Wednesday Night Wars: Week 1 of AEW vs NXT

Nearly twenty years ago, the WWE was in the middle of a Monday Night War in the pro-wrestling ratings with WCW. Monday Night Nitro and Monday Night Raw were clashing head to head, simultaneously in competition to see who could do a better job at keeping their viewers from switching the channel to the competition. It was "Stone Cold" Steve Austin, The Rock, "The Game" Triple H, Mick Foley, and The Undertaker who were the upper echelon of main eventers for the WWE. For WCW, "Hollywood" Hulk Hogan, Sting, Goldberg, "Big Poppa Pump" Scott Steiner, and Booker T were leading their charge.

In the end, the WWE would be the company left standing as Shane McMahon would buy out WCW from under the grasp of his father, Vince McMahon. This began the WCW Invasion angle, bringing WCW contracted wrestlers to the WWE to have a final blowoff match at Survivor Series, where the WWE consumed what was left of WCW.

That was twenty years ago and since then, there hasn't been competition for WWE. Other promotions exist and book wrestlers who haven't stayed with the WWE, such as Impact Wrestling, Ring of Honor, and New Japan Pro-Wrestling. That was until 2019. One man from one wrestling family left the WWE after the passing of his father, "The American Dream" Dusty Rhodes. He wrestled all over the globe since leaving WWE and teamed up with the owner of the Jacksonville Jaguars, Shahid Khan and his son Tony Khan to create AEW.

Shahid Khan is the lead investor in AEW and Tony Khan is the founder, president, and CEO of the company. The first talent he hired to push AEW forward was "The American Nightmare" Cody, The Young Bucks, and "The Cleaner" Kenny Omega. Cody, The Young Bucks, and Omega serve as in-ring talent and executive vice presidents of AEW. These performers are a few wrestlers that were on the WWE's radar but ultimately declined wrestling for the WWE. Cody, formerly known as Stardust, left WWE. The Young Bucks made money to support themselves at Pro Wrestling Guerrilla, Ring of Honor, and New Japan Pro-Wrestling. Omega largely wrestling at New Japan Pro-Wrestling and would make appearances alongside The Bullet Club and The Elite in Ring of Honor.

A difference between the two companies is that AEW has openly stated that wins and losses will matter in who gets title opportunities, stays with the company, and is featured on television. AEW has done a wonderful job of listening to their fanbase and embracing them too. Events like Starrcast, a convention with guest panels before Pay Per Views such as All In, All Out, and Double or Nothing, worked wonders in bolstering buzz for AEW in the pro-wrestling community. A neat thing that works in favor of the AEW roster is that AEW provides healthcare for their wrestlers on the roster. That is something that the WWE has yet to do.

On October 2nd, 2019, AEW's television deal with TNT allowed them to begin with AEW Dynamite, which would battle directly with WWE's NXT brand on Wednesday nights. It's a fantastic time to be a wrestling fan because competition makes everyone book a better show and draw attention to their product. It doesn't matter what side you stand on. The pro-wrestling fans online may disagree with that, but one thing that will come out of all of this is that both companies will feature a great show for the live crowd and viewers at home. This is the first installment of my weekly "Wednesday Night Wars" articles, pitting AEW Dynamite vs WWE NXT.

AEW Dynamite; Washington, DC

Admittedly, I am most excited for AEW and what they bring to the table weekly. That is not a knock on NXT at all. NXT has been the best brand of wrestling in the WWE for quite a few years now. With AEW, I am excited because the wrestlers that weren't signed to the WWE and are very entertaining to global audiences finally are going to be featured on syndicated television. Not only were there personalities calling the action that wrestling fans are familiar with from the old Monday Night Wars, such as Jim Ross and Tony Schiavone, but there were some celebrities in the audience. Before the first match, if you keep your eyes peeled, you will see Kevin Smith and Jason Mewes.

