Tag: AEW Business

Tony Khan says AEW revenue is ‘highest it’s ever been’ with their ‘strongest financial outlook ever’

Posted on by Josh Nason

While Tony Khan didn’t say whether AEW is profitable in 2026, he did reveal that the promotion’s revenue “is the highest it’s ever been” and “the strongest financial outlook for the company ever.”

Khan was asked the profitability question during Thursday’s pre-Double or Nothing media call and in his answer, he discussed how he is reinvesting back into the company with a number of project at what he perceives as the right time.

“I’ll continue to reinvest in the business, developing new platforms and trying to open up new territories to grow the company in the future. We’re launching some new projects and some international developments that will require investment that I think are very smart moves,” he said.

“Probably the biggest takeaway is the growth of the company and looking at how much we have been able to expand our revenue and how much we are strongly positioned for the future of AEW. I think now is the perfect time in growing our revenue to reinvest in the business and, perfect timing with us going into Double or Nothing, to double down on AEW for the future because AEW will be around for a very, very long time.”

He did not disclose what the actual revenue number was. AEW is a private company with a minority stake (under 10%) owned by Warner Bros. Discovery. He has said in the past that their biggest revenue source is their domestic TV rights deal with WBD. That deal runs through the end of 2027 with a one-year extension option held by WBD, although that could be owned by Paramount Skydance if the WBD merger goes through.

Tony Khan responds to AEW profitability questions, TBS title plan, July PPV & All In 2027 on media call

Posted on by Josh Nason

AEW head Tony Khan was asked a variety of questions during Thursday’s pre-Double or Nothing media call including questions on the company’s profitability, if they are having a new pay-per-view in July, the TBS title’s future and more.

The full audio from the call can be found here along with this breakout on his comments on Mick Foley’s wrestling future in AEW.

AEW profitability

Khan was asked by Wrestlenomics’ Brandon Thurston about if AEW is profitable. Khan said that AEW revenue is “the highest it’s ever been,” but that he couldn’t comment on where every expense currently is. He said that with the revenue, it has been the perfect time to “double down” and reinvest in AEW including digital and international projects that will continue to both grow the company in the future.

The TBS title plan

Khan was asked what the plan is for the now-vacant TBS title. He said that will be addressed after Double or Nothing.

A new July pay-per-view?

Asked about the rumored new AEW PPV for July, Khan said that is something he is “very interested in” but only if it was “additive” to the product, noting that adding one would be potentially lucrative.

Where will AEW All In be in 2027?

Asked if All In will return to Wembley Stadium again in 2027, Khan said he doesn’t have his schedule planned for next year but will continue to take “big swings” with the yearly event. He reiterated that he is very excited for this year’s show in London.

For the entire call and other questions & answers, click here.

AEW announces first-ever craft beer partnership for Worlds End

Posted on by Josh Nason

AEW has a new partnership with Bell’s Brewery that will be tapped for this Saturday’s Worlds End pay-per-view.

Announced on Monday, their first ever craft beer sponsorship will focus on the Kalamazoo, Michigan brewery’s Two Hearted IPA. The well-known brew will be featured in select event marketing, in the arena, and on digital platforms.

From the media release:

“The collaboration will also include co-branded creative and special on-site fan engagement moments, including AEW Talent appearances, during the pay-per-view weekend.”

No financial details were disclosed.

Current AEW Worlds End lineup | Saturday, December 27 | Chicago:

  • AEW World Champion Samoa Joe defends against Swerve Strickland, Hangman Adam Page and MJF in a four-way
  • AEW Women’s World Champion Kris Statlander defends against Jamie Hayter
  • AEW Women’s Tag Team Champions Willow Nightingale and Harley Cameron defend against Mercedes Mone and Athena
  • Continental Classic Semifinal: Blue league winner vs. Gold league runner-up
  • Continental Classic Semifinal: Gold league winner vs. Blue league runner-up
  • Continental Classic Finals: Semifinal winner vs. semifinal winner

JNPO: AEW quarterly business review with Brandon Thurston

Posted on by Josh Nason

The quarterly tradition of looking back at the last quarter of AEW business continues on Josh Nason’s Punch-Out with a visit from Brandon Thurston of Wrestlenomics.

Josh and Brandon tackle April, May and June in the world of Tony Khan, focused on some of these topics with some perspective given the dates:

  • AEW continuing to push internationally with Grand Slam Mexico, the Forbidden Door announcement, Glasgow debut, and All Out to Toronto
  • WBD intending to split into two
  • The run-up to All In
  • A birds-eye view look at attendance, ratings, PPV buys and such from the quarter
  • Lots more

We also then had an impromptu talk about the AEW vs. WWE conflicts, antitrust and how MLW may have paved the way for a future lawsuit.

