Embracing Triple H approach; utilizing ticket-drawing talent? - 5 things AEW could learn from WWE RAW on Netflix

AEW's primary rival promotion, WWE, launched into a promising 2025 with the explosive premiere of their prestigious Monday-night program, RAW, on Netflix. The event was broadcast on January 6 from the Intuit Dome in California. It featured appearances from top stars, including Cody Rhodes, Roman Reigns, Kevin Owens, and Rhea Ripley, as well as from veterans like The Rock and The Undertaker.

Meanwhile, All Elite Wrestling is also kicking off an exciting TV year, bankrolled by a lucrative new media rights deal with Warner Bros. Discovery. While the Tony Khan-led promotion has had its fair share of struggles as it competes against the long-established dominance of the World Wrestling Entertainment in the wrestling industry, there are lessons AEW could learn from RAW's Netflix debut to strengthen its product.

Let us take a look at some of these lessons.

#1: AEW should improve on its production quality

Over the past few years, WWE has almost perfected the presentation of its weekly shows, RAW, NXT, and Smackdown. The Stamford-based company has invested a lot of effort and funds in elevating the production value of its product, including everything from video packages to backstage interactions, live in-ring promos, and pre-taped cinematic segments—not to mention matches and entrances.

While AEW can boast of producing some of the best in-ring output in the world right now, its programming routinely encounters broadcast-related issues, such as audiovisual errors, commentary botches, arena lighting cues, and other problems.

AEW could thus benefit from paying more attention to fine-tuning its production processes, aspiring to WWE's level in that regard. It should also continue developing its distinct brand style and elevating its quality.

#2: AEW should prioritize top draws over new signings and ex-WWE veterans

While AEW has a glut of talent, it can and does feature them weekly. Many argue that the company's roster suffers from oversaturation, with more names than it can consistently book. As a result, the company is struggling to properly define its upper-card environment, which may be translating into stagnating viewership numbers and ticket sales.

Over the past couple of years, WWE has focused on spotlighting talent that has succeeded at connecting with audiences and has proven marketable, including established names like Jey Uso, Cody Rhodes, Roman Reigns, Seth Rollins, etc. All Elite Wrestling already has stars its fanbase loves and who could grow said fanbase, such as Swerve Strickland, Will Ospreay, Kenny Omega, Hangman Page, and more.

The promotion must attract talent who can move business and attract more attention to its product instead of giving unnecessary television time to ex-WWE names and/or recent signings.

#3: AEW needs to build high-stakes stories around its top title

Jon Moxley has kept his AEW World Championship inside a briefcase for several months. He continues to wage a vague war against the All Elite roster, and many fans still doubt what motivations drive his violent actions. Compare this reign, despite its momentous beginning, to that of Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes, who has been featured prominently on the promotion's weekly programs, house shows, and PLEs, as has World Heavyweight Champion Gunther.

The American Nightmare foiled his recent contender Kevin Owens' involvement in Roman Reigns' Tribal Combat with Solo Sikoa on RAW's Netflix premiere. This intervention was born out of the long-running story that ties the aforementioned wrestlers together, a story built around the coveted Undisputed WWE Championship. The episode also offered a glimpse at Gunther's dominant run with his own belt.

Whatever angle AEW is trying to pursue with Jon Moxley and The Death Riders has arguably been unable to strike a meaningful chord with viewers. The Word Title picture has a lot of key players working in it currently, but the promotion needs to rehabilitate the belt and craft intriguing main-event grade storylines for television, with the championship at the heart of the conflict rather than an absent prop.

#4: AEW needs to improve at building high-level matches for television

Courtesy of its stacked roster, AEW is often able to present blockbuster matches on weekly television. However, criticism is regularly levied at the company for not adequately advertising and promoting such matches ahead of time and on live TV.

For instance, All Elite Wrestling booked The Death Riders vs. Rated-FTR for Dynamite Fight for the Fallen 2025, shortly after the babyface trio confronted The One True King at Worlds End 2024. A match of this caliber, featuring top names and a Hall of Famer, should probably have been promoted for at least one more week, and hype should have been generated through promos, in-ring interactions, etc., before the bout.

Compare this to the care and diligence with which WWE promoted CM Punk's bout with Seth Rollins on RAW's Netflix debut over the past few weeks (including their fiery war of words last Monday) or even Roman Reigns' battle with Solo Sikoa on the same show - a culmination of years of storytelling with The Bloodline. All Elite Wrestling must up its game at similarly promoting important matches, primarily for television.

#5: Khan must adopt Triple H's level of involvement and authoritarian methods for AEW events

Since the foundation of All Elite Wrestling five years ago, Tony Khan has consistently been criticized and detested for his creative decisions and management style. While clearly passionate about the sport, the 42-year-old executive's leadership skills as a boss have been questioned by many, including former All Elite talent CM Punk.

Tony Khan has great potential, as evidenced by his success so far. However, his creative focus often seems to veer away from angles and personalities that are popular with the crowds and fans to showcase acts that do not necessarily elicit such responses.

WWE Creative Head Triple H has discussed prioritizing audience investment in characters and stories while booking. Tony Khan could learn from The Game's strategy of keeping his fingers on the pulse of his viewership when creating, promoting, and presenting a product that truly resonates with the fanbase.

Tony Khan (left) / Triple H (right) [Image source: AEW's YouTube channel, WWE's website]

To that end, the All Elite CEO should also streamline his creative process, maintaining healthy collaboration with wrestlers while holding the audience's reception of his product above individual talent's wishes and/or demands.