"The American Nightmare" Cody (2-1-1) vs "The Best Ever" Sammy Guevara (1-1-0)

This is the first-ever match of AEW Dynamite, to which a reference was made to Jushin "Thunder" Liger facing Brian Pillman in the first-ever match of Monday Night Nitro over twenty years ago. At one point in the match, Cody goes for a Suicide Dive on Guevara, but Guevara pulls Cody's wife, Brandi Rhodes, in the way as a shield. Brandi goes to the ground and it works just long enough to slow down Cody so Guevara can take advantage. Brandi would get redemption in this match after she hit Guevara in the face with one of her high heels as the referee had his attention on Cody. Cody followed up with a Disaster Kick for a two count. After that near fall, Guevara got some offense in, including a Spanish Fly from the top rope. Cody would pin Guevara after rolling him up in a Small Package Pin. As Guevara was coming off the top rope with a Shooting Star Press, Cody got his knees up and pinned Guevara.

Winner: Cody (3-1-1)

After the match, Guevara shook Cody's hand, but it served more of a distraction for Chris Jericho to run in and attack Cody from behind. Jericho hit the Codebreaker twice on Cody and then struck Cody across the face with the AEW World Championship. Jericho leaves the scene of the crime, but not before Cody is Powerbombed through two unfolded steel chairs.

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Brandon Cutler (0-0-0) vs Maxwell Jacob Friedman (1-1-0)

MJF immediately demands his music to be cut off and starts just chewing out the AEW crowd. He continues to make comparisons of Cutler and the crowd in attendance, getting the point across that he views Cutler as a fan and he should stay on that side of the guardrail. At one point, Cutler gets some offense in on MJF after a Suicide Dive to the outside of the ring connects. As MJF is rolled back into the ring, Cutler goes to the top rope and stumbles off. As he lands on his feet in the ring, he seemed to tweak his leg and is slow to move around. MJF pulls the referee in front of him while in the corner, creating space between himself and Cutler. Cutler gets a stiff forearm to the face before tapping out to The Salt of the Earth.

Winner: Maxwell Jacob Friedman (2-1-0)

Next, Kevin Smith and Jason Mewes are ringside as a plug to "Jay and Silent Bob: Reboot" in theaters on October, 15th starring Chris Jericho. Angelico and Jack Evans come out ringside to interrupt Smith and Mewes' interview, telling Mewes that "Morris Day and the Time sucks." Mewes' rebuttal is that Angelico and Evans can't even win a match, which is true to their AEW record. Angelico and Evan's leave them alone when Private Party come by to sit with Smith and Mewes, drinks in hand.

A promo airs for SoCal Uncensored. Scorpio Sky completely nails the Barack Obama impression while Christopher Daniels and Kazarian are impersonating as secret service security. "My fellow Americans…" the promo began as Scorpio Sky made the transition to the SCU catchphrase "This Is The Worst Town We've Ever Been In." After the promo video is over, SCU is on stage with Tony Schiavone for an interview. Sky announces that Daniels and Kazarian will represent SCU in the AEW Tag Team Championship Tournament. After that is announced, the Lucha Bros come out and Penta El Zero mists Daniels in the face before both tag teams start to brawl. Referees and AEW personnel separate the two teams.

The AEW Tag Team Tournament first-round matchups consist of The Young Bucks versus Private Party, Lucha Bros versus Jurassic Express, and Best Friends versus SoCal Uncensored. The Dark Order has a bye in the first round.

"Hangman" Adam Page (2-1-0) vs "The Bastard" Pac (1-0-0)

This was the match that Page was originally scheduled for at "Double or Nothing," but never happened. This was the match of the night for AEW Dynamite. It seems that Page is controlling the pace of the match, but the referee gets caught out of position when Page has a Rear Waistlock on Pac. This allows Pac to obstruct the view of the referee and hit below the belt with a Mule Kick. Page falls on his stomach in position for Pac to hit the Black Arrow from the top rope. He smoothly transitions into the Brutalizer. Page never tapped out, but he was knocked out in the submission hold.

