There’s something broken in pro wrestling discourse—and no, it’s not just CM Punk’s foot again. The growing disconnect isn’t playing out in arenas or on media scrums, but on timelines. Watch any WWE show lately to see fans react to five-star matches like they’re at a library’s story time, but scrolling Wrestling X during one of those shows is like strolling through a war zone.
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It’s like a mean-spirited, wrongheaded, sexist Monday Night Wars nightmare. Factions of different wrestling fans arguing like teenagers with more aggression than a ruthless John Cena in skinny trunks. Except—instead of any real insightful thoughts or critiques for either side to sink their teeth into, it’s just a bunch of angry noise.
WWE Tribalism Is Swallowing Honest Discourse Whole
Internet WWE Fans Have Become Hostile
- WWE vs AEW tribalism is out of control.
- Some wrestling fans are aggressively brand loyal.
- The state of Wrestling X is embarrassing.
News Flash: Wrestling X is completely unhinged. What was once a fun “brand war” between WWE and AEW has mutated into full-blown cult behavior. Just try to say one nice thing about AEW on X and risk being swarmed by disingenuous WWE “loyalists” wandering the feed like drunken frat boys looking for a fight to impress the stable of bros they had to pay to hang out with.
Expect to be spammed with GIFs and ratio attempts from accounts with names like “FedFreak69” and “WWETribalQueef,” encouraging you to “cry more,” because AEW is “failing,” (Here in reality, AEW is thriving).
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There’s a movement of fans online that has mistaken brand loyalty for a personality trait, and it’s getting embarrassing. It’s not even about fandom anymore—it’s about dominance, clout, and feeding the algorithm.
Rhea Ripley And Toxicity Toward Women in WWE
Online Harassment Undermines Ladies’ Contributions
- Women of WWE face disproportionate online abuse.
- Rhea Ripley has publicly addressed this toxic behavior.
- Such harassment detracts from the progress in women’s wrestling.
It’s easy to tell this is about dominance by how some of these trolls treat the ladies of wrestling. Rhea Ripley has recently been vocal about the online harassment she and her WWE peers have had to endure, highlighting the hypocrisy of fans who claim to support women’s wrestling while engaging in derogatory commentary.
This pattern of behavior not only affects the mental well-being of female talents, but also undermines the strides made in promoting women’s wrestling. It can also spiral into something sinister and dangerous, like the stalking and attempted kidnapping Sonya Deville had to endure. WWE and the industry as a whole must address this issue by fostering a more respectful and supportive environment for all athletes.
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AEW Is Good For The Wrestling Business—Cody Rhodes Said So
Toxic WWE Tribalists Are Missing The Bigger Picture
- Cody Rhodes says AEW is successful, despite his WWE return.
- AEW gives wrestlers more opportunities and drives WWE to improve their product.
- Toxic treatment of women and other fans could stifle wrestling’s reach.
Here’s the thing: AEW being good for wrestling isn’t up for debate—it’s a fact. To get the real answers on AEW’s impact on the industry, and even WWE, fans have to look no further than The American Nightmare himself, Cody Rhodes.
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Despite returning to WWE, Cody has emphasized how AEW is beneficial for wrestling, highlighting the importance of competition in the industry. AEW’s emergence has led to more food in bellies and better working conditions across the board:
These points are further highlighted in MJF’s piece for The Player’s Tribune, along with some insight that might help illustrate where enthusiastic rivalry starts to become toxic tribalism:
“So while I welcome anyone being critical of AEW (God knows I am)….. if you’re actually actively rooting against us? Against us EXISTING? Guess what, you’re the f*cking worst. You’re rooting against workers. And that’s the truth. Because out of all the incredible things that AEW has done over these last five years, #1 with a bullet is “put MJF on TV.” But #2 is “make the wrestling industry just a little bit better to work in.”
– Maxwell Jacob Friedman
Toxic WWE fans are missing the point, and the online harassment faced by Rhea Ripley and other marginalized talents is disgusting and wrongheaded. These issues only help keep potential fans away from WWE, whether it be AEW fans, or those on the outside who may only be exposed to wrestling on social media.
AEW is good for the business. WWE is good for the business. But the business can only be as good as the people supporting it. And right now? Some of y’all are making this harder than it needs to be. So here’s the challenge: Less tribalism. More actual wrestling talk. Less performative “support.” More respect for all the people who put their bodies on the line, and deserve plenty of options for employment.