When All Elite Wrestling (AEW) exploded onto the scene in 2019, fans were ready to witness the first real challenger to WWE in nearly two decades. Backed by Tony Khan’s vision and the buzz from indie legends and ex-WWE stars, AEW felt fresh, rebellious, and real.
But fast forward to 2025... and one question looms:
"Can AEW Still Overtake WWE — or Has That Moment Passed?"
AEW’s Rise Was Lightning in a Bottle
AEW owned 2020–2021:
- Chris Jericho gave them star power out the gate
- Moxley, Omega, The Elite, and Cody built the foundation
- CM Punk's return in 2021? Electric.
Shows were unpredictable, promos were unscripted, and fans felt like this was the alternative wrestling needed.
But Then... Things Changed
Backstage drama started to spill over:
- The CM Punk–Elite fallout split the fanbase
- Injuries piled up
- Booking decisions grew inconsistent
- Some major signings fizzled (Remember Andrade? Miro?)
Meanwhile, WWE Got Better:
- Triple H took over creative
- The Bloodline story captivated fans
- Stars like Cody Rhodes, LA Knight, and Rhea Ripley surged
- NXT revived its identity
Ratings & Momentum Tell the Story
AEW:
- Struggles to hold 900k weekly viewers on Dynamite
- Collision underperforms despite a strong roster
- PPV buys are consistent, but not explosive
WWE:
- SmackDown and RAW dominate cable and now Netflix
- PLEs trend globally
- Merchandise and buzz continue to grow
So, Can AEW Ever Beat WWE?
Yes — but not by imitating WWE.
AEW’s strength was always being the alternative, not the competitor.
If AEW can:
- Focus on long-term storytelling
- Build new stars (Swerve, Takeshita, Hook, Julia Hart, etc.)
- Reclaim its creative edge
- Fix internal politics
Then maybe, just maybe, it can reignite that spark from 2019.
Not everyone wants polished, scripted sports entertainment. Some want grit. Chaos. Passion.
So no — the window isn’t closed.
But it won’t stay open forever.
💬 What do YOU think?
Can AEW ever surpass WWE in this era? Or is it destined to stay #2 forever?
👇 Drop your thoughts in the comments or tag me on social @thevitalclash.
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