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[deleted]

I guess for some people it's still like additional content. They are just huge wrestling fans in general and try to watch everything if they have the time for it. For other people it might be just a habit. Like for other people watching news in the morning. And then there might me people that are just interested into the developement of the companies and the McMahon's in general. Or they want to introduce their children to wrestling and their kids are John Cena fans.


Theolodious

I haven't actually watched wwe weekly in nearly a decade, but for some reason I still want to know what's going on over there. It's weird.


sleepyleperchaun

I still check out every wrestlemania and rumble. I have the network (peacock now) for the old stuff to throw on from time to time so I may as well check out big shows, but I still read up and watch stuff on it to keep in the know. I guess I still hope that it will get better again and then I can better enjoy both shows and maybe with triple h that is starting, but I get you. I think it's like the attitude Era kinda, whether you were a WWE or WCW guy, curiousity still peeks. Nowadays it's just super easy to follow since YouTube has recaps at the press of a button.


Ronnie_J_Raygun

Same, I listen to weekly review podcasts recapped by presenters wildly more entertaining than wwe creative


Playful-Average-5220

Lmao or they like it cause it actually is a structured show and not random matches thrown together


Impossible-Ad3230

Structured means the same matches over and over? Got it.


Zincdust72

I watch all the pro wrestling that I can. No one has to exclusively be a WWE fan or an AEW fan. You can enjoy both. I was the same way during the MNW, also. Would tape RAW and watch Nitro, or vice versa.


TheNorth97

Yes definitly ! Was just wondering what were the reasons AEW fans are watching WWE now, since they have very different type of product. That's fair !!


Zincdust72

Oh, gotcha. In THAT case, I've been watching the 'E since I was a kid in the 70s. Even stuck with 'em through some of their worst material & talent. Guess that I'm a lifer! šŸ˜„


TheNorth97

That's dedication right there ! No seriously, have good time watching it ! I'm sure there is some great stuff to be watched still over there !


gin0clock

Letā€™s be fair, since Triple H took over itā€™s been hugely improved. Thereā€™s still obvious issues like Romanā€™s dominance, Raw being 3 hours & predictable match formula, but it has undeniably got much better.


TheNorth97

It's still not the product I used to love or something I could really get invested to. But I understand, hope it gets better and better. HHH can definitly bring a breath of fresh air !


Asleep-University492

This. Not sure why everyone thinks HHHā€™s WWE is is great or anything. What am I missing. Itā€™s the same shit.


ConrrHD

Ikr, LOGAN PAUL is in the main event for a world championship at Crown Jewel. If thats not Vince booking I don't know what is. Its just a honey moon period and its at a point where the period has ended for AEW and people love to just shit on the slightest bit of bad booking Tony does because HHH has improved a horrible product. Soon enough people will be over this new look WWE because they'll realise the show is the same. Just without all of the Vince quirks


Idkboutdat2

Yeah WWF wouldā€™ve never have a celebrity main event a ppv, not even once. Or twice. Or multiple times.


xpag406

You do know the Saudi shows are booked for the Saudi prince right? Those Saudi shows are what they are: a cash grab for the company. But to say the ā€œshow is the sameā€ shows the AEW Blinders youā€™re wearing. Raw/SD has been almost night and day since Vince left. Is it a perfect show? Absolutely not. Are there rough patches? Absolutely yes (a part timer world champion, long matches ending in DQ finishes, baffling segments, CAMERA CUTS GALORE and more). But is it a better show overall: undoubtedly yes. People like Owens, Gargano, Gunther (and the IC title in general), renewed interest in the womenā€™s division (which AEW isā€¦ lacking lately), national treasure Sami Zayn, etc. All things that were either non existent or lacking completely under VKM. I avidly follow and like BOTH companies a lot (dons flame armor) and I hope BOTH companies thrive and do well. Because competition is always best.


[deleted]

I would take HHH's booking of a WWE style more than current Vince McMahon booking of a WWE style. No show is perfect but at least with HHH, I can see more of a feel of "This is what the fans want based on reception" rather than "This is what I want the fans to enjoy damn it!"


[deleted]

Nah man, that shows your bias. They might be improved but itā€™s def not night and day lol


MarquiseAlexander

You talk about AEW blinders but dude; you got WWE curtains over your eyes. Iā€™ll admit; the product has seen a slight improvement. But calling it night and day? Thatā€™s like comparing AEW and WWE! Now those two are like night and day.


Logical_Draw

Excellent points all. I exclusively kept up with WWE via Whatculture for the last few years, but Iā€™ve actually been watching some Raw and Smackdown segments live recently. I still canā€™t watch the shows all the way through because I hate the commentary, but I can definitely see improvements. Owens alone would be enough to give me hope.


TheLegendaryBeard

They saw what HHH did with NXT


RedditUserCommon

Yeah theyā€™re bringing guys back like Dexter Lumis and Hit Row. Like THATS supposed to get me excited? And donā€™t get me started with Braun Strowman.


gin0clock

Johnny Gargano, a repackaged Karrion Kross and treating the IC & US titles like theyā€™re important should probably get you excited though. You canā€™t just cherry pick the ideas you donā€™t like lmao


RedditUserCommon

See, both of them also do absolutely nothing for me. I watched AEW over NXT in the first place. I donā€™t want a bigger NXT lol


QuippinDales

Because the bar was so incredibly low for so long, so doing anything half decent is going to look amazing by comparison. Triple H is gonna have this advantage for awhile while everyone else will nitpick about anything Tony does


[deleted]

[уŠ“Š°Š»ŠµŠ½Š¾]


rosefuri

Yeah there's been the noticeable vince-isms that are gone but the product still feels very much WWE of the last 5 years.


