On August 20th 2021, CM Punk made his long-awaited return to pro-wrestling. In doing so, the AEW vs WWE battle took a wild and unexpected turn in AEW’s favour. Many people who had previously slept on the fledgling promotion began to take notice. But now, after a phenomenal All Out 2021, AEW has changed the game entirely with the huge debuts of Adam Cole and Bryan Danielson (Daniel Bryan). Tony Khan’s All Elite Wrestling has shown that WWE finally has some real competition.
Has Daniel Bryan joined AEW?
It’s official, Bryan Danielson, FKA Daniel Bryan, has signed with AEW. Likewise, Adam Cole, a mainstay of NXT during its ratings war with AEW, is also #AllElite.
Both had been rumoured to be coming in for some time. Danielson, who was in the main event of WrestleMania just six months ago (let that sink in), seemed overjoyed but conflicted over his decision to leave WWE. During All Out’s post-show media scrum, he explained about his positive relationship with WWE Chairman Vince McMahon and his family’s deep links with WWE. But ultimately, Danielson said a desire to push himself is what led to him joining AEW.
“I hate to say this, but… Vince [McMahon] and I have a great relationship. And I love him, I do. Sometimes he’s overprotective of me. And I want to be able to push my limits,” Danielson explained.
AEW vs WWE: What will Bryan Danielson and Adam Cole mean long-term?
The AEW vs WWE war is exciting to watch. And there’s some fun to be had in picking your side. However, for some WWE die-hards, it isn’t enough to like what they like. They take this “war” a bit too seriously. They seem to have a blind loyalty to Vince McMahon as if he’s ever cared about what the fans want. As a result, they proclaim that Adam Cole and Bryan Danielson are nothing but traitors. And that them “swapping sides” will actually come to nothing.
But, in reality, what will the signings of Bryan Danielson and Adam Cole mean for AEW? Will they move the needle?
It seems all but certain the best is yet to come for AEW. Up until CM Punk arrived in the promotion in August, AEW had already seen some all-time great matches and shows, and they’d made some fantastic surprise signings. As with any new business, there were some teething problems initially. But the hot run of big rating Dynamite shows in July showed AEW’s efforts had paid off and they were delivering a product fans loved to watch every week.
When CM Punk arrived, his debut on the new late-night Friday Rampage show proved a huge ratings hit. Couple Punk’s arrival with the buzz around Bryan Danielson and Adam Cole, and this week’s Dynamite show is likely to do its best ever rating. Hell, it’s likely a Dynamite show could beat WWE Raw in the very near future.
Long-term, it all depends how WWE respond. Judging from this week’s predictably boring show, the sinking Raw ship isn’t resurfacing anytime soon. And thanks to both the white-hot product AEW are consistently delivering and Cole, Danielson, and Punk’s arrivals, WWE is starting to look like a dinosaur.
Was AEW All Out a good show?
In the nearly two-and-a-half years prior to All Out 2021, AEW had yet to put on a bad PPV. All Out 2021 continued that trend and delivered one of the best wrestling PPVs of all time.
Despite a couple of so-so moments (mainly Paul Wight (Big Show) vs QT Marshall), All Out was a fantastic show. Top to bottom, the card delivered.
The best match of the night was the incredible Tag Team Steel Cage match for the AEW World Tag Team Championship between The Young Bucks and The Lucha Brothers. If you watch only one match from All Out, make it this one. It was a far-cry from WWE’s lacklustre tag team scene, with both teams fighting it out in a brutal war that only further cements AEW’s incredible tag division. Seeing The Lucha Bros raise the belts at the end was a great moment.
Elsewhere, Miro & Eddie Kingston had a really good match for the TNT Title. Jon Moxley had a solid fight with Satoshi Kojima that was capped off by a debuting Minoru Suzuki. Ruby Soho’s (FKA Ruby Riott) debut in the Casino Battle Royale was another awesome moment and immediately showed her as a bigger star than WWE ever allowed her to be. Britt Baker and Kris Statlander had a good match over the Women’s World Title. Chris Jericho bested MJF and kept his career intact in a well-executed grudge match. And finally, Christian Cage and Kenny Omega put on a fun, 4-star show-closer for the AEW World Championship in the main event.
Of course, the debuts of Bryan Danielson and Adam Cole followed closely after and took the show to the next level. It was a moment fans will never forget.
AEW vs WWE: What’s next?
The coming months in wrestling are sure to be the most interesting since the early 2000s. AEW has proven it is a real alternative to WWE, but it has to keep the momentum going if it wants to continue topping itself. WWE have a real opportunity here to show what they can do. After years of producing a sub-par product, it seems doubtful. However, you’d be a fool to count Vince McMahon out just yet.
What side of the AEW vs WWE fence are you on? Did you enjoy All Out 2021? Let us know in the comment section below and don’t forget to check out more from us on TV & Film…
