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Does AJ Styles Deserve Better?

AJ Styles it the best in the world, he holds the oldest and “most prestigious” championship in all of WWE. And he deserves better.

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The phrase “deserve” gets thrown around a lot in professional wrestling. “YOU DESERVE IT!” is an often mis- or over-used chant at all levels of the business, because it’s usually around a championship that is typically used as a prop. But looking at the 290 day reign (as of today) of WWE Champion AJ Styles, I can’t help but think he deserves better.

AJ Styles defeated Jinder Mahal on the November 2, 2017 edition of WWE Smackdown Live, airing on tape delay from Manchester, England. It was the fifth WWE Championship change of 2017, with the other reigns lasting 170 days (Jinder Mahal), 49 days (Randy Orton), 49 days (Bray Wyatt), and 14 days (John Cena). It was easy to think AJ Styles might not necessarily get to that 290 mark he’s attained so far.

The title change came as a surprise to many. Jinder Mahal was set to face Brock Lesnar in a champion vs champion match at Survivor Series, a match that many weren’t excited about due to the style (no pun intended) employed by both men. Upon his win, the Survivor Series match saw an immediate upgrade.

Personally, I am a huge AJ Styles fan. I’ve long felt that his significance was downplayed in TNA/IMPACT Wrestling, or at least not given the proper recognition. The fact that so many former WWE superstars were inducted into TNA’s Hall Of Fame before AJ was even given consideration is irresponsible at best, intentionally negligent at worst. I personally feel that AJ Styles is a phenomenal choice to carry the WWE championship (pun definitely intended this time).

Take a look at the PPV matches for AJ Styles during his tenure as WWE Championship:

Survivor Series 2017 (Co-Branded PPV)

  • Universal Champion Brock Lesnar pinned WWE Champion AJ Styles (non-title)
  • Main Event? NO
  • Main Event: Raw vs. Smackdown Survivor Series Elimination Match (sole survivors Triple H and Braun Strowman)
  • AJ’s match placement: second to last

While the brand vs brand theme makes it “okay” for the elimination match to go on last, it also makes 100% sense for the champions to battle in the main event to see which brand wins.

Clash Of Champions 2017 (Smackdown Brand PPV)

  • WWE Champion AJ Styles defeated Jinder Mahal via submission
  • Main Event? YES

AJ did get to main event this PPV, which was Smackdown only, defeating Jinder Mahal and vanquishing any claim he has to rematch.

Royal Rumble 2018 (Co-Branded PPV)

  • WWE Champion AJ Styles defeated Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn in a handicap match
  • Main Event? NO
  • Main Event: First ever Women’s Royal Rumble (won by Asuka)
  • AJ’s match placement: opener

While a Royal Rumble going on last makes sense, a world title match main eventing isn’t out of the question for a Royal Rumble. But going on first?

Elimination Chamber 2018 (Raw Brand PPV)

  • This was a Raw only PPV, headlined by a 7-man Elimination Chamber match won by Braun Strowman

FastLane 2018 (Smackdown Brand PPV)

  • WWE Champion AJ Styles defeated Kevin Owens, Sami Zayn, John Cena, Dolph Ziggler, and Baron Corbin
  • Main Event? YES

This show would be AJ Styles’ last PPV main event to date, also on a Smackdown only PPV, and also in a match that was built around the feud between Shane McMahon, Kevin Owens, Sami Zayn, and Daniel Bryan.

WrestleMania 34 (Co-Branded PPV)

  • WWE Champion AJ Styles pinned Royal Rumble winner Shinsuke Nakamura
  • Main Event? NO
  • Main Event: Universal Champion Brock Lesnar defeats Roman Reigns
  • AJ’s match placement: third from the top (before Braun & Nicholas winning the tag team championship)

AJ would face Shinsuke, the Royal Rumble winner, on more shows, but this was one of his two clean victories over him. No reason it had to go on before Braun Strowman teaming with a child.

Greatest Royal Rumble (Co-Branded PPV)

  • WWE Champion AJ Styles battled Shinsuke Nakamura to a double countout
  • Main Event? NO
  • Main Event: The 50-Man Greatest Royal Rumble won by Braun Strowman
  • AJ’s match placement: fourth from the top

This show is a bit of an anomaly, since you had the Greatest Royal Rumble itself on top, but the three matches that preceded it really could have gone on in any order. Given that circumstance, AJ got the worst of it.

Backlash 2018 (Co-Branded PPV)

  • WWE Champion AJ Styles battled Shinsuke Nakamura to a draw in a No-Disqualification Match
  • Main Event? NO
  • Main Event: Roman Reigns pinned Samoa Joe
  • AJ’s match placement: third from the top (before Braun Strowman & Bobby Lashley beating Kevin Owen & Sami Zayn)

It’s easy to point out that AJ did main event two PPV events (not co-branded) prior to this one, and you can even point to circumstances that hurt him in others (Brock Lesnar title defense, Royal Rumble matches, etc), but on this show it really started to feel like AJ was hurt by his placement. Once again he’s sitting behind a Braun Strowman title match, and a Roman Reigns vs. Samoa Joe main event that felt like a mid-card match. Even with the non-finish (no stretch for WWE), this feels like a spot where AJ Styles should be in the main event.

