Dave Meltzer and Bryan Alvarez during the latest Wrestling Observer Radio, spoke on the multiple AEW World Title challengers and how it has ‘really boosted interest in the product as of late.
Meltzer said the following: “I do feel that this multiple championship challenger thing – cause Swerve is going to be back in the picture, obviously Andrade, Page. Omega will be back in the picture. Brody King is in the picture. There’s probably going to be others in the picture – that’s really boosted interest in AEW, I think there’s no doubt about that.”
Alvarez also added on how hot Andrade is right now, people chanting his name and getting a babyface reaction, even though he is supposed to be a heel as part of the Don Callis Family.
Over the recent weeks on AEW programming, Kenny Omega, Swerve Strickland, Hangman Page, Brody King and the returning Andrade El Idolo all have been vying for the AEW World Championship.
During the past several weeks of television, AEW has been holding what has been a No. 1 contenders tournament for the AEW World Championship, currently held by MJF. On this past Wednesday’s Dynamite, Andrade defeated Omega and will wrestle Hangman Page at the Grand Slam Australia event on February 14. The winner of that match will go on to the Revolution PPV to challenge for the title. So how will it be? MJF or Brody King? In a World Title Eliminator Match on this past Wednesday’s Dynamite, King defeated MJF and will now challenge him for the World Championship at Grand Slam Australia.
This past Wednesday’s AEW Dynamite on TBS came 654,000 viewers and a 0.15 rating in the key 18-49 demographic, up from the previous week that drew 653,000 viewers and a 0.09 rating.
Last Saturday’s live AEW Collision on TNT came in with 492,000 viewers and a 0.07 rating in the key demographic, up from the previous week that had 253,000 viewers and a 0.03 in the key demographic. That show also saw newly signed Tommaso Ciampa defeat Mark Briscoe for the TNT Championship.
Tell us what you think. Has having multiple title challengers boosted overall AEW interest, or is it something else?, or is this just a temporary ratings spurt? Give us your thoughts in the comments section below.