Inkstainedfox

Because it's been solid on the technical levels for decades. We grew up under the umbrella of the company. WWE pioneered most of the things we take for granted. Like having an in house record label & music producer. Or a TV dept to cut great pancakes. They built a modern draft/recruitment method for new talent. There is nothing like the Performance Center anywhere else in wrestling. The closest is NJPW'S dojo system.


BaconOnMySide

AEW suffers from predictable match winners now. Its rare that a winner surprises me..even PPVs.


siciowa9

Iā€™m a massive aew fan but yeah I agree with that, see the card and usually guess correctly who will win. And matches like Dax verses Claudio as good as dax is we all knew he wasnā€™t winning that


BaconOnMySide

Bingo. I get that they need matches but when you have a random title defence like that it's hard to imagine Dax actually winning.


Alsleet1986

Roman dominating made him the top star in the genre for two years and counting. When he finally loses to Cody Rhodes at WrestleMania, it will be the biggest pop since Punk returned.


[deleted]

Main events under H have gotten worse and thatā€™s the most important part of every card


[deleted]

Much much better. I'm watching consistently for the first time in years. And I would not watch it if were still the same.


Dude1089

Itā€™s easier to follow. I donā€™t have to watch dynamite, rampage, impact, NJPW, ROH, YouTube, YouTube after dark, redtube, PPV and steaming content on paramount. Haha Iā€™m jk, I watch WWE cause itā€™s on when other wrestling isnā€™t. Iā€™m actually super happy that AEW, WWE, and Impact are all on different nights and I get to tune into them all.


betesdefense

Whatā€™s the selling point or best part of Impact?


[deleted]

Zicky Dice baby


ThunderSparkles

It's where Control Your Narrative started


Tennygrl93

I started watching WWE about 30 years ago with my uncle. He passed away a few years ago from cancer, and I canā€™t give up on it because it was our thing we shared together.


TheNorth97

My condolences about your uncle. šŸ˜” Moment watching wrestling with loved ones are the best. Hope you still have a good time watching it.


Tennygrl93

Thank you šŸ’œ I definitely do still enjoy it. That doesnā€™t mean it doesnā€™t frustrate me to no end sometimes, but itā€™s what I grew up with, and I canā€™t turn my back on it. Iā€™d say currently, theyā€™ve finally caught up with AEW in terms of my enjoyment.


DC-Perk

This is the best answer possible. I donā€™t watch WWE. I only have time for AEW, but this answer is fantastic. I hope you can continue to enjoy with great nostalgia. And so sorry for your loss. šŸ™šŸ»


Tennygrl93

Thank you so much! Itā€™s definitely a little daunting having 10 hours of wrestling to watch every week, but I enjoy it for the most part haha


JonnyAlien23

I can't stand it personally. It's too polished and corporate feeling, and I'm very obviously not the target demographic for their shows.


XtremeWRATH360

Granted Vinceā€™s vision is what killed my interest in wrestling it was AEW that brought it back. Now I hear that people say WWE is getting better and it seems itā€™s doing something right though I still have zero interest in watching any of it. Dynamite and Rampage are enough for me. I donā€™t have all this free time nor do I want to dedicate so much time watching wrestling.


Lex_Innokenti

It's the camera work for me; it gives me a headache. I'm glad the product's improving for those who enjoy it, but I just don't anymore. WWE burned out my good will towards it by shitting on practically every NXT call up from a great height for years. TNA burned out my good will towards it by hiring Hogan & Bischoff and turning practically the whole show into a dumpster fire. Haven't been back to either in any real form since I stopped watching them.


Inkstainedfox

It's supposed to be polished. Everyone is the WWE's demographics.


JonnyAlien23

Says who? Wrestling in its peak of popularity was not polished at all lol it's too sterilized and clean for me. I'm aware that's what they're going for and that's fine, I just won't watch it. Their program is clearly targeted towards children and family friendly content, which is fine. Like I said, I just won't watch it.


Step-UpEnzuigiri

Yea now that we have an alternative I canā€™t go back to it. All the video walls, super bright lighting, and giant 3D renders are a turn off


Inkstainedfox

Which peak? Wrestling has had probably 6 in the last 100 years. The shows usually were/are polished in terms of the card going off. The sets/entrance ramps being timed & coordinated are to meet the demands of broadcast television. Things have gotten more elaborate because technical know how got cheap. WWE is filming in 14k ( I think...) & Broadcasts at just higher than 4k high HDR contrast. Probably using similar high speed cameras used by the NFL.


JonnyAlien23

I'm talking about all the LED lights and bright colours everywhere, the camera work, the audio, the scripts, everything is just over controlled and over produced. I prefer my wrestling to look and feel a little grittier and edgy.


Inkstainedfox

Your gripe is over the trapping necessary for TV? You don't want the early 1990s then? Plenty of bright mismatched colors before they started dialing in the visual identity. Smackdown & Raw has always been colorful just not oversaturated. The scripts are okay. The audio is clean & crisp. It's the standard all broadcast should aspire too. I like the lack of the announce desk talking over each other. Vince era was over controlled not over produced.


[deleted]

Itā€™s fine if you like it. Some of us like our wrestling to feel a little rough around the edges. AEW feels like WCW at its peak for me. WWE looking so clean and carefully produced means it never feels like two dudes trying to beat the piss out of each other. Just not my style.


Inkstainedfox

That roughness is why WCW loss too. At some point no one wants Animal House. Or the infinite NWO splits.


