Matt Hardy has offered his insight into the biggest differences between WWE and AEW, explaining how the two wrestling promotions have very different approaches to producing their television shows and building their stars.
Hardy, who has enjoyed lengthy spells with both companies during his illustrious wrestling career, believes the key distinction comes down to what each promotion ultimately wants to deliver to its audience.
Speaking exclusively to GiveMeSport via Casino.org US, Hardy explained that AEW places a greater emphasis on in-ring action, whereas WWE is more focused on character development, storytelling, and sports entertainment.
The Differences Between WWE & AEW
“I think the biggest difference between the two companies is just what they are ultimately trying to produce at the end of the day,” Hardy said.
“I think with AEW, they are less focused on storylines and characters (I’m not saying they don’t do any of that, because they do) and they are more focused on in-ring quality. That’s what they are looking for. And they’re doing matches that are pretty amazing. I love it when that happens at a pay-per-view. Sometimes on TV, I think it’s overkill to a degree.”
The former WWE tag team champion believes that difference in philosophy is particularly noticeable when comparing the way the two companies structure their weekly television programming.
While AEW, under the leadership of Tony Khan, has developed a reputation for delivering high-quality matches, Hardy feels WWE takes a different approach by prioritising larger-than-life personalities and compelling narratives, a style reflected in the best Superstars in WWE right now.
“I think WWE, they are looking to be much more sports entertainment-based. They are looking for characters that are larger than life, that will connect with people, that are going to sell a tonne of merchandise.
“Also, they’re trying to create these compelling stories that will suck people in. And then once you get to a big blow-off, that’s when you have the big, crazy, insane match.”
Hardy believes much of the difference comes down to the personal preferences of AEW president Tony Khan, who he feels wants every match on the card to deliver a high standard of wrestling.
He also stressed that the two approaches do not have to be mutually exclusive, suggesting AEW could benefit from incorporating more entertainment-focused elements into its programming without sacrificing its in-ring identity.
“So I just think there’s a different structure in what they’re doing, and the majority of that just comes from Tony Khan, because that’s Tony Khan’s preference. That’s the kind of wrestling he likes.
“He likes every match to be a banger, to be a solid match. And that’s one of those things: I still think there’s room in AEW for them to implement entertainment value into their stuff, and I don’t think it’s going to hurt them at all.”
As an example, Hardy pointed towards Danhausen, whose face-painted character has made him a notable success in WWE.
Hardy suggested that WWE has demonstrated how a distinctive personality can be developed and commercially maximised, arguing that AEW previously struggled to find the right way to utilise the character.
“Even Danhausen has been such a success at WWE, and they had Danhausen for years and really couldn’t figure out a place to place him or how to utilise him. And I think WWE showed them you can take a character like that, and you can optimise them to a degree and make money off of them.”
Ultimately, Hardy’s comments highlight two different philosophies within professional wrestling. AEW’s focus on match quality has helped establish its identity, while WWE continues to lean heavily into storytelling, memorable characters, and the entertainment side of the business, an approach that has produced many of the greatest WWE Superstars in history.
Having experienced both environments first-hand, Hardy believes there is room for both approaches to succeed, although he feels AEW could take inspiration from WWE’s ability to turn unique characters into commercial successes.
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