AEW To Run 100-120 Live Events A Year
Figure includes TV, PPVs and Saturday house shows.
Shortly after the huge announcement of AEW's weekly television series set to commence this October on TNT, company's Chief Brand Officer Brandi Rhodes told the Television Critics Association that the nascent promotion will only be running one show per week - with the obvious exception of PPV weekends - so as to ensure the well-being of their talent.
Brandi promised that wrestlers won't be forced onto the road - in direct contrast to the WWE situation recently brought to the fore by Bayley's FS1 interview - and nor will they be putting injured bodies in the ring.
All very noble, but it might not quite be correct. According to Dave Meltzer writing in the latest issue of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, in addition to weekly TV and PPVS, AEW plan to run house shows every Saturday, putting the total number of events in the 100-120 region.
Meltzer reports that top talent will only be schedule for around 75 matches, with talent spread out across the shows to mitigate any potential burnout. He also writes that the number of house shows could increase down the line.
It's perfectly possible Rhodes was simply referring to television when she made her statement last night. There are no plans whatsoever for AEW to supplement their weekly TV show with a secondary product à la SmackDown, or a recap programme.