After years of B/R Live being the sole domestic streaming source to buy AEW pay-per-views from, the next three AEW PPVs will also be available to purchase on Triller, the former FITE.
That change in availability will begin with next month’s AEW Dynasty and will continue with May’s Double or Nothing and June’s Forbidden Door. It’s unknown what will happen after that point as it was described as a “right now” situation.
On Tuesday, the ability to purchase Dynasty went live on Triller for the traditional $49.99 PPV price. The ability to purchase all three PPVs as a Triple Pack bundle as international buyers are able to do will not be an option for domestic buyers.
The news comes on the heels of last month’s Revolution which was marred by so many technical issues early on that the PPV was made available to buy on Triller for the U.S. audience as the show was going on.
Triller and AEW have been in business together for years as the former offers AEW Plus for international audiences — a monthly subscription package that includes Dynamite, Collision and Rampage. Additionally, that is where AEW PPVs can be purchased.
B/R Live is owned and operated by Warner Bros. Discovery who holds both AEW’s domestic TV rights and PPV streaming rights through what’s believed to be the end of 2024. Dynasty is currently available to purchase on that service.
AEW has revealed the bracket for the tournament to fill the vacant Tag Team titles.
10 teams will take part in the tournament which concludes with the finals at AEW Dynasty on Sunday, April 21.
The Tag Team titles were vacated by Sting & Darby Allin following Sting’s retirement match at Revolution earlier this month.
Tournament matches begin on the Saturday, March 16 Collision in a wild card match featuring House of Black’s Buddy Matthews & Brody King vs. Shawn Dean & Carlie Bravo of The Infantry.
The winner of that match will advance to the quarterfinals to face FTR.
The other wild card match will feature Orange Cassidy & Trent Beretta of Best Friends against Powerhouse Hobbs & Kyle Fletcher of The Don Callis Family.
The winner of that contest will advance to the quarterfinals to face Undisputed Kingdom’s Matt Taven & Mike Bennett.
The other quarterfinals bouts are The Young Bucks vs. Private Party, plus Ricky Starks & Big Bill vs. Top Flight.
The tournament matches:
Wild Card —
House of Black (Buddy Matthews & Brody King) vs. The Infantry (Shawn Dean & Carlie Bravo)
Best Friends (Orange Cassidy & Trent Beretta) vs. The Don Callis Family (Powerhouse Hobbs & Kyle Fletcher)
Quarterfinals —
The Young Bucks (Matthew & Nicholas Jackson) vs. Private Party (Isiah Kassidy & Marq Quen)
The Undisputed Kingdom (Mike Bennett & Matt Taven) vs. winner of Best Friends/The Don Callis Family
Ricky Starks & Big Bill vs. Top Flight (Darius Martin & Dante Martin)
FTR (Dax Harwood & Cash Wheeler) vs. winner of House of Black/The Infantry
Bryan Danielson and Will Ospreay will soon meet in the ring for the first time.
On Saturday’s Collision, Ospreay officially challenged Danielson to a match for AEW Dynasty on April 21 in St. Louis. Danielson accepted, with AEW making the match official shortly after the challenge was made.
Danielson had defeated Shane Taylor in the opening match of Collision when Ospreay appeared. He said that he figured Danielson had something to tell him after he entered the ring at the end of Dynamite. Danielson told Ospreay that he has heard Ospreay being called the best in the world, and he wants to give him the chance to prove it.
Ospreay made his debut for AEW back at Revolution last weekend, defeating Konosuke Takeshita. He followed that with a win against Kyle Fletcher on AEW Dynamite. After that match, Danielson came to the ring and the show ended with the two having a stare down, teasing a future encounter.
Danielson also wrestled at Revolution, where he lost to Eddie Kingston. Per the stipulations of the match, he shook Eddie Kingston’s hand following the loss.
We have another giant issue of the Observer out today. There is a ton of news in this one but want to call attention to a great story by Pat Laprade on Paul “Butcher” Vachon, covering his wrestling and promoting career with all kinds of anecdotes such as his role in getting WWF’s Saturday Night Main Event off the ground, the early career of Andre the Giant, setting what was then the all-time get record in the U.S. at Comiskey Park in Chicago, and promoting what is still the largest crowd in Canada outside of Toronto. Besides the Vachon story we go in detail on the career of Sting and his retirement, as well as the careers of Paul Heyman and Bull Nakano, the muder charge against Daniel Rodimer and the investigation regarding the alleged rape of Ashley Massaro.
