In this week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Dave Meltzer provided some further insight into the financial terms being discussed in the current AEW and WBD TV rights renewal negotiations — ones that would make the company profitable if they can get them.
Meltzer wrote that the per-year figures being discussed “are said to be considerably more than the estimated $110 million per year, or slightly more, that would in theory take the company into profitable range. There is talk of figures being between 50% above (and as much as nearly double) the current number said to be already on the table. The latter figure in particular would open up the potential of tens of millions more annually for talent acquisitions and other expansions in the budget.”
Both sides are still negotiating as of now.
In January 2020, AEW’s existing deal with WBD was extended for four years at $175 million total which included the addition of Rampage. WBD later picked up a one-year extension that will take the relationship through the end of this year. It’s assumed AEW got more money with the addition of Collision last June, but it’s unknown publicly by how much.
The new TV rights negotiations include streaming rights which are currently not available domestically. However, Meltzer stated that the talks are not serious when it comes to an outright purchase of pay-per-view distribution rights like WWE and Peacock with their PLEs or that UFC has with ESPN.
Puck’s Matt Belloni reported this past week that AEW head Tony Khan was disappointed with WBD’s initial offer — a statement that AEW denied on the same day. He also reported the exclusive negotiating window with WBD ends in July with Meltzer reporting that it’s “coming up in several weeks.”
AEW has denied a Monday night report from Puck that the first offer made by WBD toward a new TV rights deal was disappointing.
According to Dave Meltzer, AEW sources have told him that the first offer was not disappointing to Tony Khan, but that the two sides have yet to reach any deal. Negotiations for both TV and streaming are ongoing with WBD and not TNT Sports.
The Puck report from longtime Hollywood insider Matt Belloni stated that his sources indicated Khan was disappointed with WBD’s first offer and that the exclusive negotiating window between both sides was coming up in July. He also reported that both WBD head David Zaslav and TNT Sports head Luis Silberwasser want to keep all three AEW shows.
After the reporting came out, it was pointed out by some online that Belloni is longtime friends with WWE CEO Nick Khan and that Belloni has had Khan on his podcast before, leading some to believe it was a planted piece. WWE met with WBD during their TV rights negotiations which Tony Khan said was “part of sports” when asked about it.
The current AEW/WBD deal is believed to expire at the end of this year.
After months of speculation, there is some new insight into the current AEW/Warner Bros. Discovery TV rights renewal talks: some of which that has AEW head Tony Khan reportedly not thrilled with the current offer.
As part of his weekly subscriber newsletter, Puck’s Matt Belloni (former of The Hollywood Reporter) reported that WBD head David Zaslav and TNT Sports head Luis Silberwasser want to retain AEW Dynamite, Collision and Rampage.
However, Belloni writes, “…the clock is ticking. I’m told the exclusive window closes in July, and AEW leader Tony Khan is said to be disappointed with the offer currently on the table. Khan also surely knows that Zaz losing the NBA would give AEW more leverage, even though the money to re-up AEW is a mere drop in the NBA bucket. If the window closes without a deal, others could swoop in for those rights, as Comcast has done with the NBA. (Extra awkward because WBD is said to own a stake in the league.)”
He went on to speculate that he’s unsure of how attractive AEW is to other platforms, given only non-WWE partners can be in on potential bidding. He also said AEW provides “reliable programming” and that if Zaslav loses both NBA and AEW TV rights, that could cause more damage in WBD’s deals with cable providers.
Khan has been quiet about anything to do with the rights renewal talks, only to say that the negotiating window is up soon while continuing to speak positively about both WBD and Zaslav in addition to the marketplace for AEW rights if it gets there.
The deal between AEW and WBD is believed to be up at the end of this year.
Wrestling Observer Live with Bryan Alvarez and Mike Sempervive is back with tons to talk about including AEW and WBD TV deal rumors, the latest on Vince McMahon and Janel Grant, the NXT TV report highs and lows, ratings, and more. A fun show as always so check it out~!
The exclusive domestic TV rights negotiating window between AEW & Warner Bros. Discovery will last into the summer as the process toward a potential new deal progresses.
