The Biggest Beefs Fans Have with WWE and AEW Right Now

Professional wrestling can be hit or miss like any form of entertainment. That’s why it’s often helpful to take a break when you’re not enjoying it as much or latch on to the brand that fits your personal preferences.

However, that’s easier said than done sometimes because many viewers continue to watch weekly programming out of habit.

As a result, many fans develop gripes with companies such as WWE and All Elite Wrestling that are never addressed. These lingering complaints hinder their enjoyment and sometimes lead them to become disillusioned with the overall product.

Of course, even the most reasonable fans can get emotionally invested and develop biases toward their favorite wrestlers. We all want to see our preferred stars succeed and that can cause us to grow impatient.

On the other hand, there are valid criticisms of both companies that have become prevalent among their avid viewers. For example, many of WWE's detractors have bemoaned its use of tag team wrestling. The topic grew more pervasive after AEW became an alternative, but it was also at the heart of Sasha Banks and Naomi's recent exit.

The company’s biggest competitor has also faced its share of disapproval for issues such as its ever-growing roster and a lack of television time to accommodate it. Although that could be an industry-wide problem with such a vast pool of talent available.

Nevertheless, let’s take a look at some of the biggest beefs fans have with WWE and AEW right now.

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WWE’s Use of Rematches and Repetitive Feuds

WWE can still deliver entertaining pay-per-views and weekly programming with top-notch matches, but it’s hard to invest in its product because of an overabundance of rematches or feuds that last way too long.

There are instances where it works, such as Cody Rhodes and Seth Rollins’s trilogy of matches this year. But there are other matchups like Brock Lesnar vs. Roman Reigns that WWE has revisited enough for a while.

Consider WrestleMania Backlash, which is essentially an outlet to rehash the hottest feuds from its biggest show of the year. SummerSlam is right around the corner and most matches on the card are matchups we’ve seen in 2021 or earlier this year.

This is a recurring problem that has made much of WWE’s programming feel stale or inconsequential. In fact, Rhodes was such a massive success for the company because he offered something new for a few months.

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AEW’s Overreliance on Interference and Brawls

Elsewhere, AEW has been successful because it provides fresh matchups and high-quality wrestling. The electric atmosphere at its show also provides a refreshing change of pace in comparison to some of its competitors.

Nevertheless, the company tends to rely too much on interference and big brawls between many of its factions to continue a storyline. This was an issue that started to irritate fans towards the end of Britt Baker's reign as AEW women's world champion.

This problem also reared its head in the main event of this week's Dynamite. The Barbed Wire Everywhere match started hot but eventually turned into a mess once Tay Conti released the members of the Jericho Appreciation Society from a shark cage.

Yes, one could argue the point was to illustrate Chris Jericho couldn’t beat Eddie Kingston on his own. Still, introducing so many wrestlers to a story that centered heavily around their blood feud tainted the finish. More to the point, AEW does overwrought conclusions like this so often that it appears lazy or uninteresting.

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WWE’s Inconsistent Booking

WWE's repetitive storylines and insistence on focusing on the same handful of Superstars has been a gripe for some time. The company could desperately use some new names who are consistently in the title picture.

Instead, it has a habit of doling out the same legends and nostalgia acts and revisiting hackneyed ideas. Now, it's fair to say that's what a large part of its audience wants to see at shows such as WrestleMania. However, it makes it hard to believe that any upcoming stars will remain high in the pecking order.

How many times have we seen someone like Kofi Kingston or Big E ascend to the top only to plummet back down the card later without a follow-up storyline or a path back to glory? Nikki A.S.H. is another example of a new character loaded with potential following her Money in the Bank cash-in last year.

The former Raw women’s champion secured her biggest win with WWE last summer. It didn’t feel like it amounted to much, though, because she never looked like a credible threat. Even worse, she quickly drifted back into obscurity once Charlotte Flair beat her.

This inconsistent booking makes it difficult to believe in recent newcomers like Liv Morgan. The crowning moment for the SmackDown women’s champion was long overdue, but it’s easy to feel like it could be short-lived because WWE does the same thing so often.

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AEW Women’s Division

Speaking of women’s wrestling, AEW has taken flak since its inception for what some would consider its inability to present female athletes consistently on its weekly shows. It has been a steady source of criticism for the past three years.

To be fair, its women’s division has developed leaps and bounds since its first year. Top stars such as Baker and Jade Cargill are gaining more opportunities, and AEW Rampage has become a great use of its diverse roster.

However, many fans have grown tired of short and uninspiring matches and segments on the flagship series, where they often land in the same spot on the card. There’s also a stark lack of in-ring promos and the type of intricate storytelling that goes into the rest of the show. To that end, most of the women’s PPV matches ultimately deliver, but the path to these encounters is often underwhelming.

Some detractors would argue the company doesn't have the wealth of marketable and undeniable stars the WWE women’s division has. However, AEW hasn't allowed some of its best options to develop into bigger names because they don’t get enough screen time.

There are reasons to be optimistic about new additions, Athena and Toni Storm. New free agents like Dakota Kai, Candice LeRae, Jungle Kyona or possibly Sasha Banks could also be the shot in the arm the division needs, but there is still so much room to grow.