10 Ways AEW Has Revolutionised Pro Wrestling
2. LEGITIMATE Competition
AEW's original TV deal with TNT was already the best secured by a non-WWE company since the death of WCW.
TNT paid Dynamite's costs and allocated a split of the advertisement revenue to AEW, and this was evident in the presentation; the pyro and glamorous production values gave the show that elusive and vital big-time feel missing from the alternative in decades, elevating it, at least visually, to the realm of competition.
Dave Meltzer reported that the goal was to secure from TNT a rights fee in a renewed deal to ensure profitability, and Wrestling Twitter whispers persisted that the illusion of the aesthetic belied AEW's financial position, which was more precarious than it first appeared. AEW were comprehensively outbid for top target Marty Scurll, substantiating the idea that continued success in the key demo was pivotal to the company's long-term success.
And then TNT renegotiated the deal in January, and paid AEW a substantial rights fee, which seemed to accelerate the company's fortunes. Buoyed by the news, Dynamite hit a critically-acclaimed stride in 2020 as everything fell rapidly, thrillingly, into place. Action figure deals were finalised. Promoted free agent signings are imminent; more are heavily rumoured to follow. Eyes emojis respond to every request for a video game. Attendances remain strong; pay-per-views are selling out or are all but selling out.
This is as real as pro wrestling gets: AEW is legitimate mainstream competition, pacing itself through the marathon with a self-sustaining stamina.