This was another fun conversation, so please check it out for free below, Spotify or Apple Podcasts (just search Wrestling Observer).

Click here to listen

AEW signs ‘productivity drink’ sponsor, contract details revealed

Posted on by Josh Nason

It was revealed Tuesday that AEW has a “productivity drink” sponsor in a deal that has apparently been in place for quite some time.

The contract is with Maryland-based and U.S. veteran-owned idrinq who announced the deal on social media. In their post, it stated idrinq will be featured on AEW TV and “several” pay-per-view events with “premiere logo placement” in the ring and on the broadcast. They stated “AEW talent will also play a part in the AEW/idrinq journey.”

AEW/idrinq contract details & discrepancies

According to CEO Norbert Vergez’s personal website in a post date April 8, 2025, the marketing and promotion deal became effective in October 2024 and is for three years and $3,575,000.

In that same post, Vergez also noted that in January 2025, “Idrinq content shall exclusively air on the TNT and TBS television networks as part of the weekly, Saturday night “AEW Collision” broadcast. For years 2 and 3; Idrinq exclusivity shall extend to the weekly “AEW Dynamite” television broadcasts.“

It’s unclear why it took nearly eight months for the announcement to be made, why it didn’t begin in January as Vergez stated, and if the dates he listed had changed or were incorrect.

An inquiry has gone out to both Vergez and AEW to get clarification.

Here is what Vergez stated in that April post that idrinq would receive from AEW:

  • Access to over 19,000 + doors for “Direct-On-The-Shelf” Idrinq sales in the USA (Jan 25).
  • Weekly Live-TV Viewership with 97-million subscribers (WBD); AEW2.2-milllion per live-television broadcast.
  • Co-presenting sponsor of International AEW “PAY-PER-VIEW” events.
  • Use of AEW/WBD in-house production teams for digital signage, merchandise material, product placement and graphics design for use by Idrinq C-store partners.
  • Access to 220 contract wrestlers with over 137-million followers.
  • Match Sponsorship, Product Placement at Announcer’s Desk, and Announcer Voice Over’s with lower third graphics.
  • Idrinq Logo inclusion in partner’s section of AEW Website.

As of this writing, AEW has yet to formally announce the deal.

Vergez, a retired Colonel in the U.S. Army, was in the news in April 2015 for pleading guilty “for criminal misconduct arising from his duties associated with various helicopter procurement contracts at Redstone Arsenal in Huntsville (Alabama),” according to the U.S. Justice department’s website. In April 2016, he was sentenced to five years probation, a $10,000 fine, and eight months home confinement. He became idrinq CEO in August 2023.

AEW did famously have Ric Flair’s Wooooo! Energy as the “official energy drink” of AEW in October 2023 in a multi-year deal that brought the WWE Hall of Famer to the promotion. The deal then quietly went away in the spring/summer of 2024 without explanation.

JNPO: AEW quarterly business review with Brandon Thurston

Posted on by Josh Nason

On a new Josh Nason’s Punch-Out, we celebrate WrestleMania week with a look at AEW business because, well, why not?

Joining me for his quarterly visit is Brandon Thurston of Wrestlenomics who supplies some supporting documentation for subscribers on his website.

In our talk, we look back at January, February and March 2025 which included the following:

  • The dawn of the Max simulcast era and the always civil discussion about viewership numbers
  • AEW’s debut in Australia that was a big financial success and sparked a discussion about ring sizes
  • AEW getting some financial relief due to some high-level talent releases
  • Attendance, ratings, nuance, etc.

Join us for a fun hour-long discussion, available via our RSS, Spotify, or Apple Podcasts under the Wrestling Observer feed or by clicking below.

Click here to listen

JNPO: AEW Q4 business review with Brandon Thurston

Posted on by Josh Nason

After my 12-part 2024 year in review series, we get back to regular programming on Josh Nason’s Punch-Out with friend of the show Brandon Thurston of Wrestlenomics returning for his quarterly visit to discuss the prior quarter of AEW business, formerly called the AEW investors call.

We talk about all the big headlines including the new TV deal with WBD and our thoughts on the Max simulcast launch, ratings & attendance trends, All In ticket sales, signings, injuries, returns, and lots more. We also discuss what we’re looking to see through this this first quarter of 2025.

Click here to listen (no sub needed)

JNPO: AEW Q3 business review with Wrestlenomics’ Brandon Thurston

Posted on by Josh Nason

After three months, Josh Nason’s Punch-Out returns with a look back at some AEW business with Wrestlenomics‘ Brandon Thurston as part of our quarterly series, formerly known as the investors call.

