According to a recent report from the Wrestling Observer, WWE’s ongoing strategy of counter-programming All Elite Wrestling is part of a broader corporate effort to prevent the rival promotion from landing a new television deal and ultimately put it out of business. Former WWE writer Vince Russo commented on the situation, stating he has no issue with the tactic from a business standpoint and attributes the aggressive push to WWE’s parent company, TKO Group Holdings.
“Bro, let’s face it, man, if Vince McMahon were still in charge, maybe the philosophy would be a little bit different,” Russo said on his YouTube channel. “But it’s not Vince McMahon, it’s not Triple H, it’s TKO. So, it’s TKO calling these shots.”
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The strategy has been evident in recent months, with WWE scheduling NXT Battleground against AEW’s Double or Nothing and The Great American Bash directly opposite All In. This pattern is set to continue, as NXT Heatwave is scheduled to air this Sunday, August 24, the same day as AEW’s major Forbidden Door show in London.
The most direct move in this competitive strategy is scheduled for Saturday, September 20, 2025. On that date, WWE will present a Premium Live Event, reportedly titled Wrestlepalooza, which will go head-to-head with AEW’s long-established All Out pay-per-view.
“So they’re going to put WrestlePalooza against I think it’s All In [All Out] and I think that’s September 20th,” Russo added. “Bro, I have no problem with that. I have no issue with that whatsoever. It is business.”
To bolster the Wrestlepalooza card, WWE is reportedly planning significant matches, including an Undisputed WWE Championship defense by Cody Rhodes against Drew McIntyre. Furthermore, the event may feature the first match for Brock Lesnar since SummerSlam 2023, with John Cena rumored as his potential opponent.
This head-to-head scheduling has drawn comparisons to the “Monday Night Wars” of the 1990s. On his “Busted Open Radio” show, WWE Hall of Famer Bully Ray noted the similarity to WCW airing its “Clash of the Champions” specials for free to compete with WrestleMania. Ray questioned whether the move indicates WWE now sees AEW as legitimate competition or if it is an attempt to “squash the competition before the competition becomes competition.”
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