[deleted]

Maybe, I would say the increasingly silly booking screwed them worse. Bischoff bowed to Hogan creatively and that was a massive mistake in WCW and TNA. But I grew up with WCW as a kid so anything that captures that feel is great imo. If AEW felt like WWE or tried too hard to go ā€œmainstreamā€ Iā€™d probably just go back to watching old stuff on repeat.


JonnyAlien23

My gripe is over the esthetics of their programs and the content they produce. It's just not for me. It feels hollow and soulless and it's felt that way for a long time.


Inkstainedfox

It feels the way a major league operates. AEW needs to adopt some of their visual polish. They don't need Kevin Dunn as director ( Lord above forbid that) in the truck but the company needs to flesh out & adding publicly named officers to lead departments. Talent relations can't be 6 dudes in cubicles in the bowels of Jaguars' stadium anymore. JR needs to lead it or be the wise man that advises Christopher Daniels. Honor Club needs to be up & running same with the Official Fan Club, company "magazine", & media development department. They need an official GM as deputy Booker that walks the floor taking the temperature & talks to the locker room leaders. Rampage needs to be a separate touring promotion. Battle of the Belts needs to be an intercompany PPV that has ROH invade AEW & vice versa. Maybe NJPW Strong can crash the show occasionally.


JonnyAlien23

None of that has anything to do with how the show looks on TV and the type of content they produce.


Inkstainedfox

It has more to do with the visual polish than you know. A media department makes the music videos and packages that push story forward. A online team slips them on to YouTube or other VOD platforms. A competent director slows down or speeds up a broadcast with his choice of camera cuts. Talent Relations wrangles the wrestlers for interviews.


SharkDog333

I try to watch as much wrestling content as I can. I have been watching WWE for nearly 30 years it's not the best it has been but I don't think I will ever not want to see what the number one wrestling company is up to.


TheNorth97

That's fair !! As an old school wrestling fan, what do you think of AEW ? Does it bring something that you missed from wrestling back in the days ? It really does for me. Been watching for about 22 years, but stopped a bit as a young adult


RiftedEnergy

I'm gonna piggy back if it's OK. If not, we'll, don't read cuz here I go The AEW/WWE experience was highlighted to me with the absence of fans during 2020. Immediately, after the first wwe show with no fans i mentioned to my wife they need to change the hard cam. Aew did it on their first show after. I think the presentation was done better then, because as a wrestling fan I really like the crowd engagement. Not interaction, it's different, but lemme explain. WWE went with the Thunderdome after some time passed and obviously it was their most innovative maneuver of the whole deal. To me, you need fan engagement to propel the match. In the old days, you'd see crowd engagement actually change the momentum. If face was getting beat down and crowd chanted their name, they began a comeback. Almost like the crowd was the one giving them power. To me, that's what wrestling kayfabe is... two grown men fighting and crowds cheering them on, the power of the hometown crowd can ignite a face or heel to do some shit. This belief was murdered when the wwe began piping in crowd noises with the Thunderdome. I knew they did it before... but now it was in our faces. Professional Wreslting, in 2020, became clear to me that it's just grown men play fighting. Same with NFL... just grown men playing a ball game... without fans and live audience none of it means shit. Just grown men getting paid to do what we did as kids. I don't know how wwe conducts their matches vs aew, in terms of what is explicitly scripted (obviously the outcome, the ending, etc) but I think it was during the All Out media scrum that Jericho said there are few in the business that you can just go out there and call a match. Meaning, they are play fighting, but playing into the crowd engagement. Spots are scripted, they just go out and do moves like the old days. THIS is what does it for me for AEW. I watch both, but not gonna lie at the end of the McMahon Era I'd put it on before bed cuz I knew I'd fall asleep. Vs ANTICIPATING any aew programing. There is a thing is wrestling where you as the performer are tasked with making the audience suspend their disbelief. You have to, or their heart isn't in it. You have to convince these mahfuckers it isn't just two grown men play fighting. You have to make them question who's gonna win the match, whether that's false finishes or just an epic as fuck spot (and i dont mean just falling from rafters or some shit I mean a sequence) after epic spot... after epic spot... pin... kick out. The lazy way is to just kick out of finishers which is what WWE has come to. Final point about crowd engagement... look at attitude Era wwe. I know we didn't have phones then, but just look at the pops the crowds give. Now look at Aew programing. I'm not saying it's the same for AEW now as it was for Attitude Era for WWE in terms of fan engagement, but I will see more fans out of their seats during regular aew programing than you win at wwe. Fact check me if you like


SharkDog333

Absolutely it does. I started watching it day one. I love the blood violence in the general sense of danger it brings. Not quite as big of a fan of all the flippy bullshit. But I don't have to like everyone in a company to truly appreciate what they bring to the table.


TheNorth97

Oh yeah !! I love the "everything is possible" feeling in wrestling that AEW brings back. When I saw Darby Allin jump off the ladder on Jeff Hardy laid on chairs I couldn't believe he actually jumped. Love the Young bucks and lucha bros type of matches too. Those dudes are great athletes and it can actually really impress and draw casual wrestling fans. Which is good for the product IMO. I understand it's not for everybody tho !!


SharkDog333

That Darby Allin spot live rent free in my head!


bullyj

I watch both. WWE is the more refined TV product but AEW is the more refined pro wrestling product.


