Massive update on AEW's future with WBD; major show could be axed - Reports
AEW will present the Fifth Anniversary special episode of Dynamite tonight, but there may be more cause for celebration before showtime. Following an announcement teaser by Tony Khan on X (Twitter), backstage sources have revealed a major update on the expected announcement from AEW and WBD and the future of one show.
All Elite Wrestling and Warner Bros. Discovery have been partners since May 2019, when Khan launched the Jacksonville-based promotion. The successful partnership has included extensions and upgrades to the initial deal. The network incorporated new shows like Rampage and Collision in addition to quarterly Battle of the Belts specials. The new media rights deal has been teased and speculated on for months now, and Khan's latest post on X has fueled the rumors ahead of tonight's special.
According to Fightful Select, the two parties are expected to announce their new media rights deal as early as this afternoon. It was noted that promotional materials were being prepared for the announcement this morning, and the reveal was scheduled for this afternoon.
Dynamite and Collision are set to be simulcasted on the MAX streaming platform, starting January 2025. It was noted that there would be some integration of AEW pay-per-view events for MAX subscribers, but it wasn't clear if this would be included in standard subscriptions.
Sources indicated that Rampage and TruTV will not be included in today's announcement. This could be a sign that Rampage is being done away with, as speculated. There's also no sign of a new deal for ROH TV.
AEW is also rumored to be in talks with another major network for a programming deal that could be announced soon.
AEW Full Gear 2024 updates
All Elite Wrestling will present its sixth annual Full Gear pay-per-view on November 23, 2024. The event will emanate from the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. The PPV will return to the venue after two years.
Full Gear tickets are on sale now. WrestleTix reported on X that as of Tuesday, 4,862 tickets had been distributed with a setup of 5,794. There were 932 tickets left as of the first check-in around 20 hours ago.
Full Gear 2024 will take place just days before the Thanksgiving Eve tradition, which is scheduled for November 27. It will take place at the Wintrust Arena in Chicago, featuring Dynamite and Collision holiday episodes.