Fightful first reported the news without giving a specific date, adding that any deal will likely involve a streaming element with WBD’s MAX service. A source independently confirmed that the window does end during the summer, but also could not provide the specific date or month.
While AEW head Tony Khan has never confirmed the news publicly, it’s assumed the existing rights deal is up at the end of 2024. He has previously spoken about his confidence level with a new deal regardless of where they end up, but that his hopes are to remain loyal to WBD.
When asked about the timeframe on the window during an April media call, Khan declined to answer but said it was soon.
WBD finds themselves in an interesting spot with their NBA TV negotiations as industry experts expect them to lose their portion of the rights to NBC given their massive bid for what’s considered a secondary package. Puck’s John Ourand reported there’s a question of whether WBD can match NBC’s bid, or even Amazon’s bid for another portion, given NBC has a broadcast component where WBD does not.
If the NBA goes elsewhere, needing to fill time with live programming would seem to bode well for AEW’s negotiations despite ratings that are down year-over-year for both Dynamite and Rampage. Collision is approaching its one-year anniversary this June. WBD does still have a portion of NHL and MLB games.
AEW programming has been on the WBD networks domestically since their 2019 inception with WBD-owned Bleacher Report as their lone domestic streaming provider for pay-per-views. That was until April of this year when other outlets like Triller, PPV.com and YouTube were also able to sell their PPVs, assumed to be due to multiple technical issues that occurred during March’s Revolution.
Garrett and I just finished a long show talking about all kinds of topics from Steve Austin’s innate perception of how to do promos and angles, to AEW Dynasty, to the original WWF expansion with Brad Balukjian and talking Iron Sheik, Hulk Hogan, Vince McMahon, as well as what will be the biggest news story for the rest of 2024. Bryan and I will be back Sunday talking Smackdown and eight hours of AEW programming.
WWE drew what may have been its biggest house show crowd in years with a packed O2 Arena in London today:
Jey Uso b Drew McIntyre with a spear. McIntyre then invited Wayne Rooney to Clash of the Castle in Glasgow, Scotland
Natalya b Shayna Baszler with a roll-up
Ricochet b JD McDonagh with a 450. One of the UK Gladiators was there with Ricochet,
Damien Priest b Xaiver Woods to keep the world title. McDonagh interfered Priest mostly sold Priest was cheered by most of the crowd and there were “Undertaker” chants. He worked as the heel, was cheered, and did a babyface promo.
Tegan Nox won a three-way over Piper Niven and Zoey Stark by pinning Stark, who was the most impressive of the three.
Sami Zayn won a four-way over Gunther, Finn Balor and Chad Gable to keep the IC title. Gunther was booked strong. Great finish with Zayn pinning Balor after the helluva kick. Excellent bout.
Cody Rhodes b Shinsuke Nakamura to keep the WWE title. Ref bump and Nakamura threw powder. Rhodes won with Cross Rhodes(Thanks to Alex Dudley)
Rodney Petersen, who was involved in a street fight in New Orleans with Nate Diaz one year ago, filed suit in District Court in Louisiana. He alleged he suffered injuries to the head, neck and brain, mental anguish, psychological distress, medical expenses, lost income, loss of consortium with his wife among other things. In the fight, Diaz got a guillotine on Petersen and landed a knee to the body and dropped Peterson on the ground. Peterson claimed he suffered a serious concussion and needed eight staples in his head. The New Orleans Parish D.A.’s office didn’t press charges against Diaz at the time saying there was insufficient evidence. Diaz had claimed self defense.
The U.S. Olympic team trials in wrestling are airing tonight until 10 p.m. or so Eastern. The finals are tomorrow night from 6:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. Eastern.
Another story to look out for regarding AEW rights renewals are that WBD has reportedly had interest in the WNBA, which most expect to increase greatly in the ratings due to Caitlin Clark. It’s hard to say how this would affect AEW past that if TBS or TNT gets that, it is more money from the budget and less time on the prime time schedule.
