WWE's recent maneuvers suggest a calculated strategy to dominate the industry, often at the expense of fostering genuine growth or collaboration. Under the leadership of Triple H and with TKO Group's backing, WWE has been accused of leveraging its resources to undermine rivals like AEW, while exerting influence over smaller promotions such as AAA and TNA. This approach not only involves aggressive counter-programming but also subtle digs that appeal to a segment of the fanbase thrives on tribalism and schadenfreude. Critics argue that these tactics—rooted in pettiness—risk alienating broader audiences and stifling innovation, as WWE prioritizes short-term wins over long-term industry health. The spread of this mindset from WWE management to podcasts hosted by former wrestlers (often with conflicts of interest) and fan commentators has amplified a toxic narrative, where success is measured by how much one can diminish competitors rather than elevate the sport.A prime example of WWE's influence peddling is its recent acquisition of Mexican lucha libre promotion AAA, announced in April 2025 during WrestleMania in partnership with Mexico-based company Fillip.This move marked a significant shift for AAA, with the Peña family retaining involvement but WWE taking a heavy hand in operations. The first major event under this new regime, TripleMania XXXIII on August 17, 2025, at Arena CDMX in Mexico City, showcased WWE's fingerprints: 16 WWE Superstars appeared on the card, including cross-promotional matches where WWE talent challenged for AAA titles.The event shattered records, drawing 19,691 attendees (AAA's all-time gate high) and over 4 million viewers in the first 24 hours across WWE and AAA's YouTube channels in English and Spanish, with a peak concurrent audience of 614,000.However, not all records are undisputed—lucha libre analyst Luchablog has refuted some claims, arguing that WWE's involvement stabilized AAA but hasn't truly surpassed historical popularity peaks, suggesting inflated metrics to justify the acquisition.WWE's changes extend beyond the ring, with plans for a new AAA logo by year's end and Triple H publicly assuring talent that the goal is to "enhance" rather than overhaul, though the heavy WWE presence at TripleMania—including a victory by a WWE-affiliated star underscoring dominance—paints a picture of absorption rather than partnership.WWE's aggression toward AEW has escalated into blatant counter-programming, seemingly designed to disrupt AEW's momentum and complicate its TV contract negotiations with Warner Bros. Discovery. This tactic traces back to AEW's initial "counter-punching" in the late 2010s and early 2020s, but WWE has ramped it up in 2025 as a "company directive."Notable instances include scheduling NXT events against AEW's Forbidden Door in June and multiple shows (NXT Great American Bash, Saturday Night's Main Event, and Evolution) during AEW All In: Texas weekend in July, leading to poor ticket sales for WWE's Evolution and drawing criticism for diluting its own product.The pattern continues with a last-minute Premium Live Event (PLE) addition on September 20, 2025—dubbed Wrestlepalooza—at Indianapolis' Gainbridge Fieldhouse, directly opposing AEW All Out in Toronto. This event, streaming on ESPN's new direct-to-consumer service (launching August 21, 2025), features high-profile stars like John Cena (in his last Indianapolis appearance), Cody Rhodes, Seth Rollins, Becky Lynch, CM Punk, and Drew McIntyre, positioning it as a star-studded draw to siphon viewers.AEW President Tony Khan has responded defiantly, viewing it as validation of AEW's threat, while insiders note the goal isn't to convert AEW fans but to fragment attention and weaken AEW's bargaining power for future deals.Complementing this, WWE's multi-year Peacock deal revives Saturday Night’s Main Event four times annually, with 2025 editions on November 1 and December 13 (featuring Cena's retirement match), ensuring consistent high-profile content that could overlap with AEW scheduling. WWE's NXT library remains on Peacock through March 2026, with SmackDown on a 30-day delay, bolstering its streaming dominance.WWE's treatment of TNA (now rebranded but still airing Impact) exemplifies the "pushing around" of smaller promotions, blending collaboration with condescension. NXT star Trick Williams, after capturing the TNA World Championship, has been seen wearing the belt upside down—a deliberate statement, as explained on NXT commentary, symbolizing how he "turned the company upside down.This visual has sparked backlash for disrespecting TNA's legacy, especially amid ongoing crossovers. Behind the scenes, WWE is reportedly pushing TNA to shift Impact to Wednesday nights, directly head-to-head with AEW Dynamite, as part of TNA's media rights negotiations potentially landing on a "WWE-associated" network. WWE holds an option to buy TNA outright, fueling speculation that this is a proxy war to ...
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