Winner: Pac (2-0-0)

"The Native Beast" Nyla Rose (0-2-0) vs Riho (3-1-0)

This match is to determine the first-ever AEW Women's champion. Rose is also the only transgender women's wrestler on the AEW roster. Rose plucked Riho out of the air when she went for a Diving Crossbody from the top rope to the outside of the ring. Another cool moment this match was when Rose went for a Senton Splash on Riho, who was laying on multiple laying steel chairs. Riho got out of the way in time and Rose got very comfortable with the chairs. Rose looked like she was going to have the match won, having Riho locked in the STF. Riho looked just about knocked out, but Rose let go of the hold just before the referee was going to call for the bell to be rung. Riho ends up connecting with a Meteora to the back of Rose's head and her face before pinning Rose for the win.

Winner AND NEW AEW Women's Champion: Riho (4-1-0)

After the match, Michael Nakazawa attempts to interview Riho but is attacked by Nyla Rose. Rose powerbombs Nakazawa before shifting her attention to Riho. Kenny Omega comes out to save Riho before Rose slammed her with a Death Valley Driver on the ring apron.

The Elite (1-0-0) vs Santana, Ortiz, and Chris Jericho (0-0-0)

This was the first-ever AEW Dynamite main event. During the match, The Young Bucks perform a Superkick Party on Jericho, Ortiz, and Santana before diving over the top rope and to the outside of the ring on Ortiz and Santana to keep them down. It's now just Kenny Omega in the ring as Jon Moxley returns to AEW. He is standing behind Omega and as soon as Omega turns around, Moxley is uncorking punches. Moxley and Omega fight back to the AEW VIP area, where Moxley hits Omega with a Death Rider through a glass top table. At this point, that match should have technically been thrown out by the referee due to the interference by Moxley, but the match continued. The Young Bucks were left to try to defeat Jericho, Santana, and Ortiz. Jericho hits a Codebreaker on Nick Jackson as he is coming off the top rope. Santana and Ortiz then perform a double team Cannonball on Matt Jackson in the corner of the ring. Matt is fed to Jericho, who connects with the Judas Effect and scores the pin.

Winners: Santana, Ortiz, and Jericho (1-0-0)

After the match, Santana, Ortiz, and Chris Jericho continue to beat up Matt Jackson. Cody runs down to the ring and fights off Santana, Ortiz, and Jericho with punches. Sammy Guevara kicked Cody below the belt when Cody turned around to recognize Guevara in the ring. Dustin Rhodes ran down to the ring and returned that same favor to Guevara. Rhodes was in the middle of the action when Jake Hager, formerly known as Jack Swagger, debuted for AEW. Hager lifted Rhodes for a Gutwrench Powerbomb and put Rhodes through a wooden podium. At the end of AEW Dynamite, it was Ortiz, Santana, Guevara, Hager, and Jericho standing tall as The Young Bucks crawled over to cover up Cody and Rhodes from the beating they were taking.

NXT; Full Sail University

NXT, comparably, is the more established show with the pro-wrestling audience. Before AEW was founded, WWE was the light and the end of the tunnel for some wrestlers. Wrestlers in WWE are brought up through the NXT brand before they debut on Monday Night Raw or Friday Night Smackdown. However, with NXT acting as a stand-alone, third brand, that philosophy is changing. Arguably, NXT has been putting out the best wrestling content under the WWE umbrella. In NXT, the records aren't emphasized as much as in AEW, so those won't be attached to each performer on the card.

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"The Original Bro" Matt Riddle vs Adam Cole (c)

This match is for the NXT Championship. Cole is wrestling this match with a cast on his right arm after suffering a broken bone last week when Riddle put him in a Fujiwara Armbar. Riddle puts Cole in the Fujiwara Armbar a few times in this match, on each arm at least once. Cole doesn't tap out and reverses into a Crucifix Pin, but Riddle kicks out. In plain sight of the referee, Cole hits Riddle over the head with his cast and the referee doesn't disqualify Cole. Cole hits The Last Shot on Riddle to get the pinfall.

Winner AND STILL NXT Champion: Adam Cole

Following the match, Cole doesn't have a lot of time to celebrate before Finn Balor makes his television return. He returns, enters the ring, and announces in front of Adam Cole and the NXT Universe that he is officially back with NXT.

Next, Velveteen Dream cuts a promo during his segment "The Velveteen Dream Experience." He uses his time to call out and challenge Roderick Strong for a rematch with the NXT North American Championship on the line.

