For the first time in over a year, WWE NXT and AEW Dynamite are set to clash head-to-head tonight in a battle of ratings supremacy. Both companies seem to be pulling out all the stops with WWE bringing in huge names like John Cena, Cody Rhodes, Paul Heyman and Asuka for one night only on top of a stellar card for the black and gold brand. AEW, meanwhile, will feature the in-ring debut of Adam Copeland on Dynamite as well as defenses of the ROH World Championship, AEW Women’s World Championship and AEW International Championship.
Ahead of his first match in AEW tonight, the former Edge spoke to The Masked Man Show. During their conversation, the topic of the AEW Dynamite/WWE NXT head-to-head clash was brought up and Copeland gave his thoughts on the ‘rivalry’ between the two companies, comparing it to the infamous Monday Night War between WWE and WCW back in the late-90s, and why it ultimately benefits the industry as a whole.
“This is awesome,” Copeland stated. “I mean, how can you not enjoy the fact that both shows are trying to load up and trying to put the best show on imaginable? That’s all I really care about. ‘Okay, I’ll make sure, or try to make sure, that my part of the show is is all killer, no filler.’ That’s my only job. I’m sure both will get watched when it’s all said and done with DVR and however else it’s computed now since everything ratings-wise is so antiquated. It’s fun.
I remember flipping back and forth between Nitro and Raw and that’s kind of what this is and I don’t see that as a bad thing at all. I think it’s great. Again, like I’ve mentioned, the performers themselves, there’s none of this weird tribalism. Within the industry, there’s competition obviously and for me, I’m happy for those guys and they’re happy for us and girls and vice versa. When there’s choices and when there’s another company that can push the other company, that’s when you get the best stuff.”
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If you use any quotes from this article, please give a h/t to Haus of Wrestling and credit The Masked Man Show.