Has All Elite Wrestling become the 'USFL of Pro Wrestling'?

Another weekend of football is upon us, and like professional wrestling, it's in the build-up part of the year. While this period reflects the road to WrestleMania in April, it also represents the trek to the Super Bowl in February.

For years, the NFL shield and WWE logo have become iconic, and they essentially represent 'football' and 'rasslin' as the name brands for their particular industries. And while both have had their worthy competitors in the past, both were able to vanquish them eventually.

There has been crossover between the two entities in the past, with former football players entering the ring as full-time competitors and even announcers pulling double duty between the gridiron and the squared circle. And most recently and prominently, an NFL part-owner is also the owner and CEO of All Elite Wrestling.

That's where the irony begins. In one world, Khan sits among the NFL elite. In the other, he's considered far below his main rival and almost more of an annoyance than a true threat. All Elite Wrestling, while well-funded and with its fair share of talent, has no real counter to the WWE media machine.

In the 1980s, the NFL faced a similar competitor. One that was much like AEW. It was the United States Football League. However, bad business moves and the unshakeable perception that they were a secondary league eventually nipped their efforts in the bud. The USFL only lasted from 1983-1985. And the end was brutal.

While AEW is not likely to go out of business any time soon, they have fallen under a lot of the same stereotypes. In a sense, the have become the 'USFL of pro wrestling'.

Never close to Number One

Much like AEW, the USFL threw around some big contracts to ensure they would have stars from college and some players that had been overlooked. They signed future Hall of Famers like Reggie White and Steve Young, and they played in the spring... during the non-NFL time of the year.

Also much like AEW, they wasted money on fly-by-night attempts to gain relevance and, in turn, try to prove that they were an equal brand to a stalwart. Tony Khan has attempted this as well, bringing in names like Mike Tyson, Shaquille O'Neal, and Rick Ross, none of which helped the company in terms of a mainstream pop.

By the final year, USFL management muddled it all when they, led by the owner of the New Jersey Generals, decided to move their season to the Fall to go head-to-head with the National Football League. That was the death knell, and the league folded shortly thereafter. By the way, that New Jersey owner was Donald Trump. (But this is just 1985. You'll hear a lot more about him in the future, kids).

It's been somewhat the same with Tony Khan and All Elite Wrestling. Despite their efforts, no one (not even the die-hard fans) can argue that they are bigger than WWE. Or, that they are true competition for that matter.

Instead, they have been content to sign superstars at the end of their careers, or virtual unknowns that they are hedging a bet on. And the only thing saving this league from folding is the deep, deep pockets of the Khan family. Money that has been grossly mismanaged.

So while anyone can claim to be number one, it's how you conduct your business that sets the truly elite corporations apart. Especially in sports and entertainment. And if your strategy is to just throw everything against the wall and see what sticks? It doesn't take long for fans to see that. Until that philosophy is scrapped, AEW will always be the bridesmaid and never the bride; they will always be viewed as a distant second. Just like the good ol' USFL.