Brandon and I spend an hour going over all the big happenings on the business side of the house from July through September which included:

  • The announcement of the new TV rights deal with WBD and our thoughts a few months later
  • Several new stadium shows announced for 2025 including All In and Grand Slam
  • 27 live events
  • Ratings trends
  • Quotable quotes
  • Brandon’s skepticism as to how AEW can grow…and lots more.

You can also get an exclusive PDF breaking down a lot of the numbers we talk about (and some we didn’t) with a $5 sub to Wrestlenomics.

This is the gateway to my annual pro wrestling year in review series which kicks off next week. 12 months, 12 episodes, 12 different guests going over everything you remember and a lot of stuff you forgot.

Click here to listen

Tony Khan: It’s reasonable AEW will be second-most profitable wrestling company ever

Posted on by Josh Nason

During his Thursday media call to promote Saturday’s All Out, AEW head Tony Khan confirmed MJF’s recent statement that his company is on the precipice of becoming the second-most profitable company in wrestling history if they can secure a new TV deal.

Khan was asked about a recent MJF interview in which the former AEW World Champion mentioned that if AEW gets their new deal, they will be “the second most successful wrestling company that has ever existed.”

“That’s reasonable. Whether those cash flows happen overnight when the new deal kicks in, I can’t say those things for sure yet as there’s still a lot to figure out. I do think the die is cast that AEW will be the second-most profitable company, at this point, of all-time which is very impressive for a promotion that is just over five years old and has been on TV for less than five years,” Khan said.

Khan then said without getting into the semantics of the statement, mechanics and accounting (he wasn’t sure how much WCW made in 1998 or Jim Crockett made in 1986, he thinks over the duration of the deal and this multi-year period, they will indeed take the no. 2 spot.

While no renewal with WBD has been finalized publicly, Khan continued to strongly insinuate that a new TV rights deal with his lone TV partner will indeed happen and even went as far to confirm that recent reports in the media about some of the happenings are accurate. While never publicly confirmed, it’s believed the existing deal expires at the end of the calendar year.

Early estimate for AEW All In pay-per-view buys

Posted on by Josh Nason

Image: AEW

While down from last year’s show, last Sunday’s AEW All In from London’s Wembley Stadium appears to still be a formidable financial force when it comes to both pay-per-view and live gate revenue.

In this week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Dave Meltzer reported that the preliminary estimate is between 167,000-173,000 combined total buys for streaming and linear TV which would be considerably be up from June’s Forbidden Door’s 120,000 PPV buy estimate.

That would also place it behind March’s Revolution which did an estimated 180,000 buys for Sting’s retirement match and is their top-selling PPV of the calendar year.

While Tony Khan never formally announced a specific attendance number that night (later choosing to say on X that it was over 50,000), WrestleTix’s estimate was 53,385 tickets distributed. Meltzer noted Khan said the live gate was over $6 million with more than 50,000 tickets paid.

Last year’s debut in the same stadium did an announced paid attendance of 81,035, over $10 million in gate revenue, and 200,000 PPV buys. Of note, both shows’ main cards started at 1 PM Eastern Sunday for the U.S. audience — considerably earlier than usual.

Next year’s All In will head to Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas, in July while the 2026 All In is slated to return to Wembley Stadium in 2026.

JNPO: AEW Q2 business review with Wrestlenomics’ Brandon Thurston

Posted on by Josh Nason

Image: AEW

For the first time in two months, Josh Nason’s Punch-Out has returned with a new episode looking at the second quarter in AEW business with the one & only Brandon Thurston of Wrestlenomics.

We sift through all the interesting news & notes from April, May and June and how that has brought AEW to their current point where they are awaiting the announcement of either a very important TV rights renewal or non-renewal with WBD.

A few highlights we look back at:

  • Their second-ever quarter with three pay-per-views
  • All of the quotes and red herrings around the TV rights negotiations
  • Tony Khan’s decisions to air the CM Punk/Jack Perry All In fight footage and to call WWE “the Harvey Weinstein of pro wrestling”
  • The announcement of their first-ever residency and Summer Series in Arlington, Texas
  • A look at year-over-year ratings, attendance and PPV buys
  • Lots more

Wrestlenomics subscribers can gain access to a PDF featuring notes and graphs we discuss on the show.

Click here to listen (no sub needed)

AEW tax credit from Ohio could mean future special event for Cleveland

Posted on by Josh Nason

As part of the state’s Motion Picture Tax Credit Program, AEW will be getting a sizable check from the Ohio government for unnamed events to be held in 2024 and 2025.

The company was listed in a Monday press release recognizing feature films, TV series and Broadway productions in the state that helped create jobs and nearly $300 million in revenue for production expenses and expenditures.

