April 16, 2025, marks a massive milestone for All Elite Wrestling (AEW). Why’s that, you ask? Because, for the first time in decades, they become the longest-running televised professional wrestling product. Since World Championship Wrestling ran Nitro from 1995 to 2001, no one had been on that level. After AEW Spring BreakThru, it surpassed WCW Nitro, making wrestling and television history as far as Turner broadcast networks go.
In crossing this victory lap, AEW proved itself to be a viable alternative product to World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) by featuring the types of professional wrestling not offered by the Stamford, Connecticut promotion. AEW has become a place where hardcore fans and those jaded by WWE come together for something different.
When I first jumped back into regularly watching pro wrestling in 2018 for the first time in nearly a decade, I had wished for another big American promotion to run as a competitor to WWE. I’d missed the days when WCW Nitro and Monday Night Raw battled back and forth in the ratings.
Surprises, in-ring quality, and pushing the envelope—these were sorely missed in wrestling. AEW crossing the tape last set by WCW is a hopeful, positive sign for professional wrestling. Here’s why.
Historical Context
It is September 4, 1995. WCW Nitro airs live on the TNT Network in the Mall of America in Bloomington, Minnesota, USA. Flyin’ Bryan Pillman takes on Jushin Thunder Liger in the opener.
Sting faces Ric Flair for the WCW United States Championship. Lex Luger returns in a shock close to the main event after Hulk Hogan versus Big Bubba Rogers in a No Contest decision.
For the next half-decade, WCW Nitro became a show where cruiserweight wrestlers thrived. Homegrown stars like Diamond Dallas Page, Sting, Booker T, and most importantly, Prince Iaukea made their names.
Most notable, however, was the merchandising behemoth that was the New World Order (NWO). For 83 straight weeks, WCW’s dominance kept its foot on the head of the WWF, as they struggled to excite fans as they had in the 1980s.
Nevertheless, the brand struggled as time marched on. The creative and booking behind the show had warts growing by the week in the late 90s until becoming horrifyingly apparent from 1999 to 2001. What was once one of their huge strengths became their biggest hindrance.
Coupled with WWF’s sudden rise in that same timeframe and Turner executives disliking pro wrestling, WCW’s end was inevitable. WWF soon purchased them, thus concluding the well-documented rise and fall of WCW.
AEW Takes the Scene
It is October 2, 2019. AEW Dynamite airs live on the TNT Network in the Capital One Arena in Washington D.C., USA. Future Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes faces a young Sammy Guevara in the opener.
Riho defeats Nyla Rose to become the inaugural AEW Women’s World Champion. Jake Hager debuts in a shock close to the main event, joining Chris Jericho’s Inner Circle.
Knocking the pillars of the industry on their behinds, AEW slowly but visibly grew from there. Instead of aging stars of the past, Tony Khan provided a new opportunity for former WWE talent who were either sat in catering or disliked the booking process. Combining the modern and 2000s independent scene with the thrills of the territories and even the big styles of New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) and WWE, fans were treated to something different.
Since then, AEW Dynamite has hosted a slew of talents, from Sting to Mercedes Mone to CM Punk. It boasted the likes of Kenny Omega, MJF, Will Ospreay, Jon Moxley, and Hangman Page. Celebrities such as Snoop Dogg, Shaquille O’Neal, Kevin Smith, Bun B, Tony Hawk, and Steve-O graced the screen of weekly television.
Even Warner Bros provided further synergy with the likes of Adult Swim’s Rick & Morty, a feature in DC Comics, and a feature on the MAX streaming service. Needless to say, AEW has cemented its place in televised wrestling.
Why This Matters for AEW
This landmark event emanating on the 24th anniversary of Monday Nitro’s final episode cements AEW as being here to stay. Pro wrestling is in a different place than when Eric Bischoff ran the offense in the late 90s. The perception of professional wrestling has expanded past “white trash” and “redneck” demographics.
It’s permeated through LGBT spaces, feminist spaces, and crowds that would not have normally been wrestling fans previously. Wrestling is cool again.
Keep in mind that this is happening while WWE reportedly wants to use Sting to induct Lex Luger into their Hall of Fame. Will he induct his old friend and tag team partner? Will he make an appearance on AEW’s momentous occasion?
Will he do both? Will he do neither? Whichever the case is, AEW is liable to blow the roof off on Spring BreakThru. With a moment like this, let them do all the victory laps they want.
After this week, there are no excuses. Wrestling will have justified its place in pop culture once again. More than one company can thrive in North America without constant worry.
Initially, the future may have been uncertain, but since year one, AEW has found multiple things to keep itself alive. Partnerships with successful companies, relationships with social media influences and celebrities, and a sustainable product built off of the hard work of wrestlers past and present…
Just another notch in AEW’s collection of breakthroughs.
More From LWOS Pro Wrestling
Header photo – AEW – Stay tuned to the Last Word on Pro Wrestling for more on AEW Spring BreakThru and other stories from around the world of wrestling, as they develop. You can always count on LWOPW to be on top of the major news in the wrestling world. As well as to provide you with analysis, previews, videos, interviews, and editorials on the wrestling world. You can catch AEW Dynamite on Wednesday nights at 8 PM ET on TBS. AEW Collision airs Saturday at 8pm Eastern on TNT. More AEW content available on their YouTube.
