It comes as no surprise that AEW has established itself as a successful promotion. Under Tony Khan’s leadership, the wrestling promotion has seen much success. Some of this even rivaled the success of the WWE. However, 2023 has not been kind to AEW or Khan. After a disastrous attempt to recreate the Monday Night Wars with WCW, Khan went on a streak of social media mistakes. Not only did this harm his reputation, but it also hurt the viewership numbers for AEW.
The most recent episode of AEW Dynamite saw a fall in viewership numbers which was the second time since October.
AEW’s quarterly viewership numbers oppose Tony Khan’s claims
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While celebrating the third anniversary of AEW Dynamite, Khan said, “It’s been a great year for us, and we’re looking forward to continuing to grow together.” While not lying, as the wrestling promotion has seen steady growth over the years, this did not apply to the viewership numbers the company was bringing in.
One social media account posted the real numbers of the quarterly viewership and compared it to WWE. The results were shocking. It clearly showed that the reports by Khan have not been true as the stats tell a different story that is opposite of what is being promoted.
Tony Khan: “It's been a great year for #AEW, we are growing”
but…the numbers say otherwise 😂🤣
How are you feeling @TonyKhan?
#BadFaith #AEWUnderAttack #WWE pic.twitter.com/XbSEjCzUDO
— AEW Botches (@AllEliteB0tches) December 22, 2023
According to the stats, the first quarter saw a massive fall in viewership for both Dynamite and Rampage. Things improved during the second quarter while the third and fourth remained the same. However, on the other end, the WWE has seen a good rise for both SmackDown and RAW. Even NXT recorded a 48% rise during the fourth quarter.
READ MORE: MJF Hints at 31-Year-Old Star Emerging as Tony Khan’s Potential New Signee at AEW Full Gear
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The main reason for this drop is the squandered talent that makes AEW. While the potential is endless with the star Khan employees, the booking and the frequent injuries to the stars have disappointed fans.
How Khan turned the fans against him
Despite Khan claiming that his aim was to create an independent promotion for wrestlers, it is clear that he wants to be the next WWE. His words on social media and the handling of the company have left little to the imagination regarding what his intentions are.
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After losing the Tuesday Night War and several other PPV viewership to the WWE, it is clear that fans prefer the WWE over AEW.
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