The Wednesday Night Wars have seen fans going back and forth between AEW and NXT. Both shows are regarded as the best all-around wrestling shows going right now. NXT is trying to accomplish new levels of success with their new time slot on the USA Network. The early stages of AEW is seeing success on TNT with an audience certainly enjoying their product.
We will look at the early results of the Wednesday Night Wars. Many fans prefer AEW and will watch it live every single week. Others believe NXT is the better overall show that deserves the attention. Both shows will be viewed in-depth when it comes to their positives. Fans of both shows will be represented here. Find out which one is better with five reasons NXT has been the better show and five reasons why AEW is winning.
10 NXT: Women's division
The women’s division of NXT has been on fire with many new breakout stars. Talents like Candice LeRae, Rhea Ripley and Dakota Kai have stepped up as rising stars along with the other established talents. The War Games match featuring the NXT women showed just how deep the division was.
AEW has struggled to get momentum for their women’s division and that only helps NXT. Fans of women’s wrestling will clearly get more entertainment from NXT with multiple strong feuds. The hit list of female stars built in NXT continues to grow.
9 AEW: Matches mean more
AEW has done a tremendous job setting up important matches from week to week. Each episode has a guaranteed main event with a story coming into it. AEW will typically set up at least three or four noteworthy matches ahead of each episode.
The win-loss record having importance also plays a role in making the matches more meaningful. NXT matches have importance, but it doesn’t compare to the presentation of AEW. Fans that prefer Dynamite will get a show of noteworthy matches.
8 NXT: Inter-promotional rivalry
The Survivor Series feud of NXT vs Raw vs Smackdown helped add a huge appeal to NXT. It made fans feel that anything could happen during an episode of NXT television. The Raw and Smackdown stars like Seth Rollins, AJ Styles and Bayley appeared.
WWE will likely not have this continue after the show, but it did set a precedent that main roster talents and NXT talents are on the same level. Triple H has done a nice job adding to the must-see factor of NXT following the change.
7 AEW: Better crowds
The biggest immediate difference between AEW and NXT is the crowd. NXT has a passionate audience, but it’s in a tiny venue with the same people attending most weeks. Even with the lively atmosphere, there is a flaw involved in running the same arena every week.
AEW has perfected the art of having a hot crowd for every episode of Dynamite. The loud crowd adds a lot to the overall appeal of the show. AEW can’t risk losing this advantage over NXT as it puts it over the top. Not even Raw and Smackdown has crowds that can match AEW.
6 NXT: New stars being made
The change from one hour to two for NXT has shown the program spotlighting more performers. NXT has made a strong effort to build new stars along with the names already established as main event performers for the brand.
Keith Lee, Rhea Ripley and Lio Rush are just three names that are significantly bigger stars than they were a few months ago. NXT is doing a great job at building their new stars and putting them on a higher level as top names.
5 AEW: Incredible tag team wrestling
The tag team division of AEW sets them apart from any other wrestling brand today. AEW has dedicated a lot of time to establishing a strong division of familiar teams while making new stars. The Young Bucks, SCU, Lucha Brothers and Proud and Powerful are the top duos.
Fans are already treating newer teams like the Jurassic Express and Private Party as major stars already. AEW is almost guaranteed to provide at least one superb tag team match each week. No other promotion can match them in this area.
4 NXT: Return of Finn Balor
Triple H pulled off a huge game-changer for NXT when Finn Balor returned to the brand. Balor’s run on Raw and Smackdown was viewed as a disappointing time with his character showing no intensity. The return to NXT completely changed the game.
Balor turned heel against Johnny Gargano to introduce a new version of himself to WWE. The star power of Balor instantly makes him one of the top stars on the brand. Fans are clamoring for many of the new dream matches for Finn on the yellow brand.
3 AEW: Variety
AEW has done an outstanding job of creating a diverse wrestler with performers of different styles. Jon Moxley loves the hardcore matches. Kenny Omega will give you tag team masterpieces. The high-flying of Rey Fenix makes him the top of that genre.
However, they stray even more outside of the wrestling norm. Performers like Luchasaurus, Jungle Boy, Orange Cassidy and many others provide something you’ll never find in WWE. AEW is letting their talent showcase new levels of entertainment in the mainstream wrestling world.
2 NXT: Undisputed Era
The Undisputed Era faction has been the best part of NXT since the move to USA Network. Adam Cole, Roderick Strong, Kyle O’Reilly and Bobby Fish are all the four active male NXT Champions on the brand ending 2019.
NXT has been defined by the greatness of the Undisputed Era. The group is clearly the hottest act on the brand with no apparent end in sight. Fans get treated to a top tier act on NXT that is more entertaining than anything on Raw or Smackdown.
1 AEW: Bigger star power
NXT has done a nice job building new stars, but they don’t have the star power of AEW. The main event scene of AEW features some of the best and most decorated wrestlers in the world. They’ve done a nice job establishing a core of top tier talents that stand out as the main eventers.
Chris Jericho, Kenny Omega, Jon Moxley and PAC are the main four at the top. Other rising stars like Darby Allin and Scorpio Sky get their chances in the scene, but the big four remain at another level. AEW knows who they are building around and that enhances the show.