AEW and Warner Brothers Discovery had been lastly in a position to announce the main points of their new media rights deal on October 2. The deal is not going to solely see AEW keep on TBS and TNT till no less than 2028, however the firm may even have its two important reveals, “AEW Dynamite” and “AEW Collision,” streamed concurrently on MAX, with the remainder of the AEW library following as 2025 rolls on.
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Within the Wrestling Observer Publication, Dave Meltzer revealed some additional particulars concerning the deal now that it has lastly been made official. Meltzer revealed that the $555 Million deal that was introduced on October 2 was the principle a part of the settlement, and the purpose was to at all times announce it on the fifth anniversary of “Dynamite.” Nonetheless, there are nonetheless some negotiations occurring. Probably the most notable being the way forward for “AEW Rampage,” which appears to be like to be ending on the finish of 2024 in favor of a brand new third present, “AEW Shockwave,” which continues to be being shopped round to different networks. “Rampage” should have a future in response to Meltzer, however it’s unlikely given what the corporate needs to do with “Shockwave.”
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FOX has been “Shockwave’s” important goal given they simply misplaced WWE programming, with Meltzer stating that if AEW had been to get on FOX, the most effective days for them would both be Tuesdays or Thursdays, as “WWE Uncooked” and “WWE SmackDown” already occupy Monday and Friday, AEW have already got reveals on Wednesday and Saturdays, and Tony Khan would not wish to compete with the NFL on Sundays. Nonetheless, there can be competitors on each of these nights within the type of “WWE NXT” on Tuesdays, and a few NFL video games on Thursdays.
Tony Khan Desires To Increase AEW Internationally
Whereas the way forward for “Rampage” appears to be like nearly sure, a few of AEW’s different packages have extra unsure futures with reference to airing on TV. The quarterly Battle of the Belts specials had been reportedly not a part of the brand new deal, and whereas the present can nonetheless be shopped round and air in the identical means WWE is bringing again Saturday Night time’s Primary Occasion, the upcoming Battle of the Belts XII occasion on October 19 appears to be like to be the ultimate installment. Meltzer additionally revealed that talks nonetheless exist for different new offers, together with the potential to air on TruTV, and ROH lastly getting its personal deal after practically two years of streaming on HonorClub.
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The opposite important a part of the deal that Meltzer make clear was the profitability of AEW. The brand new deal not solely reportedly ensures AEW shall be a worthwhile firm for the following three years, but in addition appears to be like to make them the second-most worthwhile wrestling firm in historical past behind WWE. Nonetheless, it is the place AEW President Tony Khan decides to place the added $95 Million in tv income that’s the actual query.
Meltzer famous that there is no such thing as a stress or urge to try to set revenue data, with one in all Khan’s important targets being investing earnings into the worldwide development of AEW, one thing that has already been evident within the bulletins of the Wrestle Dynasty occasion in Japan, February’s Grand Slam in Australia, and the 2025 Forbidden Door pay-per-view that can happen in London, England, which can then be adopted up with the return of All In: London in 2026. Expertise are additionally set to profit enormously from the deal too, because the injection of cash means bidding wars between AEW and WWE will seemingly end result within the expertise being paid extra money than ever earlier than.
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