Bryan Danielson, a well-known figure who has worked for both WWE and AEW, expressed confusion about WWE’s recent strategy of scheduling pay-per-view events directly against AEW’s shows. Speaking during an interview with comedian Jon-Bernard Kairouz, Danielson questioned why WWE appears to treat AEW as a serious threat to its business, despite AEW still being a challenger brand. He suggested those making decisions at WWE might be motivated by power rather than a realistic assessment of the competition.
“I think of it and I wonder, right? Like, I’m just curious what the people who are making these decisions, what they’re thinking. In the sense of this, ‘Oh, okay. This AEW thing, it’s real dangerous to our billion dollar business.’ That can’t be it. The one thing I think is that AEW existing and being this challenger brand, and being as successful as we’ve been, has changed the landscape for wrestling for the wrestlers themselves… but we’re still the challenger brand, catching up on however many years WWE has had. But it’s interesting, because we’re not at the point of being a threat. It’s one of the things where people who really crave power and a lot of money play these weird games that I don’t understand.” —Bryan Danielson
AEW recently moved its All Out pay-per-view to 3 p.m. Eastern Time on September 20 to avoid overlapping with WWE’s Wrestlepalooza, which is scheduled for the same evening. The earlier timing reflects AEW’s efforts to avoid direct clashes with WWE’s events following their announcement of Wrestlepalooza last month. This is not the first time both promotions have scheduled events on the same night; AEW’s Forbidden Door pay-per-view coincided with WWE NXT’s Heatwave premium live event in August.
Danielson Sees Competition as Beneficial for Wrestling Talent
In the same conversation, Danielson shared his belief that rivalries between WWE and AEW ultimately benefit the wrestlers and the industry as a whole. He highlighted how AEW has helped elevate stars such as Cody Rhodes and even contributed to CM Punk’s return to professional wrestling, despite Punk’s turbulent tenure with AEW that ended in September 2023. Danielson emphasized that the presence of AEW has provided wrestlers with new opportunities and growth.
“It’s like, okay, we’re going to run all the competitors that might be competitive with us out of this business. Why? It’s good for the wrestlers both in AEW and WWE. It’s been good for them like—okay, if AEW wouldn’t have started, would Cody Rhodes be where he is right now? No. They have a megastar because AEW exists. Would CM Punk ever have come back? Probably not. The people in WWE, a lot of the people I know, are great people. So I’d be interested to know what’s the decision-making process in this? But, you know, it’s not my monkey, not my circus, whatever the line is for that, you know what I mean?” —Bryan Danielson
Danielson’s departure from WWE came in May 2021 after his contract expired, and by September 5 of the same year, he had debuted in AEW. Recently, Danielson has reduced his in-ring appearances, transitioning toward a commentary role. Starting September 10, he will become a full-time commentator for AEW Dynamite, marking a new chapter in his wrestling career.
Upcoming Events Highlight the Ongoing Rivalry
Wrestlepalooza will be WWE’s first premium live event to be available on ESPN’s new direct-to-consumer streaming service. The show is set for the Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis, Indiana. Meanwhile, AEW’s All Out will take place at the Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, and will be streamed live on HBO Max. The proximity of these dates and choices in scheduling underscores the continuing competitive dynamic between the two wrestling organizations.
This scheduling strategy by WWE, alongside AEW’s decision to adjust their event timings, reflects the complex interplay between these companies as they vie for audience attention and market share. Bryan Danielson’s comments shed light on the wrestling world’s behind-the-scenes tensions, revealing how competition influences both business decisions and wrestlers’ careers.
