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WWE Believe NXT Ready To Outdraw AEW Week After Week

By Lyle Kilbane • Published 10th November 2023
Tony Khan AEW Triple H WWE

Five years on from the debut of AEW Dynamite, WWE’s bizarre statement made afterward might finally have some sense behind it.

For years, Vince McMahon refused to acknowledge – or so the story goes – his competition in the wrestling world. That’s why when AEW Dynamite debuted head-to-head with NXT in October 2019 many fans were surprised that WWE not only recognised the newest player in town but offered some congratulations, albeit with a warning attached:

Congratulations to AEW on a successful premiere. The real winners of last night’s head-to-head telecasts of NXT on USA Network and AEW on TNT are the fans, who can expect Wednesday nights to be a competitive and wild ride as this is a marathon, not a one-night sprint.

The “Wednesday Night Wars” ensued and with a handful of exceptions Dynamite defeated NXT handily until WWE’s developmental brand moved to Tuesday nights in 2021. However, fans are still keeping an eye on ratings, and with the shows still on different nights, the ratings have been closer than ever as 2023 draws to a close.

WWE Believes NXT To Beat AEW Dynamite Week After Week

Now Haus of Wrestling has reported following the news that NXT is set to move to The CW network in 2024, that WWE has high hopes for the brand in its new home.

A WWE source is said to believe that NXT viewership will beat AEW Dynamite in the ratings on a consistent basis in 2024. This is especially the case once the show moves to The CW which is described as a “younger broadcast TV channel” instead of an “aging cable channel” something the company hopes helps attract a younger audience to the show. The average age of an NXT viewer in the past has been put at 53-55.

With all three of WWE’s weekly shows looking to be on the move in 2024 with SmackDown also finding a new home and Raw’s deal still being negotiated, big changes look to be coming to the entire wrestling world in the next 12 months. Tony Khan might be well served to change his running spikes for comfortable trainers because the marathon goes on.