Tony Khan assesses the competition.
Last weekend, AEW and WWE went head-to-head, with Double or Nothing and NXT Battleground both airing on Sunday evening in the United States. This wasn’t the first time the two companies have gone directly against each other, as AEW Collision has occasionally competed against WWE premium live events, and AEW Dynamite famously battled NXT in the Wednesday Night Wars.
At the Double or Nothing post-show media scrum, AEW CEO Tony Khan addressed this trend, likening it to another popular wrestling franchise.
“It’s pretty consistent. I’d say it’s the most consistent event head-to-head scheduling since Jim Crockett Promotions,” Khan said. “Saw a lot of scheduling that went that way, and I can tell you that this will go a lot differently than that did.”
Before its sale to the Turner Broadcasting System in 1988, Jim Crockett Promotions stood as a popular wrestling organization, with successful pay-per-view events. Under the Vince McMahon Jr. regime, however, JCP saw their shows frequently countered by WWE, with a notable example being the annual WWE Survivor Series event, which directly opposed Starrcade in 1987. Given Khan’s statement, it seems AEW is confident that they will not suffer the same fate as JCP.
In the main event of AEW Double or Nothing, “Hangman” Adam Page defeated Will Ospreay in the finals of the Men’s Owen Hart Foundation Tournament. Meanwhile, on NXT Battleground, Trick Williams dethroned TNA World Champion Joe Hendry in the main event.