In total, AEW will get $1.275 million from Ohio as part of the $36.7 million allotment. They are listed as “AEW 2024-2025 Productions, Cleveland/TBD” which would indicate that announcements are set to come for a future special event or events as this year’s slate of pay-per-views has already been announced.

AEW does have an Ohio date on the books for this year as Collision heads to Dayton on September 12th. It’s unknown if that is the TBD in the equation.

Ohio giving tax credit money to wrestling promotions isn’t anything new as WWE received nearly $1.7 million according to a February release. The only designation there is “2024” which could be tied to this weekend’s SummerSlam at Browns Stadium in Cleveland.

Live gate number revealed for AEW Double or Nothing

Posted on by Josh Nason

Image: AEW

The live gate number for May’s AEW Double or Nothing from Las Vegas saw a sharp decline from last year’s event according to new data.

Pollstar data (via Wrestlenomics) showed the May 26th pay-per-view from the MGM Grand Garden Arena drew $582,204 at the gate on 9099 paid tickets. The prior year saw the same show from the T-Mobile Arena bring in $964,349 on 10,478 paid.

The same publication noted that the Saturday go-home Collision in the same venue drew a $112,298 gate on 3944 paid tickets.

The show was headlined by an Anarchy in the Arena match in addition to Mercedes Mone’s AEW in-ring debut, and AEW World Champion Swerve Strickland vs. Christian Cage.

It was AEW’s third pay-per-view of the year and the second-highest PPV gate as March’s Revolution in Greensboro, North Carolina, brought in more than $1 million in ticket revenue on 15,837 paid tickets. April’s Dynasty in St. Louis, Missouri, did $401,373 in gate revenue on 6287 paid tickets.

AEW will return to PPV this Sunday for their third-ever Forbidden Door, emanating from the UBS Arena on Long Island, New York for the first time. As of Tuesday evening, WrestleTix estimated nearly 9100 tickets are out for the event with roughly 1100 remaining to be sold.

Details of AEW & City of Arlington’s Summer Series financial arrangement revealed

Posted on by Josh Nason

AEW is getting a great financial deal from Arlington, Texas, to hold their upcoming Summer Series later this summer.

Revealed by Wrestlenomics via a public records request, the company will pay $232,000 to bring five AEW Collision shows in July and August (four live and one taped) to the Esports Arena in addition to this year’s Ring of Honor Death Before Dishonor. Two additional ROH tapings might be part of the deal according to documents Brandon Thurston acquired.

The venue contract states AEW’s costs to the Arlington Expo Center as $112,000 and $120,000 to Esports Venues for use of the broadcast suite and equipment. The rate comes at a 50% discount with Thurston noting the local tourism group might help offset those costs with cash or other financial incentives according to a term sheet.

The only non-live Collision will be taped on Thursday, August 1st, as Collision will air early on that WWE SummerSlam Saturday, according to the schedule.

“City records show the venue will be scaled for 1,290 seats, with an average on-sale price of $45.02, meaning the maximum gate for one event would be $58,080,” Thurston wrote.

At one point, there were discussions of AEW perhaps subletting the space to either CMLL or NJPW according to emails in the documentation but it’s unclear if those conversations went anywhere.

Here’s the full schedule of announced shows:

  • Saturday, July 20: AEW Collision
  • Friday, July 26: ROH Death Before Dishonor
  • Saturday, July 27: AEW Collision 
  • Thursday, August 1: AEW Collision (Taped to air Saturday, August 3)
  • Saturday, August 10: AEW Collision
  • Saturday, August 17: AEW Collision

JNPO: AEW Q1 business review with Brandon Thurston

Posted on by Josh Nason
AEW continued to do some, ahem, Big Business in the first quarter of 2024 and that means it was time to record our quarterly AEW business review with Wrestlenomics‘ Brandon Thurston on a new Josh Nason’s Punch-Out.

For those new here, this is the formerly named quarterly investors call series where we focus on the numbers that we know from the last three months and some of our thoughts on what’s to come. From new signings to ratings to attendance to some nuance, it’s all here.

  • We talk about the box office success of Sting’s retirement match at AEW Revolution, both from PPV and live gate.
  • We discuss AEW attendance and speculate as to whether it’s a family-friendly product which could be hurting ticket sales. If not, should AEW care?
  • We look at the big three free agent signings of Okada, Mone and Ospreay as well as departures and injuries.
  • And numbers. We talk a lot of numbers.

Then, I go solo for the last segment talking everything that happened from when we recorded to this morning which included Tony Khan’s Harvey Weinstein/WWE comparison, the WBD exclusive negotiating window coming up soon, the revival of the Vince McMahon selling stock story, international TV rights, and more.

Click Here to Listen (no sub needed)