WWE/Impact Hall of Famer Bully Ray has expressed concern over the dwindling popularity of All Elite Wrestling (AEW) in the United States. The wrestling legend shared his views during a recent appearance on “Busted Open Radio.”
According to him, AEW’s appeal seems to be waning within its home territory, despite having an impressive fan base internationally. He pointed out that while AEW All In drew more than 70,000 fans to Wembley Stadium, their tapings back in America have been less well-received.
🤼♂️ This shift is noteworthy given that AEW had initially made significant strides in challenging WWE’s dominance within the professional wrestling industry since its inception only two years ago. Its high-octane matches and distinct storytelling approach attracted both hardcore wrestling enthusiasts and new fans alike.
However, as per Bully Ray’s observations, this momentum appears to be slowing down with fewer spectators attending live shows domestically. He did not elaborate on possible reasons for this decline but it raises questions about whether changes need to be made at AEW.
It should also be noted that these comments come from someone who holds considerable weight within the industry due to his successful career spanning multiple promotions including WWE and Impact Wrestling.
Despite these concerns raised by Bully Ray, it would perhaps be premature for any sweeping conclusions about the future trajectory of AEW based solely on attendance figures at U.S. events. There are many factors involved such as scheduling conflicts or even ongoing pandemic-related issues which could account for fluctuating crowd sizes.
Moreover, television ratings remain a crucial barometer of success in today’s media landscape and according to various reports; they indicate sustained interest among viewership demographics critical for advertisers like young adults aged between 18-49 years old where AEW often outperforms competitors on cable TV nights when airing head-to-head content.
In conclusion though there might currently appear some signs of slowing growth, it’s important to remember that AEW is still a relatively young company. It has continually demonstrated its ability to adapt and innovate in response to industry trends and fan feedback.
Therefore, while Bully Ray’s comments provide an interesting perspective on the current state of All Elite Wrestling’s popularity within the United States, they should perhaps be taken as part of a larger ongoing conversation about the dynamic nature of professional wrestling fandom rather than definitive proof of any significant downturn for AEW.
