AEW star MJF has shared his thoughts on WWE running shows head-to-head against his home promotion. In a recent interview, MJF said that he views the practice not as a petty move, but as a savvy business decision.
Speaking with TV Insider, the former AEW World Champion gave credit to WWE’s leadership for their competitive tactics. He stated that if he were in their position, he would do the same thing.
It’s Business, Not Personal
Rather than showing frustration, MJF explained that he respects the move from a business perspective. He believes that any company should do what is necessary to “stomp out” its competition.
“I think it’s a smart business practice,” MJF said. “I give jolly old St. Nick [Khan] and Trips [Triple H] a whole lot of credit. At the end of the day, if you can stomp out your competition, you’re doing what is necessary. Lord knows I would.”
He added that while some may view WWE’s scheduling as a coincidence, he believes it is a deliberate and calculated business strategy. “They’re not doing this by happenstance,” he stated.
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A History Of Wrestling “Wars”
The concept of “counter-programming” is deeply rooted in wrestling history. The most famous example is the “Monday Night Wars” from 1995 to 2001, when WWE’s Monday Night Raw went head-to-head with WCW’s Monday Nitro. The intense competition, which included tactics like giving away taped results and talent jumping between companies, is often seen as the creative and commercial peak of the industry.
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – AUGUST 21: Wrestler Maxwell Jacob Friedman visits the SiriusXM Studios on August 21, 2023 in New York City. Friedman defends the All Elite Wrestling World Heavyweight Championship on November 18,… NEW YORK, NEW YORK – AUGUST 21: Wrestler Maxwell Jacob Friedman visits the SiriusXM Studios on August 21, 2023 in New York City. Friedman defends the All Elite Wrestling World Heavyweight Championship on November 18, 2023 at AEW Full Gear.
Photo by Cindy Ord/Getty Images
Since AEW’s launch in 2019, a new, smaller-scale war has emerged. The two promotions first went head-to-head during the “Wednesday Night War,” when AEW Dynamite consistently beat WWE’s NXT in the ratings, forcing NXT to move to Tuesday nights in 2021.
A Timeline of Competition
Since the end of the Wednesday Night War, WWE has continued to schedule programming and events opposite AEW’s major shows. In October 2023, a “Supersized” episode of NXT, featuring major stars like John Cena and Cody Rhodes, went directly against Dynamite and won the ratings battle. On multiple occasions, WWE has scheduled premium live events like NXT Battleground on the same weekend as AEW’s flagship Double or Nothing pay-per-view.
This trend continues this coming weekend. AEW will present its massive All In: Texas stadium show on Saturday, July 12. On that same day, WWE will be airing two premium live events: Saturday Night’s Main Event on NBC and The Great American Bash on Peacock. While AEW President Tony Khan has criticized these moves in the past, MJF clearly sees the competition as a sign of respect.
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