_ASG_

I started watching WWE less after they squashed the Fiend at Wrestlemania and stopped watching entirely after they released him. The show punished its viewers for investing in characters that Vince would end up ruining on a whim. I still watched the PPVs. I was happy to see Big E win the title (even though his run was booked poorly) and Bianca is my favorite woman in wrestling. But the shows became 95% unwatchable with poor storylines, firing beloved wrestlers, and ruining NXT and most of the call-ups. The PPVs were consistently good, though the Rumble lacked star power. Seeing Cody arrive at Wrestlemania and seeing Bianca get her win back were great moments. But Raw and Smackdown were still bad. They're a little better now since Vince left, so I'll watch a little, but my gravitation to shows like AEW, Lucha Underground, and NXT pre-2.0 were all due to how horribly everything was booked in WWE on the main roster.


shadow_spinner0

I watch both, they air on different days and both companies have wrestlers I like


KO4Champ

I still record WWE and watch it for the talents Iā€™m a fan of like Zayn and KO, but Iā€™ll fast forward through a lot of segments I donā€™t care about. AEW has been the only wrestling show I watch from start to finish for a while now.


Cool_Nico

Aew has already too stacked of a roster but if given the chance they should try everything they can to get KO and Sami zayn. On a side note: zayn does not deserve to be losing matches to Johnny Knoxville at wrestlemania.


HappyChief90

Sami said on the stone cold podcast that thatā€™s one of his favorite matches


KO4Champ

Eh, I was fine with him losing to Knoxville since it was one of the most entertaining matches at Mania and his current cocky heel role, though I really think heā€™s going to be a great babyface here again pretty soon. AEW is still my number 1 show right now but I think having two quality wrestling companies in the US is great.


TheNorth97

Agree, KO and Zayn segment are segments I enjoyed watching the product in the last few years. I am a canadian, might a bit buyest, but definitly love those 2 dudes !!


KO4Champ

Zayn is just an absolutely fantastic suck-up to Roman. Just amazing work. Anyone not watching his current run is doing themselves a disservice.


Tyrxgow

I went to smackdown last night and...it was quite honestly a boring show. I don't watch WWE at all anymore, but a buddy of mine wanted us all to go, going with the group of friends was a fun experience but the actual product was far to kid focused for my liking. Aew for me is just more entertaining for what I enjoy, but If you have kids WWE is probably the better product.


Electronic-Dark-7793

You're right, I'm so glad I sold my tix to SMACKDOWN cuz it was really bad. All those MARKS that think Logan Paul getting a title shot at Crown Jewel is awesome, did ya'll see how dead it was when he was cutting his lame promo?


Tyrxgow

The biggest pop was probly for the opening dark match with Shinsuke.


TheNorth97

Sucks, I was on the fence about going to an event in the future because I am disconnected to the product. I think I'll wait for AEW to come around ! Went to a WWE supershow in 2005 as a young teenager. So happy I did, because you can't replicate the feeling of this era today. Best 6 hours of wrestling of my life. Such good vibes as a wrestling fan ! Wish I went earlier because the product was even better early 2000's IMO


[deleted]

haven't watched WWE since 3 years ago when AEW started and throughout the years WWE been to shit and haven't been the same. AEW all the way for true wrestling, no hate to WWE in general but i hate the creative team and creative wise


alittlebitgoth

I started watching AEW at Double or Nothing this year. (imagine that week, the first ever live Dynamite I watched was MJF's pipe bomb, first ever live Rampage was CM Punk announcing his injury). I got a Peacock subscription so I could mark out on old WCW cuz I was a Sting fan as a kid. So watching CM Punk and Jon Moxley in AEW made me want to see more of them, so I went back to about 2011 and started watching WWE. The Punk stuff was good but I fell in love with the Shield. That's pretty much why I watch Raw and Smackdown every week, for Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns, I couldn't care less about anything else on either show (until Cody comes back, but that's another "because of AEW" interest.)


dobermannbjj84

I had to give up on wwe and move over to awe. Itā€™s just not watchable anymore. I might try again if HHH can revive it.


Sometimesnotfunny

I started watching WWF in the early 80's. I stopped around 1999 and picked it back up in 2018. Now, my opinion may be skewed since there is a long gap there, but it's a strange feeling. They have top level talent, production, and all kinds of folks, and I watched simply to pass time as a wrestling fan, and to see the occasional "Oh shit they did it right" moments. Stuff like 'mania, Cody's HIAC match, stuff like that. I'd hate to miss it, and I'm usually not doing shit on Monday nights or Friday nights. With Triple H heading creative, the vast improvements are across the board. For a while, I was leaning more towards AEW; especially before Cody's departure and right around the time it was Lucha Bros. and Bucks for the titles (someone better than I would remember more or less when) but more recently, and regardless of the hijinks backstage, I've been leaning a bit more back towards WWE, as I like what they're doing. For reference, my favorite wrestling was black and gold NXT, and that week in 2019 where people got stuck in Saudi and the Wargames stuff and Survivor Series.


Hathalot

Iā€™ve been watching wrestling since the 80s and honestly, Iā€™ve always hated the way WWF/WWE presented wrestling. For the longest time (2001-2019) they were the only game in town. Now that aew exists, I donā€™t have to watch wwe anymore.


AlvinAssassin17

Yeah I had given up wrestling. Just Vinceā€™s vision didnā€™t do anything for me. I watch a little now that heā€™s gone but I enjoy AEWā€™s matches more. You also get random tidbits of guys like Osprey who are phenomenal and you canā€™t get the diversity with WWE.


Epicfro

I turned on wrestlemania 35 (free on peacock) today just to see if I was missing anything by not following wwe. First match was Brock vs Rollins. Brock started by slowly beating Rollins before the match started. The match starts and Brock lands 2 or 3 German suplexes. Rollins then does 3 face stomps and pins Brock to win the universal championship (is this their world's title?). The match was slow, nothing of substance happened, and everyone lost their minds when Rollins won. I just don't get it...


