A new report came out this week claiming that NXT beat AEW in the ratings 48 out of the last 52 weeks.
Everyone reposted it. Everyone laughed.
AEW fans cried into their replica belts.
But here’s the thing: that’s not actually true.
When we looked closer, we found something slightly less tragic: AEW didn’t lose 48 times. They lost 47.
That’s right.
Five entire episodes of AEW Dynamite actually beat WWE NXT in the ratings.
Not Raw. Not SmackDown.
NXT, the developmental show, where some wrestlers are still learning how to take a clean back bump.
So we did what no sane person would:
We watched all five of those “historic” nights to figure out what AEW did right,
and more importantly, what they could actually learn from it.
Here’s what we found.
Lesson 1: Every Episode Must Be a “Special Episode”
Two of AEW’s five wins happened during themed shows, Fright Night Dynamite and Beach Break.
That tells you everything.
AEW doesn’t win because it’s consistent.
It wins because people love shiny lights, props, and the illusion of importance.
If the only time your audience shows up is when your show’s wearing a costume,
then just never take the costume off.
Make every Dynamite a theme night.
“Winter Is Coming.” “Spring Is Exploding.” “Dynamite: Revenge of the Pyro Budget.”
Because let’s be honest, the moves are the same.
The reactions are the same.
The only variable left is presentation.
If nothing new is happening in the ring, at least make it look like something new is happening on TV.
Lesson 2: The Roman Reigns Method, Infinite Returns
Every time a “surprise debut” happens on Dynamite, ratings jump.
One of AEW’s winning weeks even featured a Bobby Lashley debut.
Apparently, the secret ingredient isn’t storytelling.
It is absence.
If you’re on Dynamite, take a month off, then return dramatically, instant ratings pop.
Tony Khan books comebacks like they’re biblical events.
So why not go all in?
Steal WWE’s Roman Reigns playbook:
make everyone disappear and return every few weeks.
When WWE releases someone, sign them immediately.
Let them “shock the world,” lose clean in one night, and vanish again.
We don’t need stars.
We just need pops.
The show doesn’t have to be good if everyone’s constantly popping from all the returns.
Lesson 3: The Cage Match Revolution
One of AEW’s rare wins featured a steel cage match, and the crowd went wild.
Which makes sense.
AEW fans love CageMatch (the website), not necessarily cage matches (the stipulation).
They quote match ratings like gospel.
So if the audience worships CageMatch…
Why not literally give them cage matches?
AEW has already done the big gimmicks: Stadium Stampede, Blood & Guts, and Exploding Barbed Wire Deathmatch.
None of them feels special anymore.
So here’s the genius fix:
Bring those stipulations back to TV.
Give us one good, old-school cage match every week.
Simple, brutal, nostalgic, and free.
The audience will eat it up.
Lesson 4: The International Fix
Then there was June 18, 2025, the Mexico episode.
Loudest crowd AEW’s had all year.
Not because the stories were good.
Because the audience hadn’t seen any of it before.
That’s the real trick:
Go international.
Fresh crowds = automatic energy.
They don’t care if the booking makes sense; they’re just thrilled that their YouTube thumbnails finally came to life in front of them.
WWE’s been doing this for decades.
When storylines dry up, they go overseas.
Same product, new audience, fresh buzz.
AEW should do the same.
If the crowd’s loud enough, no one will notice the storylines still make zero sense.
Lesson 5: Multi-Man Chaos and Money Stunts
The fifth and final win came on July 16, 2025.
That episode had a six-man tag and a $100K four-way match.
Too many wrestlers. Too much money. Perfect formula.
If you cram thirty wrestlers into one match, all their fans tune in.
That’s instant ratings math.
From now on, forget storytelling.
Just flood the ring.
Ten-man tags. Twenty-man gauntlets.
Thirty-man “Everyone’s Booked” battle royals.
The more chaos, the better.
And if Tony Khan’s already blowing cash on licensed entrance songs no one remembers, why not spend that money on the crowd?
Run a “Lucky Seat Wins $100K” giveaway.
Give one fan actual money.
Suddenly, the arena’s packed, the energy’s insane, and Dynamite feels alive again.
The AEW Formula (Simplified)
If Tony Khan really wants to close the gap, the blueprint is clear:
- Make every night a theme night
- Fill every show with surprise returns
- Put a cage on every card
- Go international
- Book thirty people per match
- And give away cash to fans
Do all that, and AEW might just start beating WWE’s developmental brand…
once every other month.
And honestly?
That would count as progress.