10 Biggest Differences Between WWE & AEW Right Now

WWE and AEW are constantly going to be compared, and that is something that will always exist due to the narrative fans have created around the two. It's a brand new wrestling war, and while it might not be as intense as the Monday Night Wars, it is certainly exciting to have two different companies trying to be the best.

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WWE and AEW might both be pushing the same content in terms of wrestling, but how they do that is very different. The reason each company has distinct fans is because there are differences, and right now that is certainly the case.

10 Ratings

WWE and AEW can be judged against each other in all manner of ways, but one of the biggest is in the television ratings. This is ultimately what proves which company is bringing the most eyeballs to the product, and right now the numbers are drastically different between the two.

While AEW Dynamite is doing well, AEW's flagship show now finds itself competing with NXT rather than Raw or SmackDown, while ratings for AEW Collision and AEW Rampage have been struggling at times.

9 Use Of Violence

One of the biggest differences between AEW and WWE is the amount of violence that is used. WWE works within PG restrictions and opts to not provide tons of overly violent moments in a bid to not anger sponsors, which is why there's limited blood, and when it does come it is via the hard way.

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That's not the case with AEW, which is more of a free-for-all-all when it comes to violence. Seeing weapons and blood is something that is almost expected by fans, and that does attract a lot of fans.

8 Use Of GMs

General managers often divide wrestling fans, with some people loving them and others not finding them entertaining. However, WWE has recently introduced them with Adam Pearce taking charge of the red brand, while Nick Aldis has recently debuted for the company to be in charge of SmackDown.

That's something that AEW doesn't do, with the company opting not to have any official general manager. Instead, Tony Khan makes the booking decisions and that's something that fans understand without him appearing on television.

7 Focus On Athletes

A big difference between AEW and WWE is the recruitment policy of each company. Right now, AEW is focusing on bringing in as many experienced stars as possible who have dominated the independent scene such as Roderick Strong, or former top-level WWE Superstars like Adam Copeland.

However, WWE is looking more towards youth, and people from outside the wrestling bubble. The company is hiring a lot of athletes whether they're footballers or cheerleaders as they then try to teach them from scratch.

6 Show Opening

When it comes to WWE most people expect the shows to open with a lengthy promo segment, which has been the case for many years. While this has become predictable, there are times when this can be very entertaining if the promo is done well.

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However, AEW tends to kickstart its shows in a completely different manner. While there have been times when promos are used, for the most part, Tony Khan books his show to start with a match, normally to start things off with a bang.

5 PPV Length

WWE and AEW have plenty of PPV events, all with different levels of importance. Of course, both look to put on the best quality product at these events to pay off storylines, but one big difference is the length of time that is given to the shows each company puts on.

While WWE can have slightly longer shows for the bigger nights like WrestleMania, it is AEW that puts on far longer shows. The PPVs often drag on a little bit too long, with megacards taking place each time.

4 Number Of Titles

Some fans believe that WWE has too many titles, but when compared to AEW it doesn't even come close. Tony Khan has created tons of titles over the years, whether it is in the midcard, women's division, or the various tag and trio divisions.

With AEW also including all of the ROH titles on its shows it has become quite an overload of titles that people aren't too sure about. It has ultimately devalued some, but that isn't a problem for WWE as there are fewer titles.

3 Forbidden Door Talent

The Forbidden Door term is something that Tony Khan has truly given a life of its own, but it is something he's been consistent with. The company might have one PPV per year working with NJPW, but it isn't the only night talent from outside the company that turns up.

AEW often has different wrestlers from other promotions appear, whether it is Mistico from CMLL or Will Ospreay from NJPW. That is something WWE doesn't do, as the company simply doesn't put spotlight on people who aren't employed by them.

2 Women's Division

A major difference between AEW and WWE is how they book their women's divisions. WWE puts a large effort into this division both on the main roster and NXT, ensuring that they get time in the ring for matches and promo segments to help develop their storylines.

RELATED: 5 Things WWE's Women's Division Does Best (& 4 That AEW Is Better At)

However, that isn't the case with AEW for the most part. While certain stars like Toni Storm are making the most of their time, it is far more limited, which is something fans have expressed frustration about.

1 Attendances

Arguably the biggest difference between WWE and AEW right now is the attendance that each company is bringing in for shows. It's a crucial part of the business as this provides finance, while it also creates an important visual while also adding atmosphere, which can make a bad show good.

Recently the live attendances for AEW have been concerning, with the company struggling to shift as many tickets as they did in the past. Meanwhile, WWE tends to sell out arenas regularly, which is creating a narrative amongst fans.