WWE, short for World Wrestling Entertainment, is a global phenomenon that has taken the world of professional Wrestling by storm. In this article, we discuss the top WWE Competitors and Alternatives.
Founded in 1952 as Capitol Wrestling Corporation, WWE has evolved to become the world’s largest and most well-known professional wrestling promotion. The company has also been known for its signature events, such as WrestleMania, which attracts millions of viewers from around the world.
At its core, WWE combines athleticism, drama, and entertainment elements to create a unique and captivating experience for fans. With wrestlers known as “Superstars,” the company showcases larger-than-life characters who engage in intricate storylines and intense physical competition.
Whether it’s the high-flying aerial maneuvers, power-packed slams, or the electrifying energy of the crowd, WWE events are always an adrenaline-pumping spectacle. WWE has a long history of producing some of the most iconic wrestlers in the world, including The Rock, Stone Cold Steve Austin, and John Cena, among others.
- Product Type: Professional wrestling entertainment and related products.
- Industry: Entertainment.
- Founded Date: 1952.
- Founders: Jess McMahon and Toots Mondt.
- Headquarters: Stamford, Connecticut, United States.
- Area Served: Worldwide.
- Current CEO: Nick Khan.
Table of Contents
The top WWE competitors are
1. AEW (All Elite Wrestling)
- Product Type: Professional wrestling promotion
- Industry: Sports entertainment
- Founded Date: 2019
- Founders: Tony Khan, Shahid Khan
- Headquarters: Jacksonville, Florida, United States
- Area Served: Worldwide
- Current CEO: Tony Khan
AEW (All Elite Wrestling) is a professional wrestling promotion in the United States. Started in 2019, AEW has quickly gained popularity among wrestling fans for its emphasis on diverse, high-quality matches and vital storytelling elements. It features an extensive roster of seasoned veterans and an ever-growing list of talented newcomers. It has created a unique product that is a compelling alternative to WWE’s offerings. AEW has a diverse roster of wrestlers, including Chris Jericho, Jon Moxley, and Kenny Omega.
2. Impact Wrestling (formerly TNA)
- Product Type: Professional wrestling promotion
- Industry: Sports entertainment
- Founded Date: 2002
- Founders: Jerry Jarrett, Jeff Jarrett
- Headquarters: Nashville, Tennessee, United States
- Area Served: Worldwide
- Current CEO: Scott D’Amore
Impact Wrestling (formerly TNA) is a professional wrestling promotion founded in 2002. The brand has been home to several accomplished wrestlers and has consistently provided alternative wrestling content. Impact Wrestling maintains a dedicated fan base known for innovative match types like the X Division and King of the Mountain. It remains a significant player in the wrestling world. Impact Wrestling has a diverse roster of wrestlers, including Eddie Edwards, Moose, and Deonna Purrazzo.
3. New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW)
- Product Type: Professional wrestling promotion
- Industry: Sports entertainment
- Founded Date: 1972
- Founders: Antonio Inoki
- Headquarters: Tokyo, Japan
- Area Served: Worldwide
- Current CEO: Takami Ohbari
New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW) is Japan’s largest professional wrestling promotion. Renowned for its high-intensity ‘strong style’ of Wrestling, NJPW has captivated audiences for decades. It’s primarily known for its annual G1 Climax, an intense month-long tournament showcasing some of the world’s best Wrestling. NJPW has a diverse roster of wrestlers, including Kazuchika Okada, Hiroshi Tanahashi, and Kota Ibushi.
4. Ring of Honor (ROH)
- Product Type: Professional wrestling promotion
- Industry: Sports entertainment
- Founded Date: 2002
- Founders: Rob Feinstein, Doug Gentry
- Headquarters: Baltimore, Maryland, United States
- Area Served: Worldwide
- Current CEO: Tony Khan (acquired by AEW in 2022)
Ring of Honor (ROH) is a professional wrestling promotion in the United States. Since its inception in 2002, ROH has claimed some of the industry’s most respected names. The brand earned a reputation for focusing on athletic competition over spectacle, leading to high-quality matches and a devoted fan base. ROH has a diverse roster of wrestlers, including Jay Lethal, Jonathan Gresham, and Brody King.
5. Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide
- Product Type: Professional wrestling promotion
- Industry: Sports entertainment
- Founded Date: 1992
- Founders: Antonio Peña
- Headquarters: Mexico City, Mexico
- Area Served: Worldwide
- Current CEO: Dorian Roldán
Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide is a wrestling promotion based in Mexico. The brand is known for its ‘Lucha Libre’ wrestling style, featuring high-flying maneuvers, spectacular costumes, and dramatic storytelling. It is one of Mexico’s two largest wrestling companies and continues to influence global Wrestling significantly. Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide has a diverse roster of wrestlers, including Psycho Clown, Faby Apache, and Pagano.
6. Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL)
- Product Type: Professional wrestling promotion
- Industry: Sports entertainment
- Founded Date: September 21, 1933
- Founders: Salvador Lutteroth
- Headquarters: Mexico City, Mexico
- Area Served: Worldwide
- Current CEO: Sofia Alonso
Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL) is the world’s oldest wrestling promotion, founded in 1933 in Mexico. CMLL is renowned for its rich tradition and classic ‘Lucha Libre’ style matches. The company represents a significant portion of Mexico’s wrestling history and remains a major player in the wrestling industry today. CMLL has a diverse roster of wrestlers, including Ultimo Guerrero, Caristico, and Dragon Lee.
7. Major League Wrestling (MLW)
- Product Type: Professional wrestling promotion
- Industry: Sports entertainment
- Founded Date: 2002
- Founders: Court Bauer
- Headquarters: New York City, New York, United States
- Area Served: Worldwide
- Current CEO: Court Bauer
Major League Wrestling (MLW) is a professional wrestling promotion that offers a fusion of different wrestling styles. MLW presents matches from Japanese style to Mexican Lucha Libre to cater to a global audience. It continually builds its legacy while contributing to the evolution of the wrestling industry.