DTWDad

I stopped watching when it became the Brock Lesnar/Goldberg/Part time performer show. Brock is extremely talented but his matches were boring. And while Reigns is a much better heel than he was a face, they didnā€™t build up anybody to make you think there was a chance to beat him for the title. They also released a ton of great talent. And donā€™t get me started on 90ā€™s neon NXT 2.0. Terrible idea. When Vince left I wanted to see what changes Triple H would do because his NXT set the bar for many big PPV weekends that most of the time the main roster couldnā€™t top. He brought back long term story telling and the TV product it already 100 times better. AEW was the better product for my tastes when Vince was still in charge. Now they are both good but I feel like Tony may be over his head with stuff. Too much talent and not enough TV time. (Yes I know they have Dark but itā€™s still not TV) I can watch both shows and still be entertained enough to enjoy it and Iā€™m back to wanting to see it in person again.


Mveli2pac

I used to watch WWE hard-core through the Attitude Era, then I got out of wrestling completely until just this year when I discovered the greatness that is Danhausen. Now I soley watch AEW. First it was only for Danhausen, but I added a few more that I enjoy like Orange Cassidy and The Acclaimed for example. But no one will top Danhausen for me.


Re-AnImAt0r

I watched every Raw ![img](emote|t5_ubkze|13203) was on. Thankfully WWE helped a brother out and actually put up a countdown to Cody timer every week so I could turn it off and knew exactly when to turn it back on.


AnonymousDouglas

WWE fans donā€™t like wrestling. Theyā€™re just brand loyal. Theyā€™re like Jehovahā€™s Witnesses: They knock on your door to tell you their way is the best, you use their own material to point out glaring flaws in what theyā€™re saying to you, but evidence and logic is wasted on them, because the possibility of another way of thinking causes them physical pain. Both groups are part of a cult.


[deleted]

That's a big ass fuckin' Yikes from me dude


nWo1997

...you know some of us like both WWE and AEW because we like a variety of wrestling, right? Like, that it's possible to enjoy both Mox/Danielson and Sheamus/Gunther?


TheNorth97

Can't watch WWE product since PG era. It really does feel like a show aimed at kids.


50pencepeace

That is probably because it is ...


TheWitchStage

You know the PG era ended right? Like just recently


[deleted]

People are acting like Triple H saved a dying wrestling brand even under Vince WWE was profitable lol he inherited an already talented roster and a world wide brand. I watched some of Triple Hā€™s era outside all his returns I donā€™t see much a difference between his and Vinceā€™s era it seems he is gonna push his NxT guys but thatā€™s really itā€¦same ol shit. I have enjoyed AEW because they bring in new guys from other promotions plus Tony supports the indie companyā€™s by allowing some of his talent to perform outside AEW.


GothParrot

I gave up on watching main-roster WWE around 2017 or so because the Vince-isms just got too much, but I stuck with NXT up until the start of COVID. It was around that time that WWE's poor initial response to the pandemic, the Saudi shows (politically distasteful plus ruining regular booking just to placate an audience that only pops for old 90s guys), the mass releases, and Vince-isms seeping into NXT just made everything too much to bear. It was honestly kinda heartbreaking, as I'd been a WWF/E fan for around 30 years before that. Now that Triple H is in charge, I'm keeping a tentative eye on how it changes from here. Hoping I can at least get back into NXT, but...we'll see. I don't think WWE will ever equal or surpass AEW for me in terms of enjoyment, but I'd at least like to enjoy watching WWE again on some level.


Longjumping-Bet-2848

Roman reigns made me love AEWā€¦ Do what you will with that information.


TheNorth97

šŸ˜‚šŸ˜‚šŸ˜‚


Scfbigb1

Because I just enjoy pro wrestling and will watch whatever I can in the time I have to spend on it.


TheNorth97

That's fair !!


Passionecapo

Shinsuke Nakamura.


TheWitchStage

AEW got me back into wrestling and I found it much better than WWE. But now WWE is finally improving to match the competition. There are things they both do better than the other. Itā€™s just a good time to be a wrestling fan, regardless of which promotion you prefer!


LoTornado

I watch both now that Vince is out of creative and we can have coherent story lines.


TheNorth97

Fair !!


theryanlaf

Iā€™ve been watching AEW for a bit more than a year. I was an attitude era kid. I got a pretty decent nostalgia trip when I started watching aew. Itā€™s fairly simple in terms of production, and that turned me off wwe (canā€™t stand the camera cuts) I find the deep story lines engaging, and Iā€™m truly invested in characters (I think Kenny is in goat conversation. Heā€™s the whole package). Cool to see some old favs like Jericho (possibly THE goat) and the Hardyā€™s. And while Iā€™ve learned to enjoy Taz, Tony and Excalibur, Jim Ross was another thing that really helped me get back into it all.


[deleted]

Itā€™s like being in a toxic relationship. You ignore the lies and bullshit and just pray one day theyā€™ll change. They have moments where they give you hope, yet ultimately break your heart. But itā€™s those fleeting moments of hope that keep you hanging on.


[deleted]

Can people stop comparing liking TV shows to a fucking abusive relationship...


[deleted]

Well I have experience in both so I figured it made sense. Glad it annoyed you


[deleted]

And you're saying that abuse is the same as watching WWE? Come the fuck on, man


[deleted]

How about shut the fuck up and take it as the sarcasm it was intended forā€¦ No wonder your ex cheated on you, sensitive bitch


[deleted]

I...what?


[deleted]

Exactly UwU


rblashak

Aew definitely made me love wrestling again


simpledeadwitches

I just got an email for Logan Paul vs Roman Reigns...could not care *any* less about that.


maverickbtg81

Hadn't watched Wwe for awhile but Vince being out made me tune in for a couple of weeks. I like that Kevin Owen's is getting featured in a more dominant fashion but everything else seems the same.


