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  • 5 times wrestlers called out other promotions: WWE, AEW, IMPACT Wrestling and more
Sometimes calling companies out works in your favor, sometimes it puts butts in their seats

5 times wrestlers called out other promotions: WWE, AEW, IMPACT Wrestling and more

Whether it's WWE, WCW, AEW, NJPW or IMPACT Wrestling it's pretty normal for wrestling companies to take shots at one another. It's not anything new, and it's definitely not worth fans getting legitimately upset about.

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Whether they're pre-written promos or a "straight-up shoot," these moments tend to get the wrestling world fired up. In recent years, they tend to get the sport as a whole trending on social media, so it's better for professional wrestling as a whole.

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Today we'll be looking at some of the more famous moments where other companies have called one another out. Of course, we'll see some moments during the Monday Night Wars between WCW and WWE, as well as a pretty recent promo from a major AEW star that we heard last month.

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Now, the first selection may not be one of the best of these moments. However, for the pure absurdity of it, we're going straight to The Alamo!

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#5 TNA and WWE at The Alamo?

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Back in 2007, the former New Age Outlaws were working in TNA Wrestling as BG James (Road Dogg) and Kip James (Billy Gunn). First known as the James Gang, they soon changed their names to VKM, the Voodoo Kin Mafia. Now, in case you haven't caught on yet, VKM also happens to be the initials for The Chairman of WWE himself, Vincent Kennedy McMahon.

VKM began mocking the recently reformed D-Generation X. At this point, Shawn Michaels and Triple H had joined forces in WWE to take on Vince McMahon, Shane McMahon and The Spirit Squad. They'd recently challenged DX to a fight, offering them a million dollars. DX didn't show up.

So what did VKM do? They challenged two WWE Superstars to a showdown....at The Alamo!

"Now it's time for us to step our game up a notch. So now then, we turn our attention to you, Michael Hickenbottom (Shawn Michaels). This is where we call you out. You see this Wednesday, we bring it to your backyard. San Antonio, Texas. Wednesday, at The Alamo at high noon. Hickenbottom, if you got'em, you bring'em and try to collect that million dollars."
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They then promised to have footage of the "showdown" on the next episode of TNA Wrestling. Of course, there was no showdown. The Voodoo Kin Mafia ran around The Alamo like a couple of goofballs, screaming for Michaels to come out and show himself before claiming victory for themselves.

#4. Eric Bischoff challenges Vince McMahon to a fight

Eric Bischoff had a crazy proposition for the head of WWE Vince McMahon
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The WWE and WCW's Monday Night Wars were incredible. Those that lived through the era of the Attitude Era and WCW's NWO invasion consider it the golden era of professional wrestling, and for good reason. It was the most unpredictable time in wrestling history. You never really knew what you were going to get on WCW Nitro or WWE RAW, but you knew it was going to be must-see TV.

Well, on May 11th, 1998, Eric Bischoff made a pretty major challenge. After taunting WWE for months and flaunting their wins in the ratings, WCW found themselves being taunted by D-Generation X. Triple H, The New Age Outlaws, X-Pac and Chyna had even shown up at a Nitro event to declare war.

DX had gotten fans, on camera, to admit they hadn't paid for their tickets, attempting to hurt the reputation of their competition. They even drove up to the building, demanding to be let in. Well, a few weeks later, Bischoff had an answer for WWE.

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"So Vince McMahon, this is for you. I'm coming to your backyard this Sunday. That's right, got a little pay-per-view thing going on. I've got a hell of an idea, just a hell of an idea. You want me? I'm gonna be in your backyard. Consider this an open invitation, Vince McMahon. You show up at Slamboree, it'll be me and you, McMahon, in the ring. But I wanna warn you people right now, if you think Vince McMahon has got the guts to show up, don't buy this pay-per-view. Because I guarantee you he's not man enough to step in the ring with moi."

Slamboree was taking place in Massachusetts, the state where WWE's home base was located. Needless to say, Vinnie Mac didn't give Bischoff the courtesy of showing up on his pay-per-view.

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#3. Triple H goes after Bullet Club and AEW at the 2019 WWE Hall of Fame Ceremony

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At the 2019 WWE Hall of Fame, D-Generation X was inducted. The entire group. Triple H, Shawn Michaels, Sean Waltman, Billy Gunn, Road Dogg, and the late great Chyna. However, when Triple H took the podium, the crowd began to chant something that had taken over the wrestling world in recent years.

