Danny Burch: NXT Changed Plans During AEW Dynamite ‘Wednesday Night War’ | Wrestling News
Former WWE NXT Tag Team Champion Danny Burch revealed that NXT creative plans were routinely altered in response to the airing of AEW Dynamite during the “Wednesday Night Wars” between the two promotions. Burch, who wrestled under the name Martin Stone in NXT, detailed instances where NXT programming was reshaped mid-show to counter what was unfolding on AEW’s broadcast.
The competition between NXT and AEW Dynamite began in October 2019, with both shows airing on Wednesday nights. NXT debuted on the USA Network two weeks before AEW launched on TNT. Burch recalled the atmosphere within NXT shifting dramatically following the announcement of AEW. “It wasn’t until AEW got announced that [NXT] were like, ‘Yeah, This represents the greatest day ever! We’re going live!’ And it was obviously an attempt to attempt and compete with AEW,” he said during an appearance on the Cafe De Rene podcast. He noted that NXT leadership, including Shawn Michaels, often downplayed AEW’s talent, stating, “Oh well, you’re just working guys that we didn’t want,” despite NXT actively monitoring its rival.
Burch described a specific instance where a planned 30-minute main event tag team match for he and Oney Lorcan was abruptly shortened to ten minutes, including entrances, after NXT staff observed a women’s match was scheduled to open AEW Dynamite. “They cut us to 10 minutes…and said, ‘You guys are gonna go on first so we can steal the opening,’” Burch explained. He added, “So when they turned around said, ‘We were never in competition’ – you’re full of it. Yes you were.”
The practice of monitoring AEW Dynamite was commonplace, according to Burch. “We would have two TVs in Gorilla [the backstage area], and they would be watching AEW, and then they were trying to change the show to compete with what they were doing,” he said. The Wednesday night competition eventually ended in 2021 when NXT moved to Tuesday nights.
Recent ratings data indicates a continued disparity between the two promotions. Forbes reported in October 2025 that NXT on the CW had outperformed AEW Dynamite in 48 of the last 52 weeks, despite AEW President Tony Khan’s assertions that 2025 was a strong year for his company. Ringside News also reported on the ratings advantage for NXT in late 2025.
Burch and Lorcan held the NXT Tag Team Championships once during their time with WWE. Burch’s wrestling career has continued after his departure from WWE in early 2022, with appearances in both AEW and on the independent circuit.