The future of AEW is usually a hot topic, even after the company signed a new multi-year deal for big bucks with Warner Bros. Discovery roughly one year ago. The latest concern about the future of the promotion
is related to WBD putting up a ‘for sale’ sign this week, with TKO partner Paramount Skydance said to be among the interested buyers.
AEW doesn’t have much or any control over what happens with WBD’s sale, so President Tony Khan remains focused on the best way to grow the AEW brand. With that in mind, he told amNewYork that when it comes to the future of AEW, he’s very excited about the potential for international expansion.
“We built a lot. It’s been six years of AEW, and again, it feels like we started just yesterday…I’m very interested in taking AEW and visiting more of Europe. I think there are more opportunities there. We’ve had great shows in the UK, particularly with shows in London. We’ve set records at Wembley Stadium, and we’ve had great events in Cardiff, Wales. And I’m really excited about this year taking AEW to Manchester for the first time. I think there’s more opportunities there internationally, for AEW…I think that’s very attractive, just international expansion.”
It does seem to me like AEW hasn’t explored international expansion enough. It could be a key driver of business going forward, especially seeing how a bigger focus on international events has worked out incredibly well for WWE.
Would you like to see AEW run more events around the world, Cagesiders?
