Lately, WWE has turned into a full-blown singalong. When Jey Uso steps out, the crowd erupts with "Yeet!" When Roman Reigns arrives, hands shoot up to the heavens. And speaking of raised hands, The Street Profits’ entrance feels like a WWE-sponsored workout session. But it’s not just physical—fans are getting a vocal warm-up, too, chanting for CM Punk, Seth Rollins, Cody Rhodes, John Cena, The Rock, and Randy Orton.
Meanwhile, over in AEW, Jon Moxley has to be suplexed onto a spiked bat just to get a reaction.
And TNA? The company everyone thought was on its last legs for a decade is thriving, thanks to its partnership with WWE. Their talent ID system gives them first dibs on rising stars worldwide. Sure, guys like Speedball Mike Bailey and Josh Alexander can jump to AEW, but WWE has an entire pipeline of indie standouts, college athletes, and international talent at its disposal. If anything, AEW's shaky main event scene is its biggest selling point for wrestlers looking for opportunity.
One thing that finally killed the dreaded 50/50 booking of the 2010s? Throwaway "big deal" matches on live TV. WWE made fans wait nearly a year for Punk and Rollins to throw hands. And while they still haven't given Punk his WrestleMania main event, they’ve handed him something arguably better—his own cinematic universe. The Bloodline saga has expanded so much that even characters who never interact still feel connected. Fans tune in for the matches, but they stay for the moments.
Say what you will about Seth Rollins’ wardrobe, but every week, fans can’t help but tune in just to see what outrageous outfit he’ll pull off next. And speaking of Rollins, remember when AEW claimed they were phasing out traditional heels and faces? Well, Rollins is the perfect example of that concept—except WWE does it better. He despises Drew McIntyre, even though they share the same grudge against The Bloodline, yet he also can’t stand CM Punk.
Meanwhile, Kevin Owens may have embraced his darker side, but his promos still hit with the weight of righteousness.
It’s wild how WWE got the piledriver over again, while AEW burns through it weekly. And while a John Cena heel turn breathed life into Cody Rhodes' stale persona, MJF is stuck delivering the same rambling promo on repeat. WWE isn’t perfect, though—the build for Jey Uso vs. Gunther and Charlotte Flair vs. Tiffany Stratton has been lackluster. And while Royal Rumble winners should headline WrestleMania, there’s an argument to be made for them kicking off the show too, given how lukewarm the hype has been.
Either way, WrestleMania is heating up, and by the time it’s over, half the crowd might need a massage after all the hand gestures they’ll be throwing up.