WarnerMedia Reportedly Upset With WWE Over AEW Digs
WWE blasting AEW for "gory self-mutilation" did not go over well with media bigwigs.
WWE reportedly raised the ire of corporate bigwigs at WarnerMedia following company comments about AEW's "gory self-mutilation".
Vince McMahon's group blasted All Elite's 31 December episode of Rampage in the Toronto Star - they were particularly concerned with the brutal violence shown during a 'Street Fight' pitting Anna Jay and Tay Conti vs. The Bunny and Penelope Ford. That bloody match prompted the "gory" outburst.
The Wrestling Observer is now reporting that suits at WarnerMedia were annoyed when they spotted WWE's takedown. They viewed McMahon's barbs as a personal attack and a concerted attempt to damage their ability to sell AEW products to advertisers.
WWE had said, "We don't believe that type of dangerous and brutal display is appealing to network partners, sponsors, venues, children, or the general public as a whole".
WarnerMedia took this to mean that WWE don't think sponsors should invest money in All Elite Wrestling going forwards, and they're not exactly thrilled by that thought. Dave Meltzer also noted that the media conglomerate is delighted with how AEW shows like Dynamite and Rampage are performing on networks like TBS and TNT.