All Elite Wrestling recently announced that it will air a
two hour television show every Wednesday on TNT. While not the start of a new
Monday Night War, it is definitely the beginning of a new battle for wrestling
viewership.
World Wrestling Entertainment has long dominated the
wrestling indusrtry ever since World Championship Wrestling closed its doors in
2001. Total Nonstop
Action Wrestling was once seen as a potential competitor but
has since fallen into near obscurity and airs on Twitch. Ring of Honor is on
television via syndication, and New Japan Pro Wrestling is on tape delay on Axs
TV. What has truly halted these promotions from becoming legitimate WWE
competitors is exposure. That is what separates AEW from the rest of the pack.
The promotion made headlines with its signings and first
ever pay-per-view, and has seemingly shaken the wrestling industry to its core
with it newly announced television deal. Starting on October 2, 2019, AEW will air
love on TNT from 8-10pm from the Capital One Arena in Washington D.C. This is
massive. AEW's roster depth, which features stats such as the Young Bucks,
Cody, Kenny Omega, Chris Jericho, and Jon Moxley, was already considered to be
a massive strength of the new Wrestling promotion. A live weekly television
deal on a nationally broadcasted cable network will only bolster its popularity
and attract more fans.
For the first time since 2001, WWE has real competition and
that is fantastic for wrestling fans. Competition brings out the best in
people. The Monday Night Wars featured the highest ratings for wrestling
television shows in history. With AEW set to make its television debut in
October, WWE will be forced to step up their game. A few shots have been fired
by AEW in this new wrestling television war. Let's see how WWE responds.