MJF believes WWE views AEW as a legitimate threat and pointed to several recent moves by the competition as proof that they’re actively working to protect their market position.
Speaking with Richard Deitsch on the Sports Media Podcast, MJF focused largely on the September 26 head-to-head in Chicago. AEW is running All Out at the NOW Arena in Hoffman Estates with a 6 p.m. CT start time, while WWE, NXT, and AAA are promoting Worlds Collide at the Allstate Arena in Rosemont the same night with overlapping time slots.
Notably, AEW officially announced All Out on July 6. WWE confirmed Worlds Collide for the same market and date ten days later, on July 16.
MJF had this to say:
“Do I think it’s ridiculous that they’re [WWE] afraid of us usurping them? Yeah, a little bit. Do I think it’s a little f*cking funny that you’re running a show in Chicago the exact the same time we’re running a show in Chicago? Yeah, a little bit. But as I’ve stated before, it makes sense. I understand it. It’s a business tactic.
I’m not mad at it, but the last thing you’re gonna do to me, if other wrestling fans want it to happen to them that’s fine if they want to play dumb and coy, but you’re not gonna spit in my f*cking face and tell me it’s raining. You’re not gonna tell me you’re WWE Radio, but we’re still gonna call it right down the line. That’s not a thing.”
The WWE Radio reference was no throwaway line, either. WWE and SiriusXM launched the channel on July 27 as the company’s new official radio home, taking over channel 156 and folding in shows like Busted Open. MJF believes that because of the official partnership, AEW’s presence on the programming will gradually be squeezed out.
Tony Khan addressed the Chicago situation back in July. The AEW president called it the “predatory nature of scheduling events” but said he welcomes the competition with open arms.