When it comes to WWE and AEW, counterprogramming has pretty much become a regular, yet infrequent, occurrence.
With much being made of the decision to run WWE NXT on November 4, going up against AEW Dynamite, there’s a bigger instance coming in the near future.
Typically on a Tuesday night, NXT moves to Wednesday for one week only due to election coverage, with Cody Rhodes and John Cena confirmed for the show.
While eyes may be on November 4, a bigger moment is set to take place early next year:
“Don’t step up to us again”
AEW All Out and WWE Worlds Collide took place on September 26, 2026, not only on the same night but in the same region of Chicago.
Addressing WWE counterprogramming AEW, Will Ospreay made his thoughts clear in the post-show media event, saying: “don’t step up to us.”
While All Out would also be broadcast live, the same wouldn’t be true of the WWE offering, which aired the following Wednesday, the same night as the PAC tribute episode of AEW Dynamite.
Counterprogramming conundrum
Much has been made of WWE counterprogramming AEW, with Tony Khan weighing in on the issue, saying:
“I do think it’s done on purpose, and I understand it.”
Regardless of said purpose, AEW has also found itself moving shows to the same night as WWE offerings, with Grand Slam: France taking place on October 6, a Tuesday and the same night as NXT.
Whether it’s specials/pay-per-views or regular television, counterprogramming, it seems, is occasionally unavoidable.
Happy New Year
While fans are yet to see a major WWE PLE go head-to-head with an AEW pay-per-view, that may happen in April next year, with WrestleMania 43 in Saudi Arabia and Tony Khan promising an event in spring 2027.
When it comes to 2027, however, the year kicks off with something that hasn’t been seen before between WWE and AEW. Previously, weekly television counterprogramming has seen NXT and Dynamite on the same night, with some nothing that this is the “developmental show” versus the All Elite top offering.
Friday, January 1 marks a change to that, with SmackDown in its usual slot and AEW Dynamite New Year’s Smash airing on the same night.
Not quite what it seems
For WWE and AEW fans rushing to their favorite ticket vendor to sell out the respective venues, it’s worth noting that SmackDown will be pre-taped on December 28 at Benchmark International Arena, Tampa, Florida.
The pre-tape happens on the same night as WWE Raw airs, with AEW Dynamite and the New Year’s Smash episode of Collision on January 2 both taking place at Gateway Arena in Atlanta, Georgia.
When it comes to either show, it’s likely that Dynamite and SmackDown will stack their shows to kick off the new year, and not just because they’re going head-to-head.
January 1 is different
For the first time, this isn’t Dynamite against NXT, or Worlds Collide running opposite a pay-per-view; it’s AEW’s main show going up against one of the top shows on weekly WWE television.
Sure, SmackDown will be pre-taped while Dynamite is live, and there will no doubt be debate about what ticket sales say about their relative popularity, possibly taking into account the holiday season and festive spirit, but the at-home audience is likely to play its part when it comes to reception.
For WWE, of course, the challenge will be presenting aspects that are not necessarily seen during the pre-tape, as there will no doubt be plenty of spoilers coming out of SmackDown from the audience that sees it live.
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