Bryan Danielson Questions WWE’s Motives For Counter-Programming AEW

Bryan Danielson says AEW isn’t a threat to WWE as it has positively changed the wrestling landscape for both companies.

Over the past few months, WWE has stepped up its counter-programming against AEW. Shows like NXT Battleground took place at the same time as AEW Double or Nothing, NXT Great American Bash went head-to-head with AEW All In. NXT Heatwave clashed with AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door, and now WWE has even scheduled their main roster premium live event Wrestlepalooza on the same night as AEW All Out.

Former WWE star Bryan Danielson, now a major name in AEW, questioned WWE’s decision-making behind these moves. Speaking on The Kairouz Bros, Danielson said, “I think of it and I wonder, right? Like, I’m just curious what the people who are making these decisions, what they’re thinking. In the sense of this, ‘Oh, okay. This AEW thing, it’s real dangerous to our billion dollar business.’ That can’t be it.”

“The one thing I think is that AEW existing and being this challenger brand, and being as successful as we’ve been, has changed the landscape for wrestling for the wrestlers themselves… but we’re still the challenger brand, catching up on however many years WWE has had. But it’s interesting, because we’re not at the point of being a threat.”

“It’s one of the things where people who really crave power and a lot of money play these weird games that I don’t understand. It’s like, okay, we’re going to run all the competitors that might be competitive with us out of this business. Why? It’s good for the wrestlers both in AEW and WWE.”

Bryan Danielson says WWE benefits from AEW’s existence

Bryan Danielson pointed out that stars like Cody Rhodes and CM Punk likely wouldn’t be in their current positions in WWE without AEW. “It’s been good for them like—okay, if AEW wouldn’t have started, would Cody Rhodes be where he is right now? No. They have a megastar because AEW exists. Would CM Punk ever have come back? Probably not, — The people in WWE, a lot of the people I know, are great people. So I’d be interested to know what’s the decision-making process in this? But, you know, it’s not my monkey, not my circus, whatever the line is for that, you know what I mean?” [H/T: WrestlePurists]

Read More: Bryan Danielson Details Phone Conversation With Vince McMahon Prior To His AEW Debut

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