The “battle” between AEW and WWE was once a figment of fans' imagination, but it has grown to much more as one company continues to attempt to close the walls around its competitor. Free agency wars are one of the reasons WWE is attempting to take these steps, as having a viable promotion drives up the value that performers can offer. One such name that has made the jump recently is none other than Ricochet. He’s had some interesting things to say about his former employee, and he’s 100 percent right in his analysis.
Before joining WWE in 2018, Ricochet was already considered one of the best performers in the world. His resume of matches in organizations like New Japan Pro Wrestling, MLW, PWG, and more carved out the well-deserved recognition. Yet, his run in WWE from 2018 to 2024 left a lot to be desired. For whatever reason he wasn’t put in the position to be the success that his fans and he knew he could be. No one was surprised when he left in 2024, and no one is really surprised at what he’s had to say since leaving.
“Not every fan is that way, but in history, it’s never been really acceptable to have multiple wrestling companies on television,” Ricochet said while speaking to Ariel Helwani. “Competition is great, but it gets to a point where you want this company to stop being a company just because it’s not the company you grew up with your whole life. I’ve never been that kind of person, so it’s hard for me to understand those feelings. Competition is welcome and great. I’m glad AEW is here to compete.”
It's that competition that has become one of the most important stories to watch in the business today. As WWE continues to spread its content across the largest available platforms, while rising ticket prices, and shunning actual journalistic coverage, All Elite Wrestling has the opportunity to stand out as the true alternative in the space. AEW is already doing that when it comes to the quality of matches on television and PPVs every week and month. It is an alternative that people are starting to recognize.
“Now more than ever, we’re figuring out ways to create new stories, drama, and suspense while keeping it sports-based and creating an alternative to what people have known for years,” Ricochet said. “How the world is today, having a place like AEW, all those families and people who may not be able to afford to go to WWE can afford to come to our show and have a good time, and experience some new action, characters, drama, and an alternative to what has been going on for a long time.
That is a key point in this interview that cannot be ignored. Attending a WWE show is quickly becoming a leisure activity that more and more people cannot afford. Just as the UFC’s ticket prices have skyrocketed in recent years, WWE is going through the same because the company is intentionally making those pricing decisions with the goal to extract as much revenue as possible. If AEW can continue to put on the quality of content it has in recent months, it is a true opportunity to slowly chip away and hopefully build momentum.
Professional wrestling needs competition. Ricochet understands that. Performers understand that. The staff understands that. While low-information fans continue to argue about WWE versus AEW, it is best that both other promotions and the independents stay viable for a long time.