Kenny Omega is the latest major name to address WWE’s rising ticket prices — and he’s making it clear where AEW stands in comparison.
With WWE continuing to push higher prices for major shows — especially heading into WrestleMania 42 — the topic has already led reactions across the industry. Now, Omega has weighed in during a recent interview with CBC News Manitoba, and his message was clear: AEW is taking a very different approach.
Before getting into pricing, Omega reflected on growing up watching WWE events in Winnipeg, explaining how the market has always had strong ties to live wrestling — but also how things have changed over time.
“I would say a large majority of the wrestling that I consumed in Winnipeg, especially for live events, was WWE. We didn’t really have much else, and they used to come at least twice a year with house shows, Monday Night Raw, and TV tapings as well.”
He used that perspective to point out how fans in markets like Winnipeg have seen everything from small indie shows to large-scale productions — which makes them more aware of what they’re paying for.
“So I think that does make Winnipeg, Manitoba, especially great for wrestling culture. What’s great for them is that they’ve always had WWE run shows, but they’ve also had a myriad of independent startups as well. So they’ve seen the dichotomy of what it’s like from humble beginnings to what it is to be at the big show.”
From there, Omega positioned AEW as something that sits in the middle — not trying to match WWE’s scale, but also not operating like an independent promotion. That set the stage for his main point — affordability. Omega made it clear that AEW is focused on giving fans value without pricing them out, especially when it comes to families attending shows.
“And now here we are. We’re sort of like the alternative. We’re not quite WWE, and we’re not an indie either. We’re just All Elite Wrestling. What we try to be is the most fun live show that you can watch, available to you. And I do think that for family-friendly shows—mostly family-friendly—the ticket prices are absolutely friendly. We never skimp on the content. You’ll always get a ton of wrestling for your money’s worth.”
He then leaned into the comparison even harder, pointing out that AEW events offer more content — sometimes even double tapings — without pushing fans to extreme spending. Omega made sure to note that he wasn’t outright attacking WWE — but the contrast was obvious as he explained AEW’s philosophy.
“I even think we’re getting a double taping as well in Winnipeg, so you’re getting a whole lot of AEW, and you’re not having to mortgage your house or sell off your first child. That’s not even a knock on any promotion—it’s just that if you want to check out a television product, see yourself on TV, and have fun, see what makes AEW special, you can do it at an affordable price.”
The Best Bout Machine wrapped it up by stressing that accessibility is something AEW takes seriously, making sure fans at every level can be part of the experience.
“And I’m just really glad that if there’s any interest whatsoever, whether you’re a diehard AEW fan or you just want to check out a night of wrestling and do something fun with family or friends, there are price point options available for all walks of life. That’s one thing I’m very proud of with AEW.”
With multiple voices now speaking out — from MJF to Omega — AEW is clearly leaning into the conversation as WWE doubles down on its premium pricing strategy. And with major shows getting more expensive, this back-and-forth isn’t going away anytime soon.
Is AEW right to position itself as the affordable alternative — or is WWE justified in charging premium prices for its biggest events? Let us know what you think.
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