WWE Spokesman Claims AEW Is Counter-Programming NXT

Earlier this week, WWE confirmed that NXT will be moving to the USA Network on September 18th. The new weekly show will run for two hours, with NXT becoming WWE’s third brand.

This move will see NXT TV going head-to-head with AEW on TNT, with the latter debuting on October 2nd. Many people have accused WWE of counter-programming AEW with NXT.

David Bixenspan of Deadspin reached out to WWE to comment on these allegations. The response he received as rather defensive.

WWE’s representatives told Bixenspan that NXT has been running Wednesday night shows since 2015, so the move to the USA Network cannot be regarded as a counter-programming tactic:

“The premise to your story is wrong. NXT has been on Wednesday nights since 2015 [sic] as I’m sure you know. It isn’t called counter-programming if you continue to air a series on the same day/time as it has been on for nearly five years.”

WWE’s spokesman then questioned if AEW should be accused of counter-programming NXT and WWE:

“Perhaps you’ll ask AEW about counter-programming NXT?”

This is certainly interesting, but you cannot deny that AEW debuting on TNT in October 2019 led WWE to move NXT to the USA Network.

Thanks to Fightful for the transcription.

• Counter-Programming
• AEW
• nxt
• wwe

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