What if AEW fails in its first year?

#4. NXT gobbles up talent

NXT would be a fitting home for many AEW talents if the new company doesn't work out.

Promotions like NJPW, Ring of Honor, and Impact Wrestling may grasp at top talent from AEW if the new company doesn’t pan out. There also remains, however, WWE and its NXT brand.

For the last five years, NXT has functioned as not only a developmental territory, but WWE’s answer to hardcore fans who want a more traditional, match-centered wrestling product. While talents like Kenny Omega, The Young Bucks, and The Lucha Bros. could conceivably jump straight to the main roster, their style would probably fit better in NXT.

If WWE’s closest thing to the threat of competition flops, WWE will shore up its spot as the place to be for any wrestler trying to build a mainstream legacy and land a big money deal. We can expect NXT to cherry pick the top shelf talent that comes available in the event that AEW fails.