Skytel

Also "Swerve came from the WWE" is such a bizarre take. He was killing it on the indies for like a decade.

100%.

Yes, and?

He's young, and already ripping it up on the indies again. He'll be fine.

30K.

It started on the back of the Elite.
It built a foundation off the Pillars.
It enters new frontiers with the Trinity.

Match card for Will Ospreay Vs Hangman Adam Page at AEW Double or Nothing 2025

For all those who believe that "in-ring" and "storytelling" are two different things, I beg you to watch the #AEWDoN main event. These two penned a saga for the ages in the ring. And they didn't need microphones, outside interferences or any shenanigans to do that. Just plain old rasslin'. 🤼

Can somebody please make a hype video for #AEWAllInTexas that's set to Bonnie Tyler's Holding Out for a Hero, based around Hangman's journey.

Please and thank you.

Pretty please 🥺

I am so tired of podcasters saying "this AEW ppv was too long" because the rest of us aren't trying to watch every NXT/WWE show too. I paid $50. Give me all the graps.

So, it's very clear to be there are a ton of recent fans who really came to WWE in the post-COVID boom. They seem to think that 10k+ attendance and sold out stadiums every few months is the norm.

It's not.

The overall annual show by show average WWE attendance from 1984-2024 is: 6830

AEW is a company built on the backs of nerds and I think that's beautiful 🤼‍♂️

A young girl emotionally holds a microphone and lifts her fist in the air

Hotties for hangman we did it

Nah. I need it to end on a damn Buckshot and 3-count...

Nah, he's already beaten Mox in a Texas Death Match.

YouTube video by Punk Rock Holiday THE BOUNCING SOULS - True Believers (Multicam) live at Punk Rock Holiday 2.2

We ride with the Hangman.

youtu.be/adkejbrwqhs?...

Only one honest person in the building

Ah, a new generation of fans discovering that the company they are so loyal to, actively hates them.

So sweet to see.

Going to a WWE show to boo a republican…lmao okay.

never seen it summed up so well

#AEWDoN 🤼

this is why it's so important that AEW stay the course and focus on being itself, i.e., an actual alternative with its own particular philosophy and approach to a wrestling presentation

AEW will never overtake WWE and that's fine but they're in position to exist as a thriving #2 and that's good

someone: the hangman/ospreay discourse -

me: lemme stop u right there. there’s no discourse because there’s no discussion. no argument. the correct answer is hangman. it’s obvious. what are we doing

WWE's biggest threat to their own existence is the insatiable appetite for exponential growth that they must feed, on a quarterly basis for TKO.

They've experienced two major ones (Cody and Punk) and while stumbled, kept going with a huge group of established main event talent, and hungry younger talent stepping up.

A key part of this is how deep AEW's roster is. Unlike territories that died, WCW, and ECW - there is no realistic scenario that could see AEW losing a large chunk of their top stars at any point in the future.

AEW's audience won't tune out of AEW because WWE is running Bill Goldberg's retirement as a TV special to pop a rating.

They're invested in AEW right now. That's where we are. That's how AEW survives through All In this summer, and builds for years to come.

TKO is directly targetting AEW (as WWE has done with all opposition). The difference is that AEW's base hasn't eroded to a degree that it's hurting their business. And they've got a strong media rights deal that gives them tons of leverage to grow.

AEW building upon the momentum they've had since Hammerstein (IMO), and continuing to be the alternative landing spot for burnt out WWE fans, is a way they'll grow they audience in a meaningful way.

Alternative. Not being WWE-lite, which is what killed TNA in 2010 and beyond.

I'm not saying they're overtaking them.

I am saying that the circumstances that lead to fan disinterest and apathy in WWE's product in the mid to late 2010's, is lining up to happen again.

Many vocal fans are recognizing TKO's game, the power struggles, and WWE's seams.

While there is a huge distance between them today - AEW is in a position to thrive as the inevitable downturn in WWE's business begins.

The importance of the last 12 months for AEW cannot be understated.

No strong number #2 has survived through a WWE boom period before.

Expansion crippled the territories.
Attitude Era killed WCW and ECW.
AEW meanwhile is standing strong after WWE's biggest financial years ever.