Let’s celebrate wrestling – I think it’s time we stop being so defensive about what we like

Too often, I feel we as fans get caught up in the competitive aspect of pro wrestling and like to pick sides, becoming overly defensive about the promotion we prefer—sometimes to the point of toxicity. This kind of behavior has become the norm. It was already present during the Monday Night Wars, but it has grown even more toxic with the rise of social media and dirt sheet writers gaining platforms to spread their “inside info” to the world. But I think it’s time we stop being so defensive about what we like and instead just celebrate wrestling. We’re lucky enough to have so many options now that it makes no sense to want any of them to go out of business.

This column is my way of celebrating wrestling. When I started watching, I didn’t have all the options I do now, and I genuinely feel lucky to be a wrestling fan in 2025.

First, let’s talk about WWE. Can we all agree that they are the major league of pro wrestling? Nobody is going to replace them as the number one company in the business. WWE is to wrestling what UFC is to MMA—it’s what most non-fans think of when they hear “pro wrestling.” The product may not always appeal to hardcore fans who prefer the indie style, but at its core, WWE has always been about storytelling through promos and character work, which enhances the in-ring product. That’s a very familiar and accessible style for the average fan. Most fans don’t care about work rate—they’ll pop just as loud for a match with minimal moves if they’re emotionally invested in the story.

Then you have AEW. While I’m not a fan of the product, I can admit the company has learned from some of its past mistakes—especially since losing Cody and Punk—and is slowly adapting to the reality that they won’t be able to compete with WWE head-to-head. Tony Khan sometimes got in his own way with his public comments, but even he has started to show growth in how he promotes the company and uses social media. He’s also begun to let go of talent who want to move on to WWE, which shows maturity. Additionally, recognizing that AEW can’t consistently run WWE-sized arenas is a step in the right direction. The product still feels scattered at times, and the way it’s shot reminds me of WCW, but when AEW is focused, they can deliver great shows—and that shows in the ratings. They still have work to do to win back some of their lost fans, but some of the moves they’ve made this year could help get them back on track.

Now let’s talk about TNA. A year ago, nobody thought TNA would be doing the kind of business it is right now. It used to be a fun company to watch—if you could even find it on TV—but nobody was really talking about them. Now, just look at where they stand in the wrestling landscape. They’ve got one of the hottest names in pro wrestling under contract, and a working relationship with WWE that’s giving them more exposure than they’ve had in years. Just look at some of the crowds they’ve drawn since the summer of 2024. Some of their PPV audiences have rivaled AEW in terms of ticket sales, which is great for fans looking for an alternative. The future looks bright for TNA. Sure, there are still fans and so-called journalists who think TNA is about to fold or get bought out by WWE, but I believe they’ll continue to grow under Anthem and might one day be seen as equals to AEW.

Finally, let’s talk about all the other options. Like I said earlier, we have so many more promotions to enjoy on a smaller scale here in North America. MLW is doing great stuff on YouTube. The NWA has finally rebounded after some bad luck and is producing solid content on X. If you like cheesy women’s wrestling like I do, WOW is doing fun things on syndication and YouTube. You’ve also got regional promotions like OVW, which airs on local TV in some areas and on YouTube. If international wrestling is more your thing, you can watch NJPW through their app, and I’m sure there are ways to watch CMLL as well.

So in the end, compared to what I had when I started watching wrestling in the 1980s, we’re incredibly lucky as fans today. Instead of being toxic and picking sides, we should be celebrating how far wrestling has come. Will we ever see another competitive era like the Monday Night Wars? No—I don’t think that will happen again. WWE is too far ahead to be caught. And while I could see TNA closing the gap with AEW, I don’t think they’ll be able to truly compete, especially financially.

So let’s just stop the toxicity and enjoy wrestling for what it is—a great pastime that brings us all together.