Since its launch in 2019, AEW has emerged as a competitive alternative to WWE, marking a shift in the wrestling landscape after decades of WWE dominance. The rivalry between the two promotions, however, has been marked by hostility, with fans often taking sides and a culture of tribalism emerging.
On the “83 Weeks” podcast, former WCW president Eric Bischoff expressed doubts about AEW’s readiness to compete strongly, suggesting that AEW President Tony Khan should show gratitude toward WWE for paving the way for growth in the industry rather than positioning AEW as a challenger.
In Bischoff’s view, “I just think it’s too soon. The product is not developed yet. The brand has yet to be developed. Until they stop losing audience, I wouldn’t try to make any comparisons at all to WWE. If I was Tony Khan right now, I would be putting WWE over and thanking them for being the catalyst for so much growth in the wrestling space.
Literally, I’d be putting them over and endearing myself to their fans, as opposed to challenging them to try my product and perhaps hope that you’ll find it a better product; they’re just not ready for that yet.”
Additionally, Bischoff responded to Khan’s comparisons of AEW to WCW with skepticism, laughing at the notion that the two companies are in the same league. He asserted that AEW is far from reaching the level of WCW, even during its decline.