Things AEW Does Better Than WWE (2024)

Say what you will about AEW’s ups and downs over the last couple of years, but the promotion has been arguably producing the best content overall out of any professional wrestling company on the planet ever since its birth. There are certainly things that AEW doesn’t do so well, but in comparison to WWE, they have plenty of positive points.

This might cause some contention, but the following are things that AEW arguably does better than WWE. Whether it be concerning weekly TV, elements of production, PPVs, or specific divisions, AEW has plenty of positives which are superior to their larger competitor.

AEW’s PPVs Are The Best In Professional Wrestling History

No Company Has Ever Had The Consistency Of AEW’s Big Shows

• AEW’s TV might have negative stages, but PPVs always deliver
• The pace of AEW’s PPVs ensure for a night of fun action
• Most matches on AEW’s PPVs are great

Over the last five years, AEW has held over 35 PPV events, with all but perhaps one or two being great at worst. The majority of these shows though have been in contention for the best PPV of the whole year, and in some cases the best of all time.

The constant quality of these events is one of the major reasons why AEW is kept afloat and retains its good graces. These shows just have match after match of world class wrestling, strong stories, and memorable moments too. Even in AEW’s worst periods, their PPVs always offer something to shout about. For WWE, their PPVs have been much better recently, but there is still a lack of consistency and pacing issues.

AEW Is Better At Building Relationships With The Wider Wrestling World

AEW Has Had Relationships With NJPW, TNA, CMLL, And More

• WWE has often ignored the rest of the wrestling world
• AEW’s “Forbidden Door” with NJPW has been a success
• AEW talent is able to work outside of AEW

When it comes to WWE, they have swept aside the wider wrestling world for decades, save for one or two small examples of working with another promotion. AEW have been the complete opposite, actively involving wrestlers from NJPW, TNA, NWA, CMLL, and AAA over the last five years, and more.

Additionally, AEW allows their wrestlers to sometimes appear in big promotions and on smaller indie events too, which helps wrestling’s ecosystem. AEW and Tony Khan have been proven to be very effective in building relationships and creating a community.

Tag Team Wrestling Is Better In AEW Than It Ever Has Been In WWE

Despite Recent Pitfalls, AEW Has One Of The Best Tag Team Divisions In The World

• WWE has hardly ever prioritized tag team wrestling
• The Attitude Era’s tag team division is overrated
• AEW’s tag team division has been given more focus and star power

One obvious difference between AEW & WWE from day one was the presentation of tag team wrestling. Often in AEW, the tag team division has felt on par with the singles divisions, with top names, main events, and plenty of time dedicated to it.

Under Vince McMahon especially, WWE did not view tag team wrestling as a draw. Fans may look back fondly on old eras of tag team wrestling in WWE, but there was still always a lack of focus, time, and presentation from WWE.

AEW’s Entrance Music Blows WWE Out Of The Water

AEW Has Countless Fantastic Entrance Themes

• WWE’s Def Rebel get criticized a lot
• Most wrestlers on AEW’s roster have distinctive, unique, and memorable music
• AEW pays for licensed music more often than WWE

Jon Moxley, Kenny Omega, FTR, Darby Allin, Adam Cole, Hook, and Jay White are just a handful of the names in AEW who have top tier entrance music, and this list could go on and on. Every wrestler in AEW has a theme that fits them and enhances their overall presentation.

In WWE, the state of entrance themes is a disgrace in 2024. Generic themes, cheesy elements, and repetitiveness have led to a stale era of music. A clear example of this could be seen in recent Royal Rumble matches, where it can take fans a few seconds to even realize who is coming out. You would not have this issue in AEW.

AEW Utilizes And Pushes Young Talent Better Than WWE

AEW’s Roster Has More Young And Promising Names

• Young talent spends too long in WWE developmental
• It can take time for younger names to make it in WWE
• AEW pushes young talent faster and gives more chances

There has been some criticism at times for AEW pushing the likes of Chris Jericho, Adam Copeland, Christian Cage, and other old names. However, they are also pushing a sea of young talent at the same time, who are developing and becoming big stars.