8. National Wrestling Alliance (NWA)
- Product Type: Professional wrestling promotion
- Industry: Sports entertainment
- Founded Date: 1948
- Founders: Pinkie George, Sam Muchnick, Harry Light
- Headquarters: Atlanta, Georgia, United States
- Area Served: Worldwide
- Current CEO: William Patrick Corgan
National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) is one of the oldest professional wrestling organizations in the world. Known for its raw, traditional wrestling style, NWA has been instrumental in establishing the fundamentals of professional Wrestling. Its history, including the globally recognized NWA World Heavyweight Championship, is a testament to its influence in the industry.
9. Pro Wrestling Noah
- Product Type: Professional wrestling promotion
- Industry: Sports entertainment
- Founded Date: August 5, 2000
- Founders: Mitsuharu Misawa
- Headquarters: Tokyo, Japan
- Area Served: Worldwide
- Current CEO: Naomichi Marufuji
Pro Wrestling Noah is a professional wrestling promotion based in Japan. Known for delivering hard-hitting matches and fostering a culture that prioritizes athleticism, Pro Wrestling Noah offers a distinct approach to Wrestling. This brand has significantly contributed to expanding the wrestling landscape and continues to impress fans with its unique style.
10. Dragon Gate
- Product Type: Professional wrestling promotion
- Industry: Sports entertainment
- Founded Date: July 7, 2004
- Founders: Takashi Okamura, Takashi Uwano, and Toru Yano
- Headquarters: Tokyo, Japan
- Area Served: Worldwide
- Current CEO: Takashi Okamura
Dragon Gate is a professional wrestling promotion based in Japan. It has gained attention for its unique “Dragon System,” which is a mixture of exciting, fast-paced match dynamics and soap opera-like storylines involving factions of competitors. These specific features make it exceptionally popular amongst its dedicated fan base and a significant competitor in the wrestling industry.
11. Evolve Wrestling
- Product Type: Professional wrestling promotion
- Industry: Sports entertainment
- Founded Date: January 16, 2010
- Founders: Sal Hamaoui and Gabe Sapolsky
- Headquarters: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
- Area Served: United States
- Current CEO: Gabe Sapolsky
Evolve Wrestling is an American professional wrestling promotion. It played a crucial part in nurturing fresh talent by providing them a stage to compete and showcase their skills before being signed to larger, internationally renowned companies such as WWE, helping keep the wrestling industry vibrant and innovative.
12. Pro Wrestling Guerrilla (PWG)
- Product Type: Professional wrestling promotion
- Industry: Sports entertainment
- Founded Date: July 26, 2003
- Founders: Disco Machine, Excalibur, Joey Ryan, Scott Lost, Super Dragon, and Top Gun Talwar
- Headquarters: Reseda, California, United States
- Area Served: United States
Pro Wrestling Guerrilla (PWG) is a professional wrestling promotion highly regarded for emphasizing energetic and high-flying wrestling action. Known for its passionate crowd and lively atmosphere, PWG provides a unique wrestling experience that keeps fans engaged and entertained every night.
13. FOX Sports (broadcast partner)
- Product Type: Sports broadcasting
- Industry: Media
- Founded Date: August 12, 1994
- Founders: Rupert Murdoch
- Headquarters: Los Angeles, California, United States
- Area Served: Worldwide
- Current CEO: Eric Shanks
FOX Sports (broadcast partner) is a significant television broadcasting business entity. Their partnership with wrestling promotions has brought wrestling entertainment to a broader audience. It is a competitor to WWE by partnering with other wrestling promotions to broadcast their products.
14. ONE Championship
- Product Type: Combat sports promotion
- Industry: Sports entertainment
- Founded Date: July 14, 2011
- Founders: Chatri Sityodtong and Victor Cui
- Headquarters: Singapore
- Area Served: Worldwide
- Current CEO: Chatri Sityodtong
ONE Championship is a Singapore-based mixed martial arts (MMA), Muay Thai, and kickboxing organization. This brand has gathered many fight enthusiasts worldwide due to its showcasing of top champions in various combat sports. Its focus on combat sports from the Asia-Pacific region sets it apart and makes it a competitor to WWE’s wrestling-focused content.
15. Netflix (entertainment streaming service)
- Product Type: Entertainment streaming service
- Industry: Media
- Founded Date: August 29, 1997
- Founders: Reed Hastings and Marc Randolph
- Headquarters: Los Gatos, California, United States
- Area Served: Worldwide
- Current CEO: Reed Hastings and Ted Sarandos
Netflix (entertainment streaming service) serves as a competitor by offering wrestling-themed shows and documentaries. The brand gains traction from wrestling viewers by continually introducing new content. Its feature of on-demand streaming broadens the viewer base and provides a flexible viewing experience separate from the traditional wrestling pay-per-views.
16. Hulu (entertainment streaming service)
- Product Type: Entertainment streaming service
- Industry: Media
- Founded Date: October 29, 2007
- Founders: Beth Comstock, Jason Kilar, and Mike Lang
- Headquarters: Santa Monica, California, United States
- Area Served: United States
- Current CEO: Kelly Campbell
Hulu (entertainment streaming service) competes with the WWE by offering a variety of live events and wrestling-related content. In addition to existing content, the original programming created by Hulu contributes to its competition with WWE. This platform’s emphasis on accessibility and variety amplifies its competitiveness in the premium live event of wrestling entertainment.
These were all the competitors of WWE. If you know any other competitors, please write in the comments below.
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