Famous pro wrestling retirement shows
The retirement of Sting and AEW Revolution
An historical first coming from the show
Sting’s run in TNA
Other expected finishes of Sting’s career
How Sting got into pro wrestling
The Blade Runners debut
Getting into Mid South
The first Flair-Sting match and it wasn’t in Greensboro
The first Clash of Champions and its ratings
Going head-to-head with WrestleMania
When Sting was supposed to win the NWA title the first time and why it didn’t happen
Why he almost didn’t get the title when the second title change date was planned
Sting vs. Hogan and how it got screwed up
The two people most responsible for Sting’s career not ending nearly a decade ago
Sting’s WWE run and why Vince McMahon ruined it
Sting’s final show
Ospreay vs. Takeshita
Early PPV numbers
Notes on how many buyers of this show ordered WWE & TNA shows
Milestones on gate, merch and and Greensboro Coliseum wrestling records
When was the finish decided
Okada signs with AEW, the truth about his contract
The debut of Mercedes Mone
The life and times of Butcher Vachon, the early years of his career, the creation of Stan Vachon, AWA title run, formation of Grand Prix Wrestling, The Vachons vs. LeDucs feud, early career of Andre the Giant, creation of the name Andre the Giant, life after wrestling
Mike Tyson vs. Jake Paul
Daniel Rodimer murder arrest, the story behind what happened, the victim, his pro wrestling career and his political career
NCIS investigation into Ashley Massaro
The careers of Paul Heyman and Bull Nakano
The most detailed look at the ratings including how the shows did compared to last year, last week, segment-by-segment and placings
How CMLL show with AEW talent is doing
Unique show in Mexico this week
Vampiro wants to do rematch from Lucha Underground match
New Japan anniversary show
Best of Super Juniors notes
BJ Whitmer sentencing
More on crazy TNA buy rate
What happened with Kevin Kelly in AEW
Update on Kenny Omega
Update on Sammy Guevara suspension
Behind The Rock’s promo
Notes on new WWE sponsorships
Next Saudi Arabia date
Vince McMahon and Brock Lesnar and the next video game
When Vince McMahon sold his 5.35 million shares of TKO stock a few days ago, it was for below market value of $77 per share. He still has about $1.2 billion worth of TKO stock after the recent sale.
Smackdown tonight in Dallas which is sold out at the American Airlines Arena. The attendance as of this morning was 13,388. This marks the sixth straight television taping sellout in that arena. The Rock, Cody Rhodes, Seth Rollins and Logan Paul appear. They are expected to finalize the night one WrestleMania main event. Randy Orton & Kevin Owens vs. Austin Theory & Grayson Waller, Bobby Lashley vs. Karrion Kross.
Tickets went on sale to the public for AEW Dynasty on 4/21, the next PPV with a Will Ospreay vs. Bryan Danielson match that will be officially announced tomorrow. They were at 3,822 tickets out as of a few hours ago.
Will Ospreay said he’s banged up bad after his two matches this past week. He’s doing fantastic matches but the key is also to preserve his body so he’s still doing them in ten years.
AEW Rampage at 10 p.m. tonight:
Orange Cassidy & Trent Baretta vs. Kip Sabian & Butcher
Julia Hart vs. Robyn Renegade for the TBS title
Penta vs. Action Andretti
Private Party vs. Top Flight vs. Komander & Bryan Keith
We’re looking for reports on these weekend events
Smackdown tonight in Dallas (dark matches and off TV notes only)
TNA TV tapings tomorrow night in Windsor, ONT
WWE house show tomorrow night in Alexandria, LA
WWE house show Sunday night in Lafayette, LA
We’re looking for results, finishes and highlights to [email protected]
One last thing we didn’t get in the issue was AEW Dynamite on Wednesday, besides finishing second during its times slot on cable to the NBA, also beat NBC programming, beat ABC except form 8-8:30, beat FOX in the second hour but not the first, and lost to Survivor on CBS over both hours, which was the highest rated show of the night.
New Japan Cup results from earlier today in Yamanashi: Hikuleo pinned Oleg Boltin, Gabe Kidd beat Callum Newman, Shingo Takagi beat Yuya Uemura. Hikluleo faces Evil on Wednesday. Kidd faces Shingo also on Wednesday.
Dominik Mysterio was married in real life a few days ago.