We’re looking for reports on these shows:
WWE from last night in Cardiff, Wales
WWE tonight in Pittsburgh, PA (dark matches only)
NXT tonight in Davenport, FL
AEW Collision in Peoria, IL (only stuff that doesn’t air on the three hour live show)
WWE tomorrow in Belfast, Northern Ireland
NXT tomorrow in Orlando, FL
TNA tomorrow in Las Vegas
WWE tomorrow in Erie, PA
GCW tomorrow night in Los Angeles
WWE Sunday in Fort Wayne, IN
TNA TV tapings Sunday in Las Vegas
GCW Sunday in Albuquerque, NM
We’re looking for results, finishes and highlights to [email protected]
Announced for tomorrow night’s AEW show in Peoria, IL:
Bryan Danielson & Claudio Castagnoli vs Konosuke Takeshita & Kyle Fletcher in a bunkhouse brawl
Kazuchika Okada & Young Bucks vs. FTR & Pac
Acclaimed vs Gunn Brothers
Adam Copeland & Eddie Kingston & Mark Briscoe vs. Action Andretti & Top Flight
Rob Van Dam vs. Komander vs. Isaiah Kassidy vs. Lee Johnson
Emi Sakura vs. Yuka Sakazaki
Kyle O’Reilly & Rocky Romero & Matt Menard vs. Roderick Strong & Matt Taven & Mike Bennett
The show is three hours, with Collision from 8-10 p.m. and Rampage from 10-11 p.m.
Due to the NHL playoffs, Raw & Smackdown next week in Canada are being moved from SportsNet 360 to OLN. NXT will also be off SportsNet 360 and only available for streaming on Sportsnet Plus.
Tonight’s Arena Mexico main event is Mistico vs Mascara Dorada vs. Atlantis Jr., in week three of the Universal Champion of Champions tournament. It’s a battle of the historical middleweight, welterweight and light heavyweight champions.r
Cody Rhodes was on Good Morning Britain this week.
The Dos Caras version of the story is that he tried to break up with Diana Mondragon and she flipped out and made claims against him. He claimed that she has been harassing his family for the past three months and filed a criminal complaint against her. He said he’s already talked with police and told them her version of the story is made up and defamatory and offered to show proof he was innocent.
Eve Fall Grrrls on 5/3 in Walthamstow, London at the Big Penny Social for a 14th anniversary show with Nina Samuels vs. Su Yung as the main event as well as a War Games match. The show is sold out of seats but they are still selling standing room.
Eve also announced the Jetta & Charlie Morgan retirement show for 6/7 at the Big Penny Social in Walthamstow.
GCW runs tomorrow night in Los Angeles wiht 2 Cold Scorpio vs Joey Janela as the main event at the Ukrainian Cultural Center They also run Sunday in Albuquerque, NM.
MLW has a two hour special at 10 p.m. tomorrow night on Bein Sports and the MLW YouTube channel with Akira & Raven & Jimmy Lloyd & Jake Crist vs. Rickey Shane Page & Sami Callihan & Cannonball & Dr Cornwallis, Saotshi Kojima vs. Bad Dude Tito for the MLW title, Matt Riddle vs Timothy Thatcher, Tom Lawlor & Davey Boy Smith Jr,. defend the tag titles against Mr .Thomas & Alex Kane, Star Jr. vs. Virus and more.
Lex Luger was in the Wednesday New York Times crossword puzzle. The clue was “Pro Wrestler **** Luger.” (thanks to Bob Nowak)
Action Wrestling has its 6th anniversary show on 4/26 on IWTV with Mustafa Ali appearing.
Sergio Pettis vs. Kyoji Horiguchi was announced for the 6/9 Rizin show in Tokyo. Another Bellator fighter, Juan Archuleta, will face Kleber Koike. Pettis knocked out Horiguchi in 2021 in a fight where Horiguchi won the first three rounds and was then knocked out in the fourth.
Rush vs LA Park headlines the return of Elite Lucha Libre Sunday in Mexico City. The show also has Komander vs Draistico vs. Metalik.