The likes of MJF, Darby Allin, Jack Perry, Hook, Jamie Hayter, Daniel Garcia, and many more are regularly featured and have had their star power steadily built. If they were in WWE, many of these names might have spent years in NXT with their potential being wasted. Overall, AEW pushes more young names and crowns these individuals as champions much sooner than WWE ever would in the modern day.

The Match Quality In AEW Is More Consistent Than WWE

In-Ring Work Is More Of A Focus In AEW

• There is more wrestling in AEW than WWE
• Having more in-ring work has led to better matches more frequently
• AEW is “where the best wrestle”

When AEW first began, it was the focus on in-ring action that really set it apart from WWE, and still continues to do so to this day. AEW’s shows are heavy on wrestling and less so on segments and promos, and this leads to infinitely more show-stealers and memorable matches. The number of classics churned out by AEW is crazy to behold.

Admittedly, WWE’s in-ring work has improved since the change in regime, but there are more bad matches in WWE than there in AEW for sure.

AEW’s Crowds Are Usually More Energetic And Engaging Than WWE’s Crowds

AEW Fans Are Louder And More Passionate

• Outside of international shows, WWE’s fans can be quiet
• Every AEW show (outside of rare outliers) has a thunderous audience
• Even with less people, AEW’s shows have more energy

There is a certain type of fan more drawn to AEW and a certain one drawn to WWE, and in the case of AEW, it makes for a much more energetic, lively, and loud audience who add and elevate to every single show.

Some of WWE’s audiences have been fantastic recently at their international shows, but on a week-to-week basis AEW provides a fanbase who are very passionate and electric for every match on any card.

AEW Has A Larger Variety Of Match Types And Styles Than WWE

AEW Has Always Welcomed Different Styles

• Weekly AEW shows can have stipulations and gimmick matches
• Wrestlers from Mexico, Japan, and more can bring their own distinctive styles
• Wrestlers are given the freedom to wrestle how they want

In the last year alone, AEW has provided fans with Blood & Guts, Texas Death (multiple times), Steel Cage, Ladder (several variations), and countless more, with so many different gimmick matches taking place each month. Additionally, fans can see Japanese strong style, lucha libre, mat-based technical wrestling, and more on a weekly basis.

The scope of variety in AEW is second to none, allowing for many different styles and match variants, making each show feel unique, special, and anticipated. WWE doesn’t have the same sort of variety, and it isn’t even close.

Professional Wrestling Veterans And Legends Have Been Used Better In AEW

It’s Close, But AEW Is Better At This

• Sting’s AEW run is the best proof of AEW’s booking of veterans
• Legends feel more like legends in AEW
• WWE has sometimes made legends and veterans feel like afterthoughts or jokes

The usage and presentation of veterans has been fantastic in AEW. The likes of Sting, Chris Jericho, Adam Copeland, Christian Cage, Billy Gunn, Tully Blanchard, Jim Ross, Arn Anderson, and Jeff Jarrett are just some of the legends of the business who have been treated with a whole lot of respect and been given a new lease of life.

For some, they have seen the best work of their careers and been handled well - far better than they perhaps would in WWE.

AEW Always Feels Fresher Than WWE With New Matchups

AEW’s Big Roster Allows For New Matches

• WWE hosts a lot of rematches on TV and PPV
• AEW have brand new matches every week
• Rematches in AEW often feel more important

AEW receives some critique for its huge roster, with many names not gaining momentum and the pushes that some fans feel they deserve. However, this does have a positive element, as it means on a weekly basis fans are seeing new and fresh matches.

In WWE, there is a sense of repetitiveness some weeks, with the same rematches over and over, but in AEW this is very rarely the case. Rematches only happen when the storyline calls for it, but otherwise Dynamite, Collision, and PPVs always have a feeling of freshness in terms of match lineups.