The CW Wanted ROH Before WWE NXT
NXT's new TV home approached Tony Khan regarding ROH in 2022.
The CW is getting into the wrestling broadcasting business with WWE NXT in October 2024, but the network approached Tony Khan about a Ring of Honor deal last summer.
Per Haus of Wrestling, Khan had been approached by a high-level CW executive in June 2022, with the group looking to add ROH shows to its network. Khan ultimately decided against furthering the talks as he didn't want to negotiate ROH's broadcasting situation until AEW's television rights were up for re-negotiation in 2024. The AEW founder and CEO believes that he will have more options available to him, and greater leverage, if he waits.
There is currently no word on whether or not The CW's WWE or rumoured NWA talks were occurring at the same time.
WWE's five-year deal to take NXT to The CW was formally announced earlier this year. The developmental brand will move from USA Network to its new home next October, with the deal understood to be netting WWE around $35-37 million annually. This is a significant increase from the current $15 million agreement with NBC Universal.
ROH currently airs exclusively on its streaming platform, HonorClub.