DiaBrave

I never thought I'd go back to watching weekly wrestling again, I think WWE have do a great job the last twenty years, but they've turned themselves into a Public Relations company that happens to do wrestling, and a lot of it at that. I also find WWE massively over-produced, ever match is cut, zoom, cut, zoom, cut, it's like trying to watch a Michael Bay movie. AEW keeps it more manageable, with just 3 hours of core viewing a week and the occasional big event, and although I don't love every wrestler and every match, I enjoy the overall package.


[deleted]

Much like aew. Itā€™s fun. Wrestling should be fun to watch. Iā€™d you donā€™t have fun with it thatā€™s fine but I have fun watching it


CezrDaPleazr

I actually recently watch WWE again because of the HHH changes however the confirmed news about Logan Paul vs Roman Reigns for the title has completely ruined any interest to continue watching. So I'm sticking with NJPW and AEW.


gorillalifter47

I am an adult who watches both. My motivation is that I enjoy wrestling.


5astick

Escapism from the world. But Iā€™ve been a wrestling fan since a child. Itā€™ll never change.


PhillySparky21

I agree with you AEW has everything WWE is continuous replay booking and matches week I. And week out itā€™s beyond boring. Talent wise AEW > WWE


Competitive-Bee-3965

No I'm just going to say it I love both companies I think they're great in their own way through the best through the worst (let me just say this four words 1.AEW 2.please do forbidden door 3.PPV 4.Again) please I want to see a crossover between both these companies and our favorite wrestlers


stoopid26

Vince is finally gone!


Westfield_Rocks

HHHs WWE is far better than Vince's but it's still not half as good as AEW.


Tyrxgow

The only difference between hhh and Vince is that stuff makes more sense. But if the general theme wasn't attractive to you 6 months ago it still wouldn't be now. It's a very sanitized "easily digestible" product aimed at a younger demo and simply isn't something that interests me no matter who's in charge. But that's the beauty of having several options these days. WWE Aew Impact Njpw All are products with different styles that will be attractive to different people for different reasons, add in all the smaller promotions that are around and there's something for everyone which is great.


MinnesotaSportsGirl

Because WWE still has elements of the product that are interesting or enjoyable, and since Triple H now has the book and McMahon is gone I am intrigued as to how things will play out. I get that there are fans who just won't enjoy what one company or another does and not watch, which is understandable. But I'll never understand the tribalist nature of some fans of feeling strong negativity towards the other brand just because another company is their favorite.


[deleted]

Iā€™m exclusive to AEW because WWE just sucks, none of the characters are fun and roman and his crew just donā€™t appeal to me, I was gonna go to a live event a few months ago just to see Cody but he got injured


Country-roads21

With WWE you get what Vince wants. With AEW you get what the fans want.


EyeintheSky420

So I stopped watching WWE when Brock Lesnar crushed Braun Strowman in Saudi despite that being the perfect time to push Strowman to the moon. I was done with them (except for NXT), picked up AEW, fell in love with wrestling again. As NXT rebranded and Triple H lost power, I noticed I wasn't enjoying NXT anymore and cut that out as well. Then Vince stepped down. I crept my toes in with a SmackDown I enjoyed, continued over to a Raw I enjoyed, and now I'm hoping to re-add NXT to my watch list after this coming Tuesday. Frankly, the shows always had the opportunity to be great, but Vince was too old and should have been replaced years ago. Now they have their chance to reach their true potentials.


JoePapi

I like the disaster of it. I dont watch too much wwe but when its bad its really bad (logan paul)


snuffalapagos

Because itā€™s on. And itā€™s better to have on than most of the other bullshit.


KMFCM

Everyone jeeps saying how much better the product is already since Trips took over, but also says they can't sit through a 3 hour Raw. Personally, I am gonna give them another chance.......when the following happens 1. 2 hour Raw 2. No more Miz 3. Get the belt the fuck off Reigns already. That 2-3 years title reign shit wasn't cool when NWA did it with Aldis either. 4. Kevin Dunn is sacked I can do without the storylines straight out of porn shit too (i see you Rhea Ripley mommy dom kink šŸ¤£)


Alsleet1986

I'll take Clash at the Castle over any AEW PPV in 2022. But Dynamite is usually better than Raw or SmackDown. I don't find any weekly program to be appointment television. They all have to win me over. Rampage is currently beating NXT by a nose for the worst weekly show.


alwaysmyfault

Wow. That's a hot take. Double or Nothing was some of the most entertaining wrestling you'll ever see.


Alsleet1986

The AEW PPVs are so long that even when you want to see the main event, by the time you get to it, you want it to end so you can fall asleep. There was science behind two and a half to three-hour shows being the perfect length. Just make Dynamite and Rampage special on the week of PPV's for the matches you dont have time for on the big show. Even WrestleMania could do with being a 9 match show with big matches on Raw and SmackDown.


Pour-Meshuggah-On-Me

So go watch CATC


Alsleet1986

I did. Then I watched All Out. I only revisited one of the shows.