On the most newsworthy week of the wrestling year, AEW & Ring of Honor head Tony Khan had a lot of questions to answer on a Thursday media call designed to promote Friday’s Supercard of Honor — the audio of which can be heard below.
At the jump, Khan was asked about CM Punk’s critical comments of Khan’s leadership and of his AEW experience as a whole, but declined to answer. It was the only related question he got in the near-hourlong call.
Khan said you have to make tough calls sometimes and that he plans to be very aggressive with going after top talent in an continued expansion effort. In order to do so, he said he needs “a war chest and to keep an eye on the budget.”
He then revealed that after thinking about the situation, Anthony Henry will return when he has healed up from a broken jaw. However, he also revealed that The Boys (Brandon & Brent Tate) were cut due to missing repeated shows — something that was known in the locker room.
Here’s some other notes:
When asked about when the exclusive domestic TV rights negotiating window with Warner Bros Discovery is up, Khan declined to provide the date saying it was soon but that he didn’t want to get anyone in trouble by answering.
Khan said some AEW/ROH talents are on tiered deals and some are on per appearance deals.
A few more matches for the Zero Hour for Supercard of Honor have yet to be announced.
He said it’s been “a lot easier” to work with Stardom now that Rossy Ogawa is gone, and is very happy about the changes Bushiroad made.
In what promises to be a game-changer in the world of streaming rights, Warner Bros. Discovery, Fox and Disney will launch a sports-centric streaming venture in the United States that will combine each services’ various rights under one digital roof.
The unnamed service is expected to launch this fall with pricing yet unknown. It will be owned by a newly-formed company with its own leadership team.
According to Variety, each group will own a third of the service, licensing their sports content to it on a non-exclusive basis, meaning it would also air on their traditional home for non-subscribers.
From their report:
“Subscribers would get access to linear sports networks including ESPN, ESPN2, ESPNU, SECN, ACCN, ESPNEWS, ABC, Fox, FS1, FS2, BTN, TNT, TBS, truTV and ESPN+, as well as hundreds of hours from the NFL, NBA, MLB and NHL and many top college divisions. Pricing will be announced at a later date,”
CNBC reported subscribers will be able to bundle the new service with Hulu, Disney+ and/or Max. This will not affect ESPN’s continued plans to launch their full direct-to-consumer product either this year or next.
That will also affect MMA fans and pro wrestling fans as well.
Both the UFC and PFL have deals with ESPN with the former’s contract set to expire at the end of 2025 while the PFL signed a multi-year extension in November 2023.
UFC head Dana White said in January that parent company TKO expects to begin talks with ESPN in the next “three or four months.”
How this bundle plays into ESPN’s exclusive domestic PPV rights distribution deal with the UFC remains to be seen. Currently, one must subscribe to ESPN+ in order to be able to order UFC PPVs.
WBD has an existing deal with AEW that expires at the end of 2024. While their exclusive negotiating window isn’t public knowledge, WBD is considered the front-runner given Tony Khan’s publicly stated desire to remain loyal to his lone domestic TV partner.
AEW has yet to become part of WBD’s BR Sports tier on the Max streaming service despite being listed within TNT Sports. However, Dynamite, Collision and Rampage would be available via this new “skinny bundle” if they remain on the WBD networks.
The biggest crowds of the year for pro wrestling, boxing, MMA and even college westling
What pro wrestlers were drawing the biggest crowds most often
How each promotion did as far as drawing in 2023
The biggest gates of the year
Pro wrestling history–the biggest drawing card every year dating back to 1916
Most years for any wrestler in history as the leading draw
50 Biggest drawing cards of all-time based on annual dominance and longevity
Royal Rumble update
Early notes on AEW Revolution and how the main event was set up
The life and times of Killer Khan, the top drawing actual Japanese native when it comes to major crowds in U.S. history and the feud with Andre the Giant, Choshu’s Army and a look at pro wrestling in the 70s and 80s in the U.S., Japan and Mexico.
New Year Dash, New Japan’s next major shows, and future of several of New Japan’s top guys
The most detailed look at the ratings for the past week, weekly standings, nightly competition, ups and downs compared to last year, segment-by-segment.
