WWE Considering Strong Counter Programming Against AEW All Out

WWE isn’t just sitting around while its upstart competition gains traction.

The company is well-aware of All Elite Wrestling’s early success. AEW is selling out arenas in record time, landed a big television deal on TNT and has already positioned itself as an alternative place to work for disgruntled talent.

WWE made headlines late last month with the announcement that EVOLVE’s 100th live event will air on the WWE Network head-to-head against AEW’s next show, Fight for the Fallen. This move got under the skin of Kenny Omega, who said it makes him sick that WWE ‘lines their pockets with [Saudi] blood money’ and felt the need to undermine AEW’s event, which benefits victims of gun violence in Jacksonville, FL.

According to Dave Meltzer at F4wonline, WWE has plans to jam up yet another AEW show. Meltzer says we should expect “another major counter by WWE” on August 31st, the night of AEW ALL OUT. It’s worth noting that WWE is holding an NXT UK TakeOver event that day from Cardiff, England.

This latest development shows that the ‘cold war’ between WWE and AEW is heating up. The tension began at the WWE Hall of Fame ceremony, when Triple H referenced AEW as a “piss-ant” company that Vince McMahon could purchase and shut down if he really wanted to.

WWE forced The Undertaker and Kurt Angle to pull out of Starrcast II during Double or Nothing weekend, which also saw Cody Rhodes destroy a throne with a sledge hammer – a clear sign that AEW isn’t shying down from this confrontation.

WWE is locking in talent to longterm contracts, with pay increasing and mid-card performers scoring lucrative 5-year deals. WWE is shaking up its product in hopes of recapturing the coveted 18-34 demographic ahead of AEW’s premiere on TNT this fall.

WWE Hall of Famer Booker T was scheduled to appear at the next Starrcast convention, which takes place during ALL OUT weekend. According to Meltzer, Booker T pulled out of that appearance because he realized the the WWE vs. AEW situation is “very real” and decided it was best to not get caught in the middle.

Starrcast III promoter Conrad Thompson wrote the following on Friday in response to Meltzer’s report about Booker T:

Meltzer’s report below is inaccurate. I don’t work for AEW and have no power to “book” anyone. STARRCAST is independent and we enjoyed Booker’s appearance in Las Vegas. I will miss him this time in Chicago but look forward to working with him again sometime in the future.

— Conrad the Mortgage Guy (@HeyHeyItsConrad) July 5, 2019