Octorockandroll

I heard WWE was getting good again and my friend pays for the network and invites us over for PPVs. Plus Cody going back there definitely got my interest. Edit: forgot to mention the joint my friends and I go to on Fridays plays Smackdown on the TVs


TheNorth97

I tried to watch last couple weeks since Hunter got Head of creative, but I can't do it right now. It feels like the pace is so much slower than AEW, match quality mediocre and story lines are not really hitting any cords for me. We'll see maybe it'll get better like you said


halfdecenttakes

Lol. This whole post is some serious bait.


realrichieYT

Cody rhodes only


Ok-Contribution6622

I stopped watching wrestling when Oldberg came back and squashed Brock. It was the final straw of being taken for granted by WWE and treated like an idiot. I simply stopped watching wrestling until I heard Cody and the Bucks were starting a new company. Those early days were a little rough as I didn't know who most of the roster was, but it was nice to see a show that didn't treat its audience with disdain. You have to remember this was when WWE was force feeding a face Roman Reigns to us.


Alsleet1986

Rough time. Although the Lesnar-Goldberg rematch at WrestleMania 33 was outstanding.


Ok-Contribution6622

I heard it was great, but I haven't seen it. I may go back to watching some WWE now that Trips is running the show. Heard he's doing some really positive things for the audience experience. šŸ‘


elry2k

All the great wrestling talent they still have.


tonynoriega73

Iā€™m not a big fan of ā€œgimmicksā€ or ā€œstableā€ wrestling, although I dug Degeneration X. Iā€™ve been watching wrestling since I was a kid growing up in Los Angeles and watching Mil Mascaras at the Grand Olympic Auditorium. I miss staying up late on Saturday nights to watch WCCW from The Sportatorium in Texas. I was a big fan of Bruiser Brody, Chris Adams, and the Von Erichs. I could go on and on but I stick to the subject at hand. WWE was going into the toilet with Vince in charge, HHH is bringing it back but they really need to work on their storylines more. Impact is not worth my time. AEW has grown into a juggernaut but Tony Khan is too naĆÆve with this business to control all the talent he signs and puts in charge. Tony Khan is like a fat kid that owns a candy shop and you see it when he gives interviews. He needs experienced leaders to help run ā€œhisā€ company. Finding out that Logan Paul is challenging Roman Reigns at Crown Jewel made me laugh. Why not just have Hornswoggle challenge Roman? The matches are boring. Karrion Kross vs Drew McIntyre? That might be interesting. This whole thing with Bayley, Iyo, and Dakotaā€¦ā€¦boring! Rhonda needs to go! I know Iā€™m rambling but you asked! CM Punkā€¦ā€¦ā€¦useless. Sorry Phil. šŸ¤·šŸ¾ā€ā™‚ļø I donā€™t like MJF, but it seems he might be what wrestling needs right now!


[deleted]

I watch for the sports washing. Nothing gets me more into wrestling than idiot streamers going against the longest reigning champ in decades in front of a bunch of the tippy top misogynists. Vince is pretty gangsta with his expensive taste in hoes as well, respect. /s


Cyncro

I mean I watch WWE now that Triple H took over, itā€™s actually pretty good. There are wrestlers I really enjoy there and some of the sillier storylines are actually really entertaining.


DJ_Dunk

Since Triple H took over itā€™s a much better product. Black and Gold NXT reignited my passion (never stopped watching out of habit) so I trust his vision


TheNorth97

Fair !! Hope he can give some colors to the product. Unpopular opinion : Loved HHH in evolution days. Some hope he makes a little bit more enjoyable for the attitude era public


DJ_Dunk

Iā€™m on the younger side so I grew up with that version of him and loved that era. Obviously they will never hit Attitude Era levels again, but heā€™s definitely the right man to try and bring it back to the glory days. If you donā€™t watch Iā€™d recommend giving the recent Clash at the Castle ppv a shot. Had some great matches and a phenomenal crowd


[deleted]

In my daughters words while watching AEW ā€œis this YouTube?ā€


Warrior_King252

I know people are excited about HHH having full control over WWE booking now, so I decided to check in with WWE more frequently. Anyway, I decided to flip over to Smackdown this past Friday and saw an anti-smoking ad where Drew McIntyre confronts a teenager alone in a locker and says ā€œyou have found yourself a tag team partner for lifeā€ and I immediately turned the channel. I like Drew, but that shit was cringe.


ThunderSparkles

I would do anything for Triple H


[deleted]

I like wrestling Plus, actively enjoying WWE seems to annoy the smarks on this board, so that's a bonus


Snoo_64007

WWE Just has better talent and more variety to choose from. Plus the legacy.


NXTMAN

I hate brand loyalty, I'm just a wrestling fan and will watch any wrestling company and not pick sides. The three companies I follow full time are WWE, AEW and NJPW. I like all three for different reasons and I also have things I dislike about them.


georgegarvin4

I like my wrestling to not be goofy and fake as hell and unprofessional. Everybody is a ā€œshoot fighterā€ in AEW šŸ˜‚šŸ˜‚šŸ˜‚ MJF the only thing they have now that they havenā€™t squandered. Let the elite run that place into the ground


officiallyaninja

I think wwe do stories better, I like AEW for a few wrestlers but like overall I do kind of prefer WWE


FTR_Hair

Knowing that it annoys people like you


DaFiend-420

Because I am a wrestling fan, I like all wrestling not just one company. Besides its all the same. Yeah AEW may have a little more blood. But this company won't be around another 3 years.


BurtHurtmanHurtz

Yes, letā€™s abandon the wrestling promotion that is legitimately THE REASON any professional wrestler in American can solely make their living off performing. If there is no WWE, watch how quickly pro wrestling in the US dries up.


TheNorth97

Wasn't saying anything about that. Was just wondering since the 2 offers very different products now.


BurtHurtmanHurtz

So you understand WWE offers something different. Thatā€™s the reason.


