WWE has once again taken direct aim at AEW with strategic scheduling. The company recently booked both Great American Bash and Saturday Night’s Main Event for July 12—the same day AEW is set to run All In: Texas at Globe Life Field. It mirrors their earlier move when NXT Battleground went head-to-head with AEW Double or Nothing.
However, Dave Meltzer believes WWE is relying on a playbook that no longer works.
“This idea that WWE’s going to run AEW out by scheduling shows next to them—it’s just not realistic. It worked in 1988. It’s not going to work now,” Meltzer said on the June 7 episode of Wrestling Observer Radio.
Meltzer explained that unlike Jim Crockett Promotions in the 1980s, AEW isn’t surviving on pay-per-view revenue alone.
“WWE’s playbook is outdated. AEW is funded. AEW has a base. They’re not relying on pay-per-view to stay alive. That’s the big difference.”
While WWE may hope to dilute AEW’s press and fan attention, Meltzer pointed out that today’s audiences are far more fragmented and loyal.
“AEW fans aren’t just going to suddenly stop watching because there’s a WWE show earlier in the day.”
Meltzer’s advice to AEW? Stay the course.
“If I were AEW, I’d ignore WWE and focus on putting out the best product. That’s the only thing that’s going to matter in the end.”
Still, he left the door open for AEW to respond tactically.
“If they wanted to fight back—sure, they could. Go long on a pay-per-view, time the main event against WWE’s post-show presser, whatever. But you’ve got to pick your spots.”
Garrett Gonzales added that Tony Khan’s current approach appears to be one of public silence, which Meltzer supported—but with caution.
“You don’t want to make it a war if you’re not built for a war. But you also don’t want to look like you’re backing down every time they do this.”
In the end, Meltzer believes AEW’s best defense is to simply deliver quality shows and trust their audience will follow.
Source:
Wrestling Observer Radio
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