AEW's key to battling WWE may be with ticket sales. This past WrestleMania 41 weekend has earned controversy across social media for high ticket prices. It shouldn't be a surprise for wrestling's Super Bowl to be expensive, but seeing as post-Mania ticket sales for events like Raw and house shows continue to rise exponentially, WWE fans are starting to see a trend they aren't happy with.

Alternatively, as seen in AEW's promotional videos, shared on social media by s such as @DrainBamager, WWE's competition, All Elite Wrestling, is starting to low and affordable ticket prices starting at $20 for its shows Beach Break and Summer Blockbuster. Given the timing, with WWE inciting controversy with their spike in ticket prices, one can speculate that AEW's new approach to ads is no coincidence. Not only is it calculated, but smart on their behalf.

AEW vs. WWE is the closest that modern audiences will come to the WCW vs. WWE Monday Night Wars of old, but unexpectedly, this new war may be decided through ticket prices rather than in-ring quality or storylines.

AEW Is Advertising Low and Affordable Ticket Prices

This wouldn't be the first time that AEW targeted their ads at WWE, or at least were inspired to address their competition in their ments. One of the earliest examples came in 2019, back when both WWE NXT and AEW Dynamite aired in the same Wednesday night time slot on different networks. Both shows counter-programmed against each other in the same ways that WWE and WCW used to, but AEW would air commercials featuring reviews from publications, like The Wrap's "AEW Dynamite buries NXT..." comment.

In times of competition on TV, the winner is in the eye of the beholder. AEW and WWE have different styles for different audiences, so it's up to the viewer to decide which show is better on a given night. What makes ticket sales a more unique form of competition is that it's indisputable. The numbers show that AEW is factually offering lower ticket prices for their crowds, and emphasizing this in the midst of WWE receiving criticisms for their high prices is a strategic means of swaying some of WWE's audience to AEW.

AEW’s Budget-Friendly Tickets Could Win Over Casual Fans

While hardcore wrestling fans have been known to take sides in the ongoing AEW vs. WWE battle, most casual viewers don't partake in tribalism. More often than not, casuals just want to see good wrestling and will happily indulge in both shows to find it. Unfortunately, WWE's high ticket prices are making it harder for the average fan to enjoy their product in person. AEW's pricing strategy, however, appeals to a broader audience. Parents looking to bring their children to a wrestling show will be more willing to take a chance on AEW when the prices are more affordable for the working-class family.

Compared to WWE, AEW is still in its infancy after opening its doors just over six years ago. Despite being the second most popular wrestling company on the planet, its visibility still pales in comparison to the juggernaut that is WWE. By making its doors available more widely to the average person not willing or able to spend hundreds of dollars on a wrestling show, All Elite Wrestling exposes itself to new audiences. WWE's decision to boost its ticket prices may incidentally lead to a steady growth in numbers for AEW's fanbase.

Source: @BrainDamager (X)