Former world champion open to moving to Mexico and working full-time
Unique tournament in Mexico starts next week
Promotion talks about its unique 2024 theme
Movie on life of a current pro wrestling star release date
Key intermediary in WWE/All Japan deal
New Japan major shows for 2024
New international promotional alliance
Business of the Iron Claw movie
Are WWE & AEW stars employees or independent contractors, what the new law says and why wrestling may fall through the cracks
Notes on next season of Dark Side of the Ring
Nic Nemeth in Puerto Rico
Mustafa Ali independent return
Return of TNA
New major AEW & WWE hires
Update on Worlds End PPV numbers
Kota Ibushi injury update
International TV ratings
Lots of new major UFC fights
Joshua vs. Ngannou business thoughts
More on Raw TV deal
Looking at how Raw would be expected to do on Amazon Prime*
Very busy weekend, especially tomorrow. No show with Garrett today and we will be doing a show tomorrow with Bryan covering Collision, Smackdown, New Japan in San Jose and the latest news. Will be back next week likely doing shows both Friday and Saturday with Garrett.
The new issue of the Wrestling Observer is up, both our 2023 Business Year in Review annual section plus the news and a biography of the late Killer Khan that we’ve already gotten some great feedback on.
Regarding tonight’s Smackdown in Lincoln, NE, there is a blizzard in the area and lots of flights have been canceled. Announced include Bianca Belair vs. Bayley, Grayson Waller vs. Cameron Grimes and Joaquin Wilde & Cruz del Toro vs. Humberto Carrillo & Angel Garza. More than 7,000 tickets were out for the show as of earlier today. If there are less people it is due to the blizzard. But generally speaking, wrestling fans turn out to live shows in blizzards when they already have tickets.
Regarding the press release that WBD put out for AEW, they noted total viewers up 3 percent from last year in quarter four, but last year didn’t include Collision. The four million viewer per week figure touted is a combination of everyone that tunes into Rampage, Collision and Dynamite both live and via DVR and watches at least one minute. The number is real but Raw this week under the same measurement would be more than 3 million and Smackdown more than 5 million.
Arena Coliseo in Monterrey, Mexico, a legendary building, is being demolished on Thursday. The Lutteroth family built the arena in 1955 to house pro wrestling in the city.
Arena Mexico tonight has another show built around the best matches of 2023 being rematched. The top bouts are Soberano Jr,. vs. Templario in a 2/3 fall rematch from January 6, 2023,and Tessa Blanchard vs. Zeuxis. Soberano, who will then fly to San Jose for tomorrow’s show, said he’s about 80 percent after being out with back problems just as his career looked to be skyrocketing.. He said he doesn’t need surgery but will need therapy for the next 8-10 weeks. Match to watch for tonight is Neon (one of the best newcomers in wrestling) & Max Sar & Brillante Jr. vs. Capitan Suicida & Fuego & Valiente Jr.
FTR & Daniel Garcia vs. House of Black has been added to Collision tomorrow night.
Rampage tonight on TNT:
Eddie Kingston vs. Wheeler Yuta for the Continental Crown
Swerve Strickland vs. Matt Sydal
Hikaru Shida vs. Queen Aminata
Matt Menard & Angelo Parker & Jake Hager vs. John Silver & Alex Reynolds & Evil Uno, managed by -1
Roman Reigns is not being advertised for the Backlash show on 5/4 in Paris, France. He’s right now only scheduled for two PPV events in the next four plus months.
Just a quick note regarding many of the readers here. Jay “Fowler” Dumont contacted me today just to say how incredible the support for him has been from this community. Many in the wrestling community fit in that category but the Observer community and people that nobody would know have been every bit if not more as supportive. I’m really proud of so many of you.
John Williams of ITV 4 in England announced that the 1/3 episode of Rampage that started at 11:50 p.m. was the most-watched AEW TV show since March 2021. He said it was the fourth highest rated AEW TV show in history. He didn’t give the numbers but we should have them in the next issue. There is no explanation for this other than it happened.
Tomorrow is a monster night with a New Japan PPV show from San Jose, three hours of AEW, the return of UFC and the rebranding of TNA.
