Nah, this is mostly false. When New Japan was the clear number 2 and pushing out classic after classic, nobody had smoke for them. They were just doing what they did and everybody coexisted. TSC also fukked with the original All In which was an ROH ran event it I’m not mistaken.
The smoke didn’t come until AEW leaned into that combative “we’re here to save wrestling from the big bad WWE” bullshyt like Dixie’s TNA did. Once that became the angle, the tribes were chosen.. WWE hands ain’t clean in it either, they tossed NXT on Wednesdays and fueled the fire which made shyt really ridiculous. That “Wednesday war” is really the reason we’re here now lol
There is no analogy to be made there. New Japan was never seen as any kind of legit threat to WWE, and a good portion of TSC doesn't watch Japan anyway so why would anyone have had any smoke for them? You reaching. Completely different situation from TNA/AEW.
As far as why there is smoke to begin with, I don't think it really matters why and the reason you gave is probably true but that's what makes it even more corny. Dudes really that heated about Tony saying something mean about they favorite wrestling company that they gonna make it they life mission to search all day finding obscure tweets with botch gifs that were retweeted by 10 people? That's the Stand up for WWE crowd though. But if AEW ever disappears they gon switch up quick and go right back to shytting on WWE.
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