WWE vs AEW Counterprogramming: The Truth Behind the Rumors (2026)

Here's a look back at some of the rumors from July 11-17, 2025, and how they played out:

Rumor: WWE plans to run NXT Heatwave on the same date as AEW's Forbidden Door pay-per-view

• Reality: Yes, but the dates and locations were different. WWE scheduled the event in South Carolina, while AEW's event was in London. This counterprogramming strategy is a directive from WWE and TKO, indicating a potential shift in their approach to competing with AEW.

Rumor: Roman Reigns' return moniker is 'OTC1' or 'Tribal Chief One'

• Reality: While 'OTC1' was mentioned on merchandise, it's not a moniker used by fans or within the WWE universe. The focus remains on 'OTC' as his nickname.

Rumor: Paige's return at Evolution

• Reality: There were no surprises, including Paige's return. Bryan Alvarez's speculation about her comeback was incorrect.

Rumor: Cody Rhodes aligned with Jelly Roll on WWE SmackDown

• Reality: Randy Orton, not Cody Rhodes, was the star aligned with Jelly Roll. This was a rare celebrity loss for Cody.

Rumor: Shayna Baszler's future in NXT

• Reality: Shayna Baszler has been at NXT tapings and is involved in other matches, indicating a potential shift in her focus from indie wrestling to NXT.

Rumor: Kevin Von Erich's AEW contract

• Reality: Kevin Von Erich signed an official AEW contract, described as a 'Legends deal'. This suggests a potential return to AEW for the Von Erich family.

Rumor: Dustin Rhodes' new contract with AEW

• Reality: Dustin Rhodes signed a new six-year contract with AEW, working as a coach, consultant, ambassador, and occasional wrestler. This confirms his continued involvement with the company.

Rumor: Hirooki Goto's role in the Street Fighter movie

• Reality: Hirooki Goto will play E. Honda in the new Street Fighter movie, leading to speculation about his unexpected loss of the IWGP world championship to Zack Sabre Jr.

Rumor: Jack Perry's return to AEW

• Reality: Jack Perry returned to TV at All Out in September, indicating a potential comeback for him in AEW.

Rumor: The Rock's DC movie plans

• Reality: The Rock's gamble with the DC movie 'Black Adam' did not pay off, leading to the end of talks with Warner Bros. Chairman David Zaslav.

Rumor: Evolution 2 and counterprogramming

• Reality: Evolution 2 was scheduled for the weekend after All In, but it wasn't a counterprogram. Instead, the women's matches were placed at the end of a busy weekend, which was a challenging spot. Despite this, the show was still well-received.

Rumor: WWE's view of AEW as competition

• Reality: WWE views AEW as a competitor, as evidenced by their actions and scheduling decisions. This is despite some fans' claims to the contrary.

Rumor: Bryan Danielson's 'Yes!' chant

• Reality: WWE asked Bryan Danielson to stop doing the 'Yes!' chant, leading to speculation about potential copyright issues. However, the exact reason behind this request remains unclear.

Rumor: Hulk Hogan's health

• Reality: Hulk Hogan's wife refuted rumors that he was on his deathbed, stating that he is in good health. However, he passed away within two weeks of these statements.

Rumor: Jelly Roll's SummerSlam match

• Reality: Jelly Roll will host Jimmy Kimmel's show and is expected to have an angle with Randy Orton at SummerSlam, as Drew McIntyre is scheduled to appear on the same night.

Rumor: Pro wrestlers and online abuse

• Reality: Pro wrestlers, particularly women, receive significant online abuse from fans. Charlotte Flair, Nia Jax, Mercedes Mone, Saraya, and Tegan Nox are among the most harassed. CM Punk, Chris Jericho, and the Young Bucks are the most harassed men in wrestling.

Rumor: Jonathan Coachman's status in WWE

• Reality: 'People in WWE' told Dave Meltzer that Jonathan Coachman is 'the worst'. This suggests a potential shift in his role or a decline in his performance.

Rumor: GUNTHER's final opponent

• Reality: GUNTHER is currently scheduled to be John Cena's final opponent, indicating a potential build-up to a major moment in his career.

Rumor: Seth Rollins' injury

• Reality: Seth Rollins' injury at Saturday Night's Main Event was initially reported as real, but sources later revealed it was a work. Bryan Alvarez provided details about the changes made to the show due to the injury.

Rumor: Will Ospreay's stretchered exit

• Reality: Will Ospreay was stretchered off during All In Texas' main event to write him off television for recovery. AEW hasn't confirmed the duration of his absence, but sources suggest it will be at least a month.

Rumor: AJ Styles' Slammiversary appearance

• Reality: There were talks about AJ Styles making an appearance at Slammiversary, but it seems these plans fell through. Styles was also on the AMC premiere episode, indicating a potential return to WWE.

Rumor: All In Texas' runtime

• Reality: All In Texas' six-hour runtime was intentional, as it overlapped with Saturday Night's Main Event. This decision was made to ensure AEW's main event continued when WWE's broadcast began, showcasing their commitment to competing with WWE.

Rumor: AEW talent's reaction to All In Texas

• Reality: AEW talent was 'very, very happy' with All In Texas, believing it was a peak performance for a big show. The company has turned things around, according to Wrestling Observer Live.