For the weekend we will be doing polls on the Saturday night TNA Hard to Kill and NJPW Battle in the Valley, thumbs up, down or middle along with a best and worst match to
We’re looking for reports from these weekend shows:
Smackdown tonight in Lincoln, NE (dark matches only)
NXT tonight in Dade City, FL
Collision tomorrow in Norfolk, VA (anything not on televisino
WWE house show tomorrow in Las Cruces, NM
NXT house show tomorrow night in Fort Myers, FL
WWE house show Sunday in Rio Rancho, NM
TNA TV tapings Sunday in Las Vegas
We’re looking for results, finishes and highlights to [email protected]
The New Japan show in San Jose is just about sold out. There was big movement over the last week once the card was announced.
UFC’s first show of the year is tomorrow in Las Vegas. The show airs 4-1 p.m. on ESPN+
Joshua Van (125.5) vs. Felipe Bunes (125.5)
Nikolas Motta (155.5) vs. Tom Nolan (155)
Westin Wilson (145.5) vs. Jean Silva (145.5)
Farid Basharat (136) vs. Taylor Lapilus (136)
Marcus McGhee (135.5) vs. Gaston Bolanos (135.5)
Matthew Semelsberger (170.5) vs. Preston Parsons (170.5)
Andrei Arlovski (247) vs. Waldo Cortes-Acosta (261.5)
Phil Hawkes (185) vs. Brunno Ferreira (185)
Ricky Simon (136) vs. Mario Bautista (135.5)
Jim Miller (155.5) vs. Gabriel Benitez (155)
Magomed Ankalaev (204.5) vs. Johnny Walker (205.5)
The Matteus Nicolau vs. Manel Kape semi-main event was canceled when Kape weighed in 3.5 pounds overweight. Kape said he missed weight because he was sick two weeks ago and Nicolau refused to agree to a catchweight fight. He said he’d have given Nicolau his entire purse if Nicolau would have accepted the fight..
Rose Namajunas vs. Amanda Ribas at 125 pounds will headline a 3/23 Fight Night show.
Randy Brown vs. Muslim Salikhov has been added to the 2/23 UFC show at the Apex in Las Vegas.
I don’t think people realize the emotion in the Will Ospreay vs.Kazuchika Okada match tomorrow in San Jose. Osprey’s career was basically made when he was picked to be Okada’s opponent for a a RevPro match in 2015 and Okada put in the word that got him a New Japan tour. He’s had his biggest and many of his best matches with Okada, and tomorrow may be the last time they wrestle for a long time.
Warrior Wrestling noted that its 3/1 Chicago show, Revolution Brewing, sold out in less than 30 minutes with Mustafa Ali vs. Trey Miguel as the main event.
During a recent interview, Tony Khan commented on WWE executives meeting with Warner Bros. Discovery.
The AEW president spoke with News 4 Jacksonville this weekend to promote Wednesday’s Dynamite Homecoming.
He was asked about recent reports that representatives from WWE met with AEW’s broadcast partners.
Khan replied:
It’s part of sports. I think everybody discusses contracts and free agency and things of that nature. I think everybody is aware that everybody is going to be talking to everybody in media this coming year. So, there will certainly be a lot of opportunities.
We’ve had a great history with Warner Bros. Discovery and continue to produce great ratings, so I think we’ll be in a very good position next year.
Our own Dave Meltzer said on Wrestling Observer Radio last month that CM Punk’s return may have opened a once-thought-to-be-closed door between WWE and WBD.
Meltzer said:
They would like to get close to $400 million, I don’t think they’re going to get $400 million for it but they’re shopping it around and WBD obviously being one of them and WBD seemed to be dead and it’s not dead. That’s the basic thing. With Punk there and everything like that, it’s not dead.
It’s not like people should go ‘oh my god’ this and that with AEW. There’s no way of knowing anything more than they did have a meeting and it’s not dead.
Meltzer continued to say that the belief is a TV rights deal for WWE Raw will be announced soon.
