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This is not an article where we ask you to form teams and choose one of the two programs to watch and to ignore the other. The most beautiful thing about pro wrestling in 2020 is that we have two amazing companies (and many other smaller entities) working their rear ends off to put on the best show for their fans across the world.
But having reviewed WWE and AEW for so many weeks now, I have noticed that both companies have their own strengths and weaknesses. I shall elaborate upon them in this article and I invite you to join in as well in the comments section below.
And maybe it is for the best that these two companies are so different in their approaches because if everyone was doing the same thing, the world would be a boring place. So, with that said, I present the following points.
#1 AEW promos are far better than WWE
WWE operates under a world of restrictions and as a result, sometimes the promos that are cut on the show can appear to be contrived and not genuine. And this is a shame because WWE has some of the best talkers in the game currently.
But at the same time, everyone in AEW is allowed to be themselves and the lack of scripted promos helps them shine and connect with the audience in a manner that WWE Superstars simply cannot, not because of a lack of talent but because of the way the show is presented. Of course, AEW is just as scripted a show as WWE is, but because not every single line is fed to every single performer, you can have Jon Moxley be his usual scathing self and Cody Rhodes can speak from the heart.
You also have veterans like Jake Roberts who add a whole new dimension to the show.
#1 AEW's women's division still has a long way to go
Unfortunately, I just think that a lot of the women in AEW are miscast and they lack the finesse that someone who has passed through the NXT system usually possesses. I don't mean to single out Britt Baker, because she has a world of potential and I am actually enjoying what she has been doing in her current avatar with Tony Schiavone in all of her interview segments, but one wonders how much better her delivery would have been had she gone through the NXT system sitting under the learning tree of Dusty Rhodes.
It's just that as compared to the men on the show, whenever a women's segment is on, there's generally a drop in quality. And it does not really help that some of them have gimmicks that liken them to aliens or Freddie Mercury.
In comparison, WWE's women's division is at par with the men's division and such has been the case for a very long time now, ever since the Four Horsewomen rode into town.
#2 The in-ring work in AEW is better
We all know that if certain performers in WWE are unleashed, they will put on some of the best matches they can. WWE has Superstars like AJ Styles, Sami Zayn, Kevin Owens, Cesaro, Shinsuke Nakamura, Daniel Bryan, etc. all of whom are capable of putting on some true wrestling clinics. Unfortunately, the WWE style is a much safer way of working and even though it has evolved over the years, WWE still prefers to not have the kind of matches that AEW usually does.
The matches in AEW remind us about what made us wrestling fans in the first place. They take us on journeys with highs and lows, and there isn't a feeling of sameness like there is in WWE. In a lot of ways, NXT provides this kind of excitement for sure, but RAW and SmackDown choose to usually play it safe and have extremely standard matches.
In so many ways, it may be why performers like Johnny Gargano have said that they're content to be in the NXT brand.
#2 Constantly taking shots at WWE
Yes, we all know that All Elite Wrestling comprises of certain performers who are bitter towards their former employers. One of them is Brodie Lee, whom you may know as the Exalted One in All Elite Wrestling. He used to be a part of the Wyatt Family and The Bludgeon Brothers as Luke Harper, once upon a time.
Everyone wanted to see a brand new chapter in Lee's life, but the fact that he chose to parody Vince McMahon just felt extremely petty to me. And this is not the first time that the company has chosen to be petty, with Cody Rhodes, Chris Jericho, and even Jim Ross sometimes taking shots at the industry leaders. There is nothing graceful about taking shots at the competition and I don't really know why All Elite Wrestling doesn't choose to focus on the wealth of talent that they possess and instead, behaves in such a childish manner.
Impact used to constantly do the same once upon a time, but thankfully, they have stopped.
#3 Sheer amount of goodwill with fans and in the locker room
Do check out Sportskeeda's exclusive interview with the voice of AEW, Mr. Tony Schiavone at this link once you're done reading this piece. And please do subscribe to our YouTube channel because we are updating it with exciting content constantly.
A lot of superstars who get into the wrestling business for the love of it find that unless they are especially talented and/or fortunate, they don't find a spot where they can thrive in the WWE system.
A clear case of this is someone like Luke Harper, who could have been so much more.
Moreover, if you were to observe the comments and feedback of wrestling fans on social media, you'd notice that they are a lot more supportive of anything AEW chooses to do, in comparison with WWE. WWE may claim that fans are of paramount importance to them, but AEW has a connection with fans that the industry leader just cannot match.
But at the end of the day, we have the luxury to watch whatever we wish to- RAW, SmackDown, Dynamite, or even NXT since entertainment is now available on-demand for fans. It's a great time to be a wrestling fan.
What makes Sting special? His first AEW opponent opens up RIGHT HERE.
