Quote:
Originally Posted by Mr. Nerfect
NXT never needed to treat AEW like a threat. Not really.
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They didn't and that entire narrative came from AEW. They still say that trash. AEW Manufactured that whole gimmick that big bad WWE was trying to hurt them. It goes back all the way to the beginning, and it was a false narrative.
NXT aired on Wednesdays always. Guys like Jericho and Cody were actually on NXT shows that aired Wednesday nights. NXT didn't switch nights to hurt AEW, in fact once the TV deals were signed and they announced Smackdown was going to Friday nights, what did ARE do? They trademarked Tuesday Night Dynamite. The plan was for AEW to try and replace wrestling on Tuesdays in the void Smackdown left.
Now we know that's not what ended up happening, then got a TNT deal for Wednesdays. AEW ending up on Wednesdays is not the same as WWE purposefully trying to hurt them.
They also try to spin it as well NXT only went on TV to hurt Dynamite instead of just staying on the WWE Network. This is another false narrative. NXT got a TV deal because USA replaced 2 hours of Smackdown with 2 hours of NXT for 1/5th of the coat. NXT airs on TV because Vince could make money off it. To believe it the way AEW spins it, Vince can just make any cable network give him money and airtime whenever he wants. That is NOT how it works.
Another big one AEW like a to preach is creative freedom and unscripted promos. Evil WWE makes its wrestlers read scripts, AEW doesn't do that. Except come to find out, they fucking do. Rhodes to the Top blew.That myth completely away showing Cody going over exactly how Ricky Starks needed to deliver his scripted fucking promo. Are we to believe Ricky Starks is the only guy that has to follow a script? Of course not.
I've said it for years, it is all a gimmick. Part of getting that AEW contract is they are contractually obligated to spin the narrative, the facade, that AEW is such a freeing and delightful place to work, and that other place is old and bad. It's why JR once on his podcast slipped up and said he thought Randy Orton was the best wrestler, and since then every time he is on Commentary he HAS to add in that Kenny Omega is the best. Randy Orton being the best can't possibly be true since he works at that old and bad fed.
AEW has done some great things, but there is a reason they lose all the fans they gained with their flashbang moments in relatively quick fashion. It's because they are have some great wrestling moments that occur in a parody wrestling company. The whole wink wink mentality that lends to them all knowingly living this one gimmick that AEW is so much bigger and grander than it actually is, to the point that non die-hard fans see right through that bullshit, and move on after sampling here and there.
Until they stop trying to pull the wool over people's eyes and stop placating to the Marks that are all in on that narrative, they will continue driving fans away. The hardcores at Double or Nothing booed, BOOOOOOOOED, Danielson because he didnt cut a "Fed Bad" promo. One of the most universally loved wrestlers in the world, and they were pissed he didn't follow the prescribed narrative they have all bought into.
It's why they need to do more than just present the gimmick that they are the greatest thing ever, because only the people who want that to be true will ever actually believe it.