TNA Sacrifice tonight from Windsor, ONT on TNA+:
Moose vs. Eric Young for TNA title
Jordynne Grace vs. Tasha Steelz vs. Xia Brookside for Knockouts title
Nic Nemeth vs. Steve Maclin for IWGP Global title
Chris Bey & Ace Ausin vs. Eddie Edwards & Brian Myers for TNA tag titles
Mustafa Ali & Grizzled Young Veterans vs. Chris Sabin & Alex Shelley & Kushida
Killer Kelly & Masha Slamovich vs. Dani Luna & Jody Threat for Knockouts tag titles
Josh Alexander vs. Alex Hammerstone
Crazzy Steve vs. Joe Hendry for Digital Media title
PCO vs. Big Kon no DQ
Trey Miguel & Zachary Wenz vs. Mike Bailey & Trent Seven
UFC 299 is tomorrow from Miami, FLThe show will air from 6-10 p.m. Eastern on ESPN and then move to PPV at 10 p.m.
ESPN bouts
Joanne Wood (125) vs. Maryna Moroz (126)
CJ Vergara (127) vs. Assu Almabayev (126)
Robelis Despaigne (261) vs. Josh Parisian (266)
Michel Pereira (186) vs. Michal Olaksiejczuk (185)
Ion Cutelaba (205) vs. Philiple Lins (206)
Pedro Munhoz (135) vs. Kyler Phillips (135)
Mateusz Gamrot (156) vs. Rafael dos Anjos (156)
Katlyn Cerminara (125) vs. Maycee Barber (125)
Curtis Blaydes (257) vs. Jailton Almeida (241)
PPV at 10 p.m.
Petr Yan (135) vs. Song Yadong (136)
Gilbert Burns (171) vs. Jack Della Maddalena (170)
Kevin Holland (170) vs. Michael Venom Page (170)
Dustin Poirier (156) vs. Benoit Saint-Denis (155)
Sean O’Malley (135) vs. Marlon Vera (135) for the UFC bantamweight title
We have a preview of the show in the issue that came out today.
Dana White announced that flyweight champion Alexa Grasso and former champion Valentina Shevchenko will be coaching the next season of Ultimate Fighter. The season will premiere on 6/4 with middleweights and featherweights. Most likely this will build to a championship match between the two of them later this year.
Manel Kape vs. Matheus Nicolau will be the main event of a 4/27 Fight Night show. They were to fight in January when Kape missed weight by 3.5 pounds and it was called off
Bryan Danielson has said he’s looking for matches against Hiromu Takahashi, El Desperado, Tetsuya Naito, Hiroshi Tanahashi, Shingo Takagi and Tomohiro Ishii from New Japan.
Dan Rafael is reporting that a Canelo Alvarez vs. Jaime Manguia bout is not signed but being finalized for 5/4 at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. He reported Alvarez will make in excess of $35 million for the fight.
Tonight is the first-ever all women’s show at Arena Mexico. It will not just be all women’s matches, but Princesa Sugehit and Sanely will be referees, the announcers will be women and the ring announcer will be a woman. It will be interesting to see how this does. Friday night wrestling at Arena Mexico is on a roll right now.
CMLL is doing its Universal tournament of champions, where all the different champions are in a four-week long tournament, running on 4/5, 4/12, 4/19 with the finals on 4/26.
Angel de Oro has been added to the 5/19 RevPro Fantastica Mania show.
Progress and Pro Wrestling NOAH have put together a three-date U.K. tour for NOAH in September. Tickets go on sale this coming Friday.
MLW will have a two-hour special on BeinSports on 3/16. It will also air on YouTube. It will be from matches taped last week in New York, including Matt Riddle vs. Davey Boy Smith Jr., Satoshi Kojima & Okumura & Alex Kane vs. Tom Lawlor & Richard Holliday & Josh Bishop, AJ Francis vs. Mr. Thomas, Delmi Exo vs. Zayda a scramble match plus Star Jr. and Bad Dude Tito.
AIW on 3/22 in Cleveland at Temple Live features an appearance by Demolition.
AEW has announced a new pay-per-view event for April.
Shortly before the main event of Revolution, the company announced that they would be holding a new pay-per-view event on April 21 called Dynasty at the Chaifetz Arena in St. Louis, Missouri. Tickets will go on sale this coming Friday, March 8.
In a media call that took place last week, Tony Khan mentioned the idea of expanding to nine pay-per-view events a year.
“I can see this year being 9-10 (PPV events) and I think nine is probably the sweet spot,” he said.
In 2022, AEW added a fifth pay-per-view, a joint event with NJPW called Forbidden Door. In 2023, they added three more pay-per-views with All In back in August, WrestleDream in October, and Worlds End in December.
The company held their Revolution pay-per-view on Sunday in Greensboro, North Carolina. The main event had Sting & Darby Allin defeat The Young Bucks in what was Sting’s last match.