"The Genius of the Sky" Io Shirai vs "Head Baddie In Charge" Mia Yim

Good back and forth action featuring a Suicide Dive from Yim on Shirai. Yim also hit the Code Blue, but Shirai still fought on. Shirai would put Yim down long enough with a Superplex from the top rope, followed by a Moonsault for the pinfall. It's hard to ignore Shirai's quest that she will challenge for the NXT Women's Championship sooner rather than later.

Winner: Io Shirai

Kevin Nash and Scott Hall are shown in the crowd, attending NXT. Following this was a hype packing concerning the return of Tegan Nox to NXT.

"Johnny Wrestling" Johnny Gargano vs "The Black Swan" Shane Thorne

With the WWE agreeing to terms with Johnny Nitro, who traveled around to different promotions under names like Johnny Impact, Johnny Mundo, and Johnny Ultra, I'm willing to wager that one of his name variations will find itself in a rivalry against Gargano for the "Johnny Wrestling" name. Thorne hit a great Sit Out Powerbomb on Gargano, but Gargano kicked out of the pin attempt. Gargano would hit the Poison Hurricanrana and a Superkick to get the pinfall.

Winner: Johnny Gargano

Mark Henry, Stephanie McMahon, and Alundra Blayze are shown in the crowd, attending NXT.

"Tenacious C" Candice LeRae vs "The Submission Magician" Shayne Baszler (c)

This match is for the NXT Women's Championship. Baszler worked down the left arm of LeRae, especially after kicking the elbow when her hand was trapped up in the steel steps. LeRae found different ways to reverse the Kirifuda Clutch on Baszler, even putting Baszler in her signature submission hold. Eventually, Baszler did lock in the Kirifuda Clutch on LeRae and submitted her.

Winner AND STILL NXT Women's Champion: Shayna Baszler

"The Bruiserweight" Pete Dunne vs Danny Burch

Burch and Dunne seemed to be one step ahead of each other in the early stages of the match. This turned into a very hard striking affair between the two. Burch did eventually hit a Top Rope Hung DDT on Dunne, but Dunne kicked out. The momentum would fade away from Burch as Dunne capitalized on joint manipulation. Dunne split the Finger Wishbone on Burch's hand before connecting with The Bitter End. Pinfall victory for Dunne.

Winner: Pete Dunne

After the match, Damian Priest attacks Pete Dunne with a Rolling Cutter before leaving the ring.

The Street Profits vs "The Undisputed Era" Kyle O'Reilly and Bobby Fish (c)

This match is for the NXT Tag Team Championships and is the main event of NXT this week. Wale accompanied The Street Profits to the ring for their Tag Team Championship matchup. The Undisputed Era does a pretty effective job of isolating Montez Ford from his teammate's, Angelo Dawkins, corner. Roderick Strong runs down to the ring to distract Ford from hitting the Frog Splash from the top rope. Dawkins spears Strong on the ring apron, but it allows enough time for Fish to attack Ford from the top rope and tag in O'Reilly. The Undisputed Era goes High Low on Ford and O'Reilly pins to retain the championships.

Winners AND STILL NXT Tag Team Champions: The Undisputed Era

After the match, The Undisputed Era is celebrating in the ring as Adam Cole makes his way out to add to the celebration. As he approaches the top of the entrance ramp, Tommaso Ciampa returns and gets in Adam Cole's face. He has one thing in mind, and it is Cole's NXT Championship. NXT goes to a close as Cole and Ciampa have an intense staredown.

Ratings Record: AEW 1; NXT 0

The actual ratings, demographic 18yrs-49yrs for both shows is in favor of AEW Dynamite. AEW Dynamite scored 878,000 viewers while WWE NXT gathered 414,000 viewers. The WWE put out a press statement today, congratulating AEW on the rating success on their debut show on TNT.

In all, I favored NXT just a little more than AEW in their first week, head to head. I thought the wrestling was just a little bit better throughout all the matches aired. AEW had a lot of attention focused their way with this show being their first to air and WWE NXT already being an established product. I believe AEW has put WWE NXT in a position where everyone needs to bring their top-shelf game every Wednesday night, which is exactly what we all want as pro-wrestling fans.