full Gear in 2020 or Young Bucks vs Lucha Brothers at All Out in 2019.

Therefore, NXT is a better match than Raw or Smackdown for AEW Dynamite because it offers a similar level of entertainment and competition, without the complications of network politics or contracts.

NXT and AEW Dynamite are both shows that cater to the hardcore wrestling fans, who appreciate the art and athleticism of professional wrestling.

They are both shows that aim to deliver the best wrestling product possible, without compromising their vision or identity. All in all, both shows deserve to be watched and enjoyed by wrestling fans around the world.

4. About WWE

World Wrestling Entertainment, Inc., doing business as WWE, is an American professional wrestling promotion. A global integrated media and entertainment company, WWE has also branched out into other fields, including film, American football, and various other business ventures.

WWE shows are sports entertainment, featuring story line-driven, scripted, and partially choreographed matches; though including moves that can put performers at risk of injury, even death, if not performed correctly. It was founded in 1953 as the Capitol Wrestling Corporation and is the largest wrestling promotion in the world. It is headquartered in Stamford, Connecticut.