As "Too Sweet, Woop Woop" rang out in the stadium, Triple H cut it off, claiming that it's stupid and that he "hated that thing," saying that it wasn't cool. After that little pot shot at the Bullet Club, he found a way to have a little fun with AEW.

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DX was going off script, and at many points they were all wondering if they were going to get cut off or straight up fired for what they were saying. Billy Gunn, though, wasn't employed by WWE. He was with AEW and said, "Ha, he can't fire me." After AEW chants broke out, Triple H said:

"Billy, let's be honest. Hold on, let's be honest. He will buy that pissant company just to fire you again. I'm just saying."

When WWE fans get upset at AEW taking shots at them, it's probably important to remember that when Triple H called them a "pissant company." After that, all shots are probably warranted.

#2. Eddie Kingston compares the locker rooms between AEW and WWE

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Eddie Kingston made headlines a few weeks back following a post-AEW Dynamite promo he cut in front of a live audience, going after WWE. In June, Kingston spoke to Daily's Place, and cut right to the point.

"The competition sometimes doesn't wanna hear their fans. I guess I'm burning another bridge, surprise. Ladies and gentlemen, AEW cares about their fans. We are not here just to get ourselves a paycheck. We're here every week, with you people, without you people, and we come out here and bust our asses. Because we love, we love professional wrestling."

Kingston went further, talking about the highly acclaimed main event between Jungle Boy and Kenny Omega from that night. When it came to those two, the legends in AEW and the locker room, Kingston said there was a heart in their company that you would never see on the other channel.

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It was controversial to say the least. Many loved Kingston's heartfelt words, knowing that he was truly passionate about AEW and the locker room. However, there were some who felt he stepped out of line and went too far when it came to WWE's locker room. On Busted Open Radio, WWE Hall of Famer Bully Ray spoke on the issue.

Ray said he loved Kingston to death, and if it came down to a promo battle, there's nobody else in the business you'd want there ahead of Kingston. However, that didn't mean he agreed with what was said.

"But in this case, Eddie needs to shut the f*** up and stay in his lane. His lane is an AEW guy speaking about AEW and flying the flag for AEW. Then, I'm completely onboard. Tell me how great AEW is. Fly the flag for your company. Show me that you wear your heart no your sleeve. You were an indie guy for the majority of your career until this company took a chance on you. You've learned to love it and everything about it. Don't take the easy way out and knock the WWE."
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When it comes to WWE and AEW taking shots at each other, there are definitely fans who get tired of it. If you're someone who enjoys that aspect of the war that we saw between AEW and WWE's NXT brand, though, it's hard not to love the words shared by Eddie Kingston.


#1. That's gonna put some butts in the seats

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It's impossible not to put this at the top spot considering what it did for the Monday Night Wars. Essentially, many considered this a turning point for WWE. On January 4th, 1999, WWE aired a taped episode of RAW. At this point, WCW had gotten into the habit of ruining the results of any taped shows that WWE produced.

However, this was the one night they probably didn't need to. Had they not said anything, the fans that were switching channels back and forth might have assumed Mankind wasn't going to win the WWE Championship. After all, with The Rock as the Corporate Champion and the whole Corporation ringside, what were the odds of a title change?

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Fans, even now, will tell you that they won't watch a product if it's too predictable. At that point, everyone just assumed that The Rock was going to retain and continue onward in the feud with Stone Cold Steve Austin. But no, WCW gave them a reason to go watch a historic moment in WWE history.

"If you're even thinking about the channel to our competition, fans, do not. Because we understand that Mick Foley, who wrestled here for a time as Cactus Jack is going to win their world title. Huh, that's gonna put some butts in the seats."

Well...it did. Fans loved Mick Foley, and rightfully so. He was an every man, someone that many saw themselves in. Those that followed his career knew the risks he took to entertain the fans, and also knew how important his family was to him.

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He was a genuinely good guy that fans wanted to see succeed. So when those channel changers heard it was going to happen, they were glued to WWE RAW waiting for the moment to take place.

Sometimes it's okay for companies to take shots at each other, but it's a risk. Much like this moment, there's a chance you wind up sending your fans to the competition.

Meet the man who called CM Punk the softest man alive HERE

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Edited by
Daniel Wood
 
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