Could AEW be the new WCW?

[castletonsnob]

Could the AEW be a serious threat to the WWE? Could we have another Monday Night Wars on our hands?

[KofiMania]

Depends what type of TV deal they get and what big stars they can get to capture the “casual” audience.

[Deleted]

Depends on timeline. If 1994-1996 before the NWO era, then I hope not.

[The 1Watcher Experience]

Feb 23, 2019 19:03:59 GMT -5 KofiMania said:

Depends what type of TV deal they get and what big stars they can get to capture the “casual” audience.

That definitely matters and their presentation will too. They also need some great writing and a strong creative department that needs to make them feel must see. It’s not enough to be different and stand out from the rest. Other promotions have tried that. It also needs to feel addictive and make people want more. 

[WoodStoner1]

I just see it as a high end Indy like ROH myself.

[Kevin Hamilton]

Impossible to tell given they haven't put on one show yet. As far as Monday Night War though, no, as you'll never see two wrestling shows dominating cable ratings on one night again. The way people watch tv is far different than it was 20 years ago.

[Deleted]

I hope it won't end with Cody and The bucks just giving themselves the titles, with everything revolving around them.

[The Dark Order Inferno]

It could be, it could also be the new TNA with carnies taking the offspring of a rich person for a ride until the money runs out.

It really is too early to say, when they announce TV deals, run regular shows and tapings, then we'll have a better idea of where this is heading.

[The Thread Barbi]

If it to revitalise a stagnant WWE, then yes please.

If it's latter day WCW, then no thanks.

[johnnyk9]

Only time will tell

[OVO 40 hunched over like he 80]

The same level of mismanagement and embarrassment? I hope not.

Watch the third useless young bucks brother get a three year three hundred thousand dollar deal without leaving his house.

[The Ichi]

I think they could be a mixture of ROH and TNA (before their LOLTNA phase). And that's okay.

[OVO 40 hunched over like he 80]

Feb 24, 2019 11:56:30 GMT -5 The Ichi said:

I think they could be a mixture of ROH and TNA (before their LOLTNA phase). And that's okay.

TNA started as loltna, cheex had the first match ever.

[The Ichi]

Feb 24, 2019 12:04:10 GMT -5 OVO 40 hunched over like he 80 said:

Feb 24, 2019 11:56:30 GMT -5 The Ichi said:

I think they could be a mixture of ROH and TNA (before their LOLTNA phase). And that's okay.

TNA started as loltna, cheex had the first match ever.

I was meaning more the 2004 - 2006 run.

[OVO 40 hunched over like he 80]

Feb 24, 2019 12:05:56 GMT -5 The Ichi said:

Feb 24, 2019 12:04:10 GMT -5 OVO 40 hunched over like he 80 said:

TNA started as loltna, cheex had the first match ever.

I was meaning more the 2004 - 2006 run.

I wish AEW would have comparable talent to that period, just not only the bad leadership tna had in those years.

[BayleyTiffyCodyCenaJudyHopps]

Feb 24, 2019 5:47:32 GMT -5 Kevin Hamilton said:

Impossible to tell given they haven't put on one show yet. As far as Monday Night War though, no, as you'll never see two wrestling shows dominating cable ratings on one night again. The way people watch tv is far different than it was 20 years ago.

I’ve always believed that was a massive, major reason as to why Raw ratings have declined.

The three-hour format, inconsistent booking and overproducing some characters are definitely factors, I won’t argue that. But even if AEW and WWE both started pumping out hot products with big stars on competing shows, I don’t believe a ten million size audience is possible in this era of media consumption.

It’s not so much wrestling’s faults as it is there’s just so many more options for entertainment than there were in 1999.

[Milkman Norm]

In someways maybe. But not in most ways. WCW was the name used by Turner Broadcasting for the wrestling promotion that had bought from Jim Crockett. Crockett was a known commodity in that region of the country, the family having promoted in the mid Atlantic states since the 1930s. With his expansion had had moved into much of the rest of the southeast and the mid west. AEW does not have that history to draw from. They are starting from scratch whereas WCW was a new owner of an exciting promotion.

[El Pollo Guerrera]

Could AEW be the next WCW? It's possible... but so could ROH and New Japan. Even ImpacTNA still has a chance, remote at best.

I say that to break the monopoly the WWE has on the business, what any company needs to do is start attracting the 'casual' fan. Die-hard fans are already salivating over the possible signings and all that, but making the big money requires pulling in a bigger audience.

You'd need a TV show on a channel with a significant audience, at a time when 'casual' fans can stumble across it.

You'd need a mass exodus from the WWE. I say that the collection of indie darlings that AEW has assembled isn't enough, you'd need people that are fresher in the 'casual' fans minds... I've talked to people who don't remember Cody Rhodes already.

You'd need great writers/bookers.

You'd need to get on the road. My idea would be have a 'home base' like the ECW Arena or the Sportatorium but go on month-long tours, and make the tour shows cheap to get butts in the seats. A month at home, a month on the road.

And if you're a fan, don't exclude other fans if they're not 'fan enough'. ROH had a problem with their die-hard fans making casual fans feel unwelcome at their shows... last thing needed is AEW becoming the next "Rick and Morty" with a portion of the fan base so rabid that they alienate everyone else.

[RedSmile]

I'm expecting a hybrid of PWG, ROH, and NJPW.

[Pushed to the Moon]

I don't think wrestling is cool enough to garner a huge TV audience anymore. I think WWE is too big for a new company just to pop up and take over from nowhere. Especially since it's basically built purely on an internet smark fanbase and not the general public. I just hope it stays alive long enough to have some good matches and offer an alternative to WWE. Like the era of TNA with young AJ Styles and Joe etc. but with more money and maybe slightly bigger crowds.