WWE has not been subtle in its efforts to undermine AEW’s attendance and ratings by scheduling events on the same days as major AEW events. Recently, the WWE-owned Lucha Libre AAA even announced a major event in the same area (metropolitan Chicago) and date (September 26) as AEW’s All Out.
During a recent interview on an episode of the Battleground Podcast that dropped on Wednesday (July 22), Khan was asked by these moves taken by WWE.
“All Out was already announced for Chicago, and there’s another
event now that has been announced happening on the same day in the same market,” host Timothy Battle asked the AEW president/CEO. “Do you view that as healthy competition, maybe a compliment or is that simply the reality of today’s wrestling business?”
“It’s probably all of the above. I think it’s all of the above,” Khan replied. “It’s the reality of current wrestling. It’s the, frankly, predatory nature of scheduling of events. But also the compliment that says that AEW is doing very well.”
He continued: “I’m very excited about AEW All Out, and it’s not something unexpected to have competition, and I do welcome it.”
On September 26, the AAA show will take place at the Allstate Arena in Rosemont, Illinois, whereas AEW’s All Out is scheduled for Hoffman Estates, Illinois, at the NOW Arena. The venues are approximately 20-30 minutes apart from each other.
Before that, though, AEW will battle WWE brands for viewership when All In kicks off at Wembley Stadium in London, England, on August 30.
After the event was announced, WWE later shared that it was holding a AAA show followed by NXT’s Heatwave Premium Live Event on August 30 at the Bert Ogden Arena in Edinburg, Texas, with a similar start time as All In.
What do you think about WWE scheduling events at the same time at AEW events? Is this fair game or “predatory”? Let us know in the comments.