A new report out Wednesday has Warner Bros. Discovery & Paramount discussing a corporate merger between the two entertainment entities.
Axios reported that WBD CEO David Zaslav and Paramount Global CEO Bob Bakish met Tuesday to discuss the matter over several hours that included how the two could compliment each other.
As pointed out in the article, WBD’s market cap is currently $29 billion while Paramount sits at just over $10 billion. WBD has reportedly hired bankers to evaluate a merger.
WBD has a multitude of networks and their Max streaming service while Paramount owns their own movie studio, CBS, cable networks, and their own streaming service. They also are one of several NFL rights holders while they also hold NCAA men’s basketball tournament partnership rights with WBD.
Both companies are also carrying major debt loads and are losing in the “streaming wars” to Netflix, hence why consolidation is being considered.
The news is pertinent to wrestling fans for several reasons.
WBD executive Bruce Campbell met recently with TKO’s Mark Shapiro and WWE’s Nick Khan and Paul Levesque in what was believed to be a conversation about Raw’s domestic TV rights that are up next year. The meeting came after previous attempts at talks had reportedly not gone anywhere.
It also comes as WBD’s current TV wrestling partner AEW is approaching the final year of their multi-year contract for which the future is unknown. AEW head Tony Khan said last week that he met with WBD officials on December 12th, but he didn’t delve into what the focus of the conversation was.
Regarding WWE talking with WBD, Khan said at the post-Ring of Honor Final Battle press conference that “it’s part of the TV business” and that he feels AEW has performed “incredibly well” for WBD which has led to a strong relationship. He has previously said he believes in loyalty and would like to remain on WBD’s networks.
WBD is also one of several groups discussing NBA TV rights which they are expected to share with multiple other broadcast entities. How a merger could affect those commitments of cash to the NBA, WWE or AEW is unknown.
On the Paramount side, their CBS Media Ventures syndication arm does distribute Women’s of Wrestling in a multi-year deal that began in October 2021.
I am back with another Sunday edition of Wrestling Observer Live, talking about all the big stories from the past week.
Earlier this week, our Dave Meltzer reported that the return of CM Punk to WWE has re-sparked interest within WBD for the Raw TV rights. I talk about what this all means and how it could potentially impact AEW if it happens.
I go into Friday’s Ring of Honor Final Battle which saw some tremendous action including the Jay Briscoe tribute match featuring FTR & Mark Briscoe vs. the Blackpool Combat Club, and the Athena vs. Bille Starkz main event for the ROH Women’s title.
Plus, I talk the return of AJ Styles and his new physique, Liv Morgan’s arrest over the weekend, and injuries to both Kenny Omega and Charlotte Flair.
Warner Bros. Discovery has announced a new wrestling-themed show will debut next month.
“Big Little Brawlers” premieres January 9, 2024, on the Discovery Network. The six-part reality series will follow wrestlers from The Micro Wrestling Federation
“Alongside spectacular feats of athleticism, this Discovery series broadens the way we reveal compelling stories of remarkable people overcoming huge odds,” said Howard Lee, President of Discovery Networks and TLC in a press release.
Wrestlers Pinky Shortcake, Syko, Ivar, and Li’l Show are featured in the series.
A trailer for the show was released on the Micro Wrestling Federation’s YouTube channel on Thursday.
The Micro Wrestling Federation was formed in 2000 and runs out of Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. The promotion’s website states they run more than 550 shows a year around the country as well as from its 300-seat mini arena in Pigeon Forge. They advertise their shows as “an all-ages event that is great fun for the entire family.”
Wrestling Observer Live with Bryan Alvarez and Mike Sempervive is back with tons to talk about including Dave’s big article on WWE and WBD and the RAW rights negotiations, your world famous AEW TV report, update on Jim Ross, ratings and tons more. A fun show as always so check it out~!
Wrestling Observer Radio with Bryan Alvarez and Dave Meltzer is back with tons to talk about including WWE back in negotiations with WBD for RAW and what that could entail, CM Punk and RAW ratings, UFC this coming weekend, your full Dynamite and NXT TV reports and tons more. A fun show as always so check it out~!
