AEW New TV Deal Rumour Roundup: $1 Billion, Collision, Rampage & More!
Everything you need to know about the AEW TV rumours dominating the internet right now.
Online wrestling conversation was dominated by a torrent of rumours of AEW's seemingly impending new television contract with Warner Bros. Discovery on Wednesday, stemming from a post on the Wrestling Observer's message board predicting the promotion was in line to land in excess of $1 billion from its next contract.
The Observer's Ryan Frederick posted the following:-
Nothing. I made a prediction on a message board of what I think AEW is going to get based on rumored numbers I’ve been hearing and talks I’ve had with others, and people started running with it as me reporting it. pic.twitter.com/LYeathfY8Y
— Ryan Frederick (@ryanjfrederick) May 10, 2023
The rumours snowballed from there, with multiple reporters and outlets suggesting that something was happening with AEW/WBD. It was never definitively reported, however, that AEW was set to land a deal with $1 billion.
In comments quickly misconstrued and interpreted as a report, Joe Lanza of the Flagship Wrestling Podcast shared details of the rumours wrestling media personalities had been referencing. He posted on Voices Of Wrestling's Discord server:-
It's 5yrs, $1.1-1.2B. Thats the deal making rounds all of these people are talking about. Involves full WBD integration. It's likely signed or agreed upon already. There. No eyes. That's the story.... Now is that story accurate? Idk, nobody in AEW is talking obviously, you'd have to confirm from the TV side.
Lanza's comments were misinterpreted to such a degree that he moved to clarify them in a free post made on The Flagship's Patreon page. He noted, in no uncertain terms, that VOW/The Flagship "have no details on any completed or potential AEW media rights deal and never claimed to," emphasising that the Discord quote was merely addressing the existing rumours.
Elsewhere, Fightful Select published a lengthy report on the situation containing several fresh details, including:-
- AEW Collision's expected mid-June debut could coincide with a cash injection for AEW and an extension of the promotion's partnership with Warner Bros. Discovery, according to sources. An announcement should be expected around the time of WBD's Upfronts next Wednesday (17 May).
- The outlet was unable to confirm the billion-dollar rumours, with neither party confirming any potential deal's value. WBD sources have suggested that Collision, rather than an all-encompassing AEW deal, was the planned announcement.
- CM Punk has been pushing for another return opponent on top of the already-rumoured Chris Jericho ahead of Collision's launch. AEW apparently has "major plans and a marquee match tentatively scheduled" for the event.
- When Collision launches, AEW's Friday show, Rampage, will become something similar to WWE's old Heat brand. Independent talent will land increased opportunities on Ring Of Honor, which currently airs on its own HonorClub platform.
- Although AEW has already set a number of Saturdays for Collision, the promotion may end up booking venues for two straight days and taping the show on Thursdays when required.
- While a hard brand split between Collision and Dynamite isn't expected, AEW "plans to have a fresh roster approach with some significant names."
It should be stressed, in the strongest possible terms, that this is all speculation at the moment. Nothing will be official until the words come out of an AEW or WBD official's mouth.
AEW's current television partnership with Warner sees the promotion land around $44 million annually to broadcast on TBS and TNT in the United States.