Are WWE and AEW Working Together?

Recently on Twitter, former WWE, WCW and Impact Wrestling writer Vince Russo posted an interesting tweet in which he believes that All Elite Wrestling (AEW) and WWE are working together. This opinion is based on the idea taken from the mid 1990s, where WWE helped to fund ECW in order for the company to stay afloat throughout financial peril. This was done as a favour from Vince McMahon to Paul Heyman, based on the working relationship between the two companies during that particular era.

The tweet is indeed very interesting to say the least. Everyone has a right to their opinion and I wholeheartedly stand by that notion; even when it comes to Vince Russo. We all know the history behind Russo and his controversial statements, stories, and all that jazz from the countless shoot interviews and things of that nature. That’s nothing to be surprised about. I can see the idea of the two working together, perhaps based on a financial plan or the notion that each company is purposely fueling the other by allowing both organizations to throw cheap shots at each other.

Triple H threw AEW under the bus at the WWE Hall of Fame ceremony, after thanking Billy Gunn (who is also a producer for AEW) for being “all in”, an obvious jab to AEW. Things started to get interesting, when Hunter referred to AEW as a “pissant company” that Vince McMahon would buy out in order to fire Billy all over again.

AEW responded in kind at their debut event Double or Nothing with multiple references and shots fired at WWE. Brandi Rhodes got on the microphone and turned the planned Women’s Triple Threat match into a Fatal 4-Way match by saying she planned to make this match “Awesome!”. While the reference was of course a segue to introduce Awesome Kong (f.k.a. WWE’s Kharma) to AEW, you could say that it was aimed at The Miz in reference to his catchphrase.

Let’s not forget the obvious one, where during Cody Rhodes’ entrance, we saw a throne perched on the stage, with Brandi Rhodes giving Cody a sledgehammer for her husband to walk up and smash into the throne, causing it to explode. All a direct shot at Triple H.

Lastly, the debuting Jon Moxley (f.k.a. WWE’s Dean Ambrose). At the conclusion of Double or Nothing, Moxley would deliver an Attitude Adjustment to Kenny Omega off the poker chips and through a table on the stage entrance. Again, an obvious dig at WWE and the company’s longtime face of the “PG Era”, John Cena. Granted, I’m sure other wrestling fans spotted some other references, but those stood out in my mind as I watched the pay-per-view.

Given the nature of how both wrestling organizations have handled business with each other, anyone who would believe or entertain the thought process behind AEW and WWE working together in any way, shape or form is simply ludicrous.

Financially, both companies are more than secure enough to handle each other. WWE is still going strong in spite of the setbacks in ratings and other declining numbers. AEW is backed by Tony Khan and the Khan family, who are billionaires in their own right. Bottom line, both companies are straight in terms of finances without needing the other’s help.

Secondly, the times have changed and wrestling has changed with them. The forbidden rule of name-dropping a rival wrestling organization’s name on television is over. Impact Wrestling did it all the time. WWE’s Sami Zayn just referenced AEW on Monday Night RAW during his “Electric Chair Segment” with Corey Graves, which sparked a lot of controversy and supposed rage from Vince McMahon backstage. Therefore, it should be no surprise when you see one wrestling company talk about another company on live TV, either in a negative tone or as a reference to a wrestler’s past history.

Russo implied that we’re all being worked if we believe that both companies aren’t working together based on the actions taken by both. That is simply not true and couldn’t be any further from the truth. This isn’t WWE helping ECW all over again. You can’t even say that it’s WWE versus WCW, even though there are some similarities (i.e. TNT vs USA Network, WCW grabbing WWE’s big stars as free agents, billionaire owner versus billionaire owner). Both companies have a completely different feel and flavour to them. WWE is a family friendly company and is proud to push themselves of that prestige in order to provide the best “Sports Entertainment”. They have their edgy moments, but the WWE is by far a more kid friendly company. AEW is a throwback to what wrestling fans once enjoyed from WCW, ECW and WWE combined in the 90s, while adding a modern day style by incorporating all the international and indie style wrestling. AEW is more edgy than WWE by far.

If anything, for those who cannot stand the current WWE product, you now have a true mainstream alternative to check out. No disrespect intended to Impact Wrestling, ROH, and other American related wrestling organizations, but there hasn’t been any real competition for the WWE since WCW was bought out in 2001. Sad, but very true. WWE has been the number one game in town, while all others have been battling for that far distant number two, three, four, etc spots just to give wrestlers another place to grow, learn their craft, reinvent themselves and eventually embark on a journey to the WWE as their ultimate goal.

Some wrestling fans can compare AEW versus WWE to WCW versus WWE. I prefer to compare this to Pepsi versus Coca Cola. You have two great sodas. Two distinct flavours. Two very popular brands that people know and love passionately. Some will like Coca Cola more than Pepsi, and vice versa. Others either don’t drink soda and hate it completely or love both. As interesting an analogy this is, you can say that WWE and AEW should be treated like that. It’s fine to favour WWE over AEW, or the other way around. It’s okay to say: “You know what? I’m a wrestling fan through and through and I want to watch and enjoy both products for what they each have to offer”.

Maybe that’s the way it should be. How about we love and appreciate both wrestling companies for what they bring to the table? Let us rewrite wrestling history as wrestling fans, versus repeating history and bringing the wrestling business to the point of no return.