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So far from 2025, Tko Group Holdings – the WWE and UFC matrix company – has significantly increased its efforts to counterprogram all Elite Wrestling. This strategy does not seem to have another objective than reinstate the monopoly that WWE held for decades in the professional wrestling industry. For Tko, AEW represents a real threat to that control, and are deploying all possible resources to weaken it.

Although these types of tactics have recently intensified, They are not new for WWE or UFC. WWE, under the leadership of Vince McMahon, has a long history of sabotage and counterprogramming: from the famous Territories War in the 80s to the historic Monday Night Wars against WCW in the 90s on the UFC side, the strategy has been to eliminate all direct competition for years, consolidating an absolute domain in the mixed martial arts. Today, with WWE and UFC under the same corporate umbrella, Tko seems to want to replicate that same model with wrestling.

► Nick Khan and Chris Legentil: The brains behind the strategy

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Two key figures in this offensive are Nick Khan, president of WWE, and Chris Legentil, Head of Communications of Tko. Both have been instrumental in designing subtle but effective campaigns to undermine AEW. One of the most notorious examples was the systematic filtration of the “Fast Nationals” (preliminary television audience data) of AEW to certain creators of content on social networks, with the aim of painting a negative panorama of their ratings. Although this tactic was quickly discredited, He presented Tko's will to operate in the shadows to discredit his competition.

► WWE's opening to collaborations: A play to steal AEW's identity?

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One of AEW's big differentiators It has been its “open doors” policy, Collaborating with companies such as NJPW, CMLL and other independent promoters. Now, WWE has begun to replicate that formula, working openly with companies such as TNA, Pro Wrestling Noah and even absorbing AAA after a recent acquisition. This not only gives WWE new talents and markets, but it takes AEW a unique feature that distinguished it in the global panorama.

But WWE's ambition does not stop there. On the horizon is the resurgence of NXT's international expansions, with new projects similar to NXT UK on the way. The European region seems to be the first objective, which would put pressure on AEW in international markets where it has managed to consolidate in recent years.

► And the PPVs? A new battle front

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The most recent front in this corporate war is the programming of Premium Live Events events (PPVS) of WWE on dates that compete directly with the great AEW shows. Despite this aggressive counterprogram attempt, So far they have not managed to significantly affect audience numbers or AEW purchase. In fact, recent events such as Double or Nothing They have maintained constant performance, demonstrating that AEW has a loyal and resistant base.

The fight between AEW and WWE under Tko is not just a business competition; It is an ideological clash about what type of wrestling the world should dominate. While Tko bets on absolute corporate control and aggressive market strategies, AEW continues to prioritize creativity, collaboration and organic connection with its fans. The question now is not only if AEW can resist, but if the industry will allow again That a single company dictates the rules of the game.

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