A lot of wrestling fans and analysts have been going back and forth about whether AEW’s future is better off now that Paramount looks like the favorite to purchase Warner Bros. Discovery, after Netflix won the initial bidding process.
The main benefit for AEW is that Paramount is purchasing all of WBD, whereas the TV and streaming sides of WBD would have been split up in a deal with Netflix. The main negative is that Paramount has a huge domestic rights deal with UFC, which is WWE’s sister promotion
under the TKO umbrella.
One recent report indicated that AEW President Tony Khan was thrilled with the news when Netflix refused to match Paramount’s “superior” offer. On a call with the media today ahead of this weekend’s AEW Revolution pay-per-view, Khan confirmed that he thinks the new deal with Paramount will be huge for AEW.
Here is a condensed version of Khan’s roughly 6-minute rambling about the topic, where he kissed David Ellison’s ass while making it clear that he’s very excited about what this means for the future of AEW.
“The great news is the new leadership are also people we have a fantastic relationship with, going through the NFL, and a number of different media agreements, and people I really like personally, and respect. I think that it will be huge for AEW, because we know that we’re going to be with TBS and TNT for a significant period of time already, and I expect to be with them for a long time to come. TBS, TNT, and HBO Max now have a very secure future, and there are gonna be lots of other exciting platforms coming under the corporate umbrella, which I’m very excited about.
…Now that we’ve had the announcement, something I’m very excited for, to have Paramount coming in, and to be able to bring in even more viewers through streaming and TV, with all the great platforms that they’ll bring in, including the viewers of Paramount+ and their great TV channels, and all the exciting ideas and innovation that they’re going to bring, and the technological expertise of the Ellison family. These are all things that I’m thrilled about.
There are tons of sports that exist on these platforms. I would love to be on the same channel as UFC. I have a great relationship with Dana White and Hunter Campbell. While their sister promotion is also in pro wrestling, and is of a competitive nature there, I think that on my behalf, I would love to be on the same channel as UFC. I see a lot of positive utility to that. If it was up to me, and certainly these are all things that have to be worked out in the future with the new leadership, but I would love that. So, however it works out, I’m sure they’re gonna make great decisions, ’cause we have great new leadership coming in.
…Now with more platforms and more opportunities coming, and more changes at Warner Bros., I think this will bode very well for AEW and our fans. And I am very excited for it, so thanks for asking.”
Do you share Khan’s optimism that all these things “that have to be worked out in the future with the new leadership” will go in AEW’s favor, or will Paramount’s decisions be influenced by TKO’s strong preference for AEW to go out of business?
I’ve rambled on about this story enough now, so please go ahead and react to Tony Khan’s excited thoughts on AEW’s future with Paramount in the comments below, Cagesiders.
