This week, AEW Dynamite will air earlier than usual with its annual Title Tuesday episode, followed by Collision the next night. Tony Khan’s AEW faces another direct head-to-head clash with WWE’s NXT brand, creating a challenging scenario that makes victory unlikely for Khan and his company.
The situation is further complicated as NXT has been collaborating with TNA for several months, leading up to a major creative showdown this Tuesday. Originally named Invasion, the event was renamed Showdown due to the sensitive timing of October 7 in Israel amid the Hamas attacks. Showdown will feature elimination matches showcasing top stars from both companies, alongside a winner-takes-all Tag Team title match between The Hardyz and DarkState.
In contrast, AEW Dynamite’s card currently includes a Mercedes Mone open challenge, a match involving Bandido and others that may be postponed due to Bandido’s injury, and a street fight between The Hurt Syndicate and The Demand. This lineup pales in comparison to the high-stakes battles presented by WWE and TNA.
During the historic Wednesday Night Wars, AEW and WWE frequently competed aggressively for ratings, but this time Tony Khan appears more focused on maintaining weekly television storytelling instead of assembling a major event to challenge what WWE is doing on The CW network. The result places AEW in a near impossible position.
Understanding Tony Khan’s Challenging Position Against NXT
From a perception standpoint, Khan and AEW find themselves stuck in a lose-lose scenario. AEW can either attempt to overwhelm NXT’s third brand with a stacked, one-off spectacle, or risk losing the battle outright. Neither option offers a clear win.
The NXT brand of 2025 differs greatly from its earlier years when shows like NXT TakeOver featured top-tier talent such as Adam Cole, Sami Zayn, Sasha Banks, and Bayley, delivering events that rivaled main roster pay-per-views. Now, NXT functions primarily as a developmental brand, where established talent like Ricky Starks and Ethan Page adapt to WWE style, while younger wrestlers like Trick Williams and Lola Vice gain valuable television experience.
For Tony Khan, the choice is either to continue focusing on AEW’s ongoing storylines or try to counter WWE’s Tuesday night push directly. Whichever path AEW takes, they face negative perceptions — appearing either reactive and struggling against competition or overly reliant on current creative arcs without a high-profile counter to WWE and TNA’s collaborative effort.
Why WWE and TNA Hold the Advantage in This Tuesday Night Clash
With AEW unable to secure a win on Tuesday night, WWE and TNA stand to gain the upper hand. TNA is expected to move to The CW for Wednesday nights, setting up a future direct rivalry with AEW, effectively allowing WWE to confront AEW without deploying another of its own brands.
Should TNA outperform AEW in the ratings, it would bolster WWE’s position. However, if TNA falls short, WWE can blame the loss on TNA’s relative inexperience. The cross-brand Showdown event allows both WWE and TNA to boost their visibility and narrative stakes without appearing as a hastily arranged counter to AEW’s Title Tuesday on TBS.
If AEW does surpass NXT in ratings, it simply confirms AEW Dynamite’s status as the company’s strongest weekly show, while WWE can still point fingers at TNA if the numbers falter. Conversely, if NXT versus TNA outdraws AEW, it shifts perception significantly in favor of TNA and WWE ahead of the anticipated Wednesday night move.
When Triple H managed NXT during AEW’s early rise, persistent AEW ratings dominance prompted Vince McMahon to reinvent NXT’s approach. Now, with Triple H leading creative on WWE’s main roster, it’s likely he welcomes the chance to challenge Tony Khan and AEW Dynamite once again, leveraging his brand in this ongoing wrestling ratings battlefield.
