Shortly after AEW announced that Fyter Fest would take place over two separate nights, NXT revealed that it would be resurrecting The Great American Bash, which would air concurrently on the same Wednesdays.
This was seen as a clear case of counter-programming, but Triple H is admitting nothing!
During an interview with Sports Illustrated, the black and gold brand founder/producer acknowledged that counter-booking does happen and is necessary when competing with a rival brand, but says that, in this particular instance, it was simply a case of booking "what's right for NXT."
"[Counter-programming] absolutely is part of healthy of competition. Anyone that thinks it isn’t, to a degree, is being naive to the situation. You saw that back in the day when Clash of Champions was counter-programming [to WWE’s WrestleMania IV in 1988]. At the same point, it can’t drive your booking decisions.
Obviously there are counter-programming decisions, but I can tell you exactly how this came about. Almost all of these storylines were headed where they are now. There was a gap, timing wise, between In Your House and what will become the SummerSlam TakeOver, and you need a halfway point and a build. This is that halfway point. So it doesn’t change our decision-making process. I don’t counter-book, I book what’s right for NXT.”
Even if we're willing to buy this, are we expected to believe that the decision to hold The Bash over two nights was also a coincidence? Trip is absolutely correct that counter-programming is a vital part of competition, so why not just hold his hands up here?
At any rate, both shows are shaping up to be pretty eventful - although NXT does boast a world title "winner take all" match, while AEW was forced to postpone its championship match between Jon Moxley and Brian Cage.