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Both AEW and WWE have often come out to say they don't consider each other as direct competitors. However, we all know that undermining the situation doesn't invalidate a pre-existing rivalry between them.
The rivalry isn't as intense as the WCW-WWE Monday Night wars. Still, we have seen them both frequently take unnecessary jibes at each other in their televised programming. While many might call it hitting below the belt, others enjoy the harmless back and forth between them.
Only one of WWE's shows, NXT, directly clashed with AEW Dynamite's time slot, but since it is moving to Tuesday nights, it's safe to say that healthy competition will soon truly become a reality. The spicy affair is forecast to reduce, but let's look at five such incidents where AEW took shots at WWE.
#5 Jake Hager's redemption in AEW
AEW has been trying to create an original roster for the future. However, no one can deny that they have used the aid of some former WWE superstars to bring new eyes to their product.
One such familiar name is Jake Hager, who was formally known as Jack Swagger in WWE. Hager did not sign with any other wrestling promotion for years. Instead, he focused on MMA and has become a recognized cage fighter for Bellator. He made his debut on AEW Dynamite's first episode to join Chris Jericho's Inner Circle.
Hager expected an AEW reception with "We The People" chants. His last successful run with WWE featured that catchphrase heavily, and people loved it. On an episode of AEW Dynamite, during an Inner Circle promo, the audience started chanting the phrase at Hager.
Chris Jericho would have none of it. He would furiously cut those chants off by claiming that the chant sucked and that "it was a stupid idea from bad creative." The crowd wasn't expecting such a direct shot by the veteran at all.
They were taken aback by Jericho's direct invalidation of Hager's association with his past visage. Jericho's distancing of Hager from his former gimmick did give the character a weighty dynamic to build on alongside a fresh start in the company.
#4 Leg slaps are perfectly legal in AEW
AEW would take two distinct jibes at WWE when the latter brought in a rule that banned wrestlers from slapping their legs while performing kicks. Traditionally the wrestlers use the sequence of slapping one's leg to emphasize the kick’s sound effect.
Wrestlers who are caught not following the ban will be fined. Backstage reports and photos have highlighted the prevalence of several such notices of "Do Not Slap Leg When Kicking" signs in WWE.
In a storyline over in AEW, Papa Buck would be viciously attacked backstage by Jericho & MJF to send the World Tag Team Champions, the Young Bucks, a message.
A week later, Don Callis would interrupt the Bucks' backstage interview to offer his condolences towards their father. As a generous gesture, Callis would offer a recovery gift for the duo's father.
The gift was be a t-shirt that said, “DO NOT SLAP LEG WHEN KICKING." The shirt was thrown aside by Matt Jackson, but their intended shot at WWE did not go unnoticed. Furthermore, Matt Hardy and the Bucks had already joked about the ban on leg slapping in a Being the Elite episode before this televised event.
#3 No third-party ban for AEW roster
AEW took another jab during the Covid 19 pandemic at WWE when the latter made another bizarre rule. This one made significant changes on what a WWE Superstar can and cannot do with third-party platforms like Cameo and Twitch.
WWE did not appreciate the wrestlers selling their names and images on social streaming platforms. The reason being is that the company owned the exclusive rights to those names. Furthermore, they said using videos without permission was detrimental to them.
Many former wrestlers and the current roster are known to spend quite a lot of their time on third-party platforms to make extra earnings for themselves. The decision from WWE came as a shock to many superstars who went to protest against the issue. Paige, Mia Yim and AJ Styles were among the few superstars who spoke publicly on the issue.
AEW saw an opportunity here to mock the competition for its new rule change. So, during a backstage segment, Kip Sabian and his girlfriend Penelope Ford made sure to get a cheeky jab in at WWE. Sabian promoted his Twitch channel to show that AEW wasn't bothered by their roster's use of social streaming sites.
#2 Cody breaks the throne at AEW: Double or Nothing
AEW made sure that their first pay-per-view, Double or Nothing, fired on all cylinders. The company was able to sell out the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. The stage was set.
It was the perfect opportunity for a former WWE superstar to make a big statement that established AEW's arrival in the wrestling landscape.
Fans welcomed Cody during his grand entrance. The crowd was curious to notice an oddly familiar throne on top of the entrance ramp. With the crowd's backing, Cody grabbed a sledgehammer and rushed back to demolish the skull-encased throne.
It was a real moment for Cody as he took out all his frustrations on his former employer by destroying Triple H's symbolic relics. The fans went crazy witnessing this epic confrontational moment.
AEW's Executive Vice President Cody made a clear statement that they had arrived in the Wednesday Warfare against Triple H's black and yellow brand.
#1 AEW claims Blood and Guts
AEW's initial matches featured a lot of blood. Matches like Cody vs. Dustin Rhodes and Omega vs. Moxley were very hard-hitting contests.
It certainly painted a picture of more intense matches from previous eras. When asked in a conference call if WWE would be changing its program to keep up with AEW, Vince McMahon made it clear his company wouldn't go back to "blood and guts."
He remarked that he doesn't envision TNT allowing AEW to hold that intense image for very long. That irked Cody Rhodes the wrong way. He was quick to acquire the copyright to the "Blood and Guts" name. Cody always wanted to honor his father with a match type that his father Dusty Rhodes has created.
AEW went on to reveal its conceptual version of WarGames, named "Blood and Guts" as WWE owned exclusive rights to the "War Games" name. It was a vital shot towards WWE, as AEW would use a negative remark as a suitable name for an idea of a pay-per-view.
Covid-19 would put a dent in the Blood and Guts match for some time. Finally, after so many months, AEW management felt it was the perfect time to organize that match. Chris Jericho and the Inner Circle will challenge MJF's The Pinnacle in a fight inside the demonic structure on May 5th.
What makes Sting special? His first AEW opponent opens up RIGHT HERE.