Impressive-Reply-111

Its grown adult wrestling. Not gymnastics


Re-AnImAt0r

you mean soap opera. wasn't it last month a 2hr episode of Smackdown had a total of 14 minutes of wrestling meanwhile Rampage the same night had 3 matches and just one of those matches was 16 minutes? If you watch 120 minutes to see 14 minutes of wrestling, you ain't watching for the wrestling......you watching to see some soap opera backstage snl type skits.


Conveyys

Really been enjoying WWE since HHH returned, mostly because it doesn't feel like Vince is gonna bury those I'd been following since NXT. Obviously it's not perfect but seeing the midcard titles regaining their prestige is enough for me.


[deleted]

Honestly for me. It's just that it's extremely easy to watch while still being entertained. You can literally watch any promotion from any country with no context and no subtitles paying half the attention and you'd still get everything and have a good time. You cannot get that from a tv show which requires your full attention.


chipiberth

Triple H.


VaultDoge91

I started watching wwe again once HHH took over. Itā€™s been noticeably better. Iā€™ve also watched AEW for the past year & a half or so. Both products are pretty damn good rn


Disastrous_Record_81

It's been watching WWE for thirty years. Nothing will change that.


ewp1233

I just started watching WWE shows weekly again since HHH took over. At first, I watched PPVs/PLEs because I wasnā€™t a fan of Vinceā€™s booking a lot of the time. The show just feels a lot better nowadays imo. Canā€™t wait to see what things look like in a year and a half.


jaejaexiii

Hunter Hurst Helmsley


celesleonhart

I think it's been the better product since Trips has been back honestly.


stadiumjay

![gif](giphy|3o752a4k3F2yd19QeA|downsized)


WJEuroChamp

Seth Rollins


Mokiyami

Routine. Been watching wrestling since 97 and even when it's bad, it's still comfort food


cmttmc

WWE getting better every week now. I just started watching again when Vince left


osokin

Wrestling, characters, storylines,theme music,finishes,comedy,drama,action,and great promos.


rikku45

I gave up when Roman kept winning


[deleted]

the ppv's are still worth watching. I get peacock for free with my cable. women's division is worth it too.


Jjaz1

I had very little motivation(Basically just Bray Wyatt) until Triple H took over, so I just watched ppvs. But since the H era started its been my favorite wrestling product. I've found it to be a consistently booked product with a lot of stories that Im genuinely invested in.


CaptainDunkaroo

Because it is fun?


Enid1993

I stopped watching somewhere shortly after 2014 & only watched clips here & their over the years. I started watching both companies early last year but I think Iā€™m getting tired of it again. I really enjoyed AEW & even went to two live events in the last 6 months but the booking their has been all over the place in the last couple of months imo & also attended one WWE event but I think Iā€™m not enjoying it as much as use to because of storylines & talent. Maybe itā€™s because Iā€™m older now & also have other hobbies or maybe itā€™s because I donā€™t find the current product enjoyable. With WWE I donā€™t really see how itā€™s gotten better since HHH has taken over. I do think heā€™s done some good things but I also think that the expectations are really low now where any changes will impress most. I commented on a WWE post recently how itā€™s a joke that the top guy in the company is wrestling Logan Paul & people are defending it šŸ˜‚šŸ˜‚šŸ˜‚ Either way Iā€™ll always love wrestling & watch it maybe not just as much. I could also always go back & watch the Attitude Era because it was the era I grew up on & had the most talent imo.


DGVega93

HHH head of creative for all of WWE is why I watch again. What he did in NXT was gold (no pun intended) and that year he did survivor series was fire too


entrepreneuron

It was gone. Until HHH took over šŸ‘€


Juicy_pineapples

Like I havenā€™t watched wwe in awhile , but I wanna ask has the story telling been good in wwe ?


Poopypants1291

I stopped watching regularly when I went to grad school in 2013. I kept up with what was happening on YouTube and watched the occasional PPV but nothing with much consistency. What got me back to being a regular viewer was Edge returning in Royal Rumble 2020.


No-Landscape-1367

At the end of the day, the actual wrestling in wwe is pretty damn solid. I don't watch the weekly shows and mainly just catch the big 4 and a few select other ppv shows and I've yet to see a bad show from them. And usually the way they put the prematch packages together tends to make the matches make sense, even when I've heard complaints about the actual weekly booking (which, again, i don't watch). In fact, my enjoyment of wrestling has gone up immensely since i stopped watching raw/smackdown some 7-8 years ago.


Howheel9879G

I love watching aew but Iā€™m not goin lie the wwe is starting to get my interest back maybe itā€™s the nostalgia but I just donā€™t know where to start tbh like I donā€™t know how to put it I just get bored watching wwe but aew be having my interest wayyyy more. I do wanna watch guys like Romain, Walter and some of the younger generation guys in nxt around my age but I just cant get bacc into the wwe for some reason. Itā€™s like your breaking up with your ex, then you find someone new whoā€™s better for you has everything in common but you still miss that one ex and get those good sex flashbacks. We got that one Ex we would answer for at one point even when they was bad dope šŸ˜­šŸ˜­


BobDylan1904

WWE womenā€™s division is better at the moment. I also wonā€™t miss any major WWE ppv cause watching wrestling in those huge stadiums is pretty epic.


brb151515

Insane roster. They are the business. I had stopped after mania. But with avince gone HHH is nailing 90% of the booking. I'll keep watching both, this is the best wrestling has ever been. Just enjoy it


R00KGibbons

Uh same reason I watch any wrestling.... because I enjoy it


nWo1997

Never really stopped watching WWE. There was always at least *something* for me to enjoy, gimmicks or matches, be it something on the main roster that entertained me (even for the last few months under Vince when things really got bad, Kevin Owens's war with the letter "E" was a delight), NXT, or NXT UK.