Money In The Bank 2018 (Co-Branded PPV)

  • WWE Champion AJ Styles defeated Shinsuke Nakamura to end their feud, winning a 31-minute Last Man Standing Match
  • Main Event? NO
  • Main Event: Men’s Money In The Bank Ladder Match, won by Braun Strowman
  • AJ’s match placement: third from the top (before Ronda Rousey vs. Nia Jax for the Raw Women’s Championship), and you can call it fourth if you want to get technical thanks to Alexa Bliss cashing in, but I’m not “that guy”

Okay, here’s where I start to have a serious problem with the booking of AJ Styles. This was his blowoff match with Shinsuke Nakamura, and one where they had placed some serious reasonable doubt as to who would win. It was a Last Man Standing Match that would last 31 minutes, and was easily the best match on what many feel was the best PPV of the year (myself included). While I understand the Money in the Bank gimmick, precedent was long set for the briefcase match to not main event the PPV when another match warranted it. And, in my not-so-humble-opinion, AJ Styles was the obvious choice for the main event here.

Extreme Rules 2018 (Co-Branded PPV)

  • WWE Champion AJ Styles defeated Rusev to retain the WWE Championship
  • Main Event? NO
  • Main Event: Dolph Ziggler beat Seth Rollins in a 30-minute Ironman Match, 5-4 in sudden-death overtime
  • AJ’s match placement: second to last

In all honesty, this was a show without a main event. No match was ever really advertised as the main event, and even when Seth Rollins vs Dolph Ziggler was getting ready to start, it was never once termed a “main event” by any announcer on the broadcast. That doesn’t happen by accident.

Rusev is officially a babyface, and was one of the hottest acts in the entire company heading into this match. I can easily see a situation where he wins the Royal Rumble and defeats AJ Styles for the WWE Championship at WrestleMania 35 (which also won’t be in the main event). On a card with no clear main event, the WWE Championship (and WWE Champion) should carry the weight needed to headline the show. But AJ Styles wasn’t trusted with that role, furthering the argument that AJ Styles deserves better.

SummerSlam 2018 (Co-Branded PPV)

  • Samoa Joe defeated WWE Champion AJ Styles by disqualification
  • Main Event? Hahahahahahahaha NO
  • Main Event: Roman Reigns defeated Brock Lesnar to win the Universal Championship
  • AJ’s match placement: sixth from the top, the fifth match on a card of ten matches

Now, I’ll be the first person to tell you that Roman Reigns finally defeating Brock Lesnar and essentially bringing the Universal Championship back to the WWE should have gone on last. I will also tell you that this match between AJ and Joe is basically the first of their program, so the disqualification finish kinda makes sense. I say “kinda” because I hated Joe, the bad-ass ass-kicker of all of the asses, having to resort to involving AJ’s wife. Joe, being one of the best in the world, made chick salad out of it.

Before we look ahead, we also have to look back at the posters used for some of these events. They are also quite telling…

AJ Styles PPV Posters

AJ Styles is off to a great start with Survivor Series, appearing as Brock Lesnar’s equal. This is huge, as Smackdown is considered the “B show” by so many. But after Survivor Series, AJ Styles is an after thought. He goes from looking like a part of the Royal Rumble match in that poster, to not even appearing on the SummerSlam poster.

Why is this important? Because one thing we all know about WWE is that Vince McMahon loves to “book the poster.” And if he’s booking the poster, AJ Styles isn’t being treated like a star.

Now let’s look ahead to WWE’s Hell In a Cell pay-per-view. AJ Styles lost to Samoa Joe by disqualification on the PPV before Hell In A Cell, which is a perfect set-up for a rematch inside the Cell. One of the big criticisms of the Hell In A Cell event is that the matches aren’t built to where they NEED the Cell. Well, AJ vs. Joe is the most Cell-worthy match they have right now, thanks to Joe’s actions on the road to SummerSlam.

So when AJ Styles vs. Samoa Joe for the WWE Championship at Hell In A Cell was announced, it was announced like this:

Further, when you go to the WWE’s article referenced in the tweet, there is ZERO mention of the match being in a Cell, or possibly being in a Cell. Not even a tease. Is there a chance it’s in the Cell? Sure! But it doesn’t seem likely at all.

That’s a shame. It’s not even a shame, it’s irresponsible booking. When Smackdown Live moves to FOX in October 2019, the game will change. Smackdown becomes the A show, even if Raw is still the flag bearer for the company. I am making a prediction right now: by the time Smackdown moves to FOX, AJ Styles will not be on the Smackdown roster. If he is, he’s a secondary champion at best.

AJ Styles it the best in the world, he holds the oldest and “most prestigious” championship in all of WWE. And he deserves better.


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Opinion

Greg DeMarco’s 2024 WWE Royal Rumble Reaction

It’s the Royal Rumble! A favorite of many fans, the Rumble kicks off the Road To WrestleMania. Greg DeMarco is here with his live reactions to the event!

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WWE Royal Rumble 2024 Results

It’s the Royal Rumble! A favorite of many fans, the Rumble kicks off the Road To WrestleMania. Greg DeMarco is here with his live reactions to the event!

The WWE Royal Rumble is upon us, and while the Men’s Royal Rumble Match isn’t for the World Heavyweight Championship like I suggested, it’s still the most anticipated event of the year.

Why? The Unknown.

That’s right–in this age of the internet (usually incorrectly) telling us everything it possibly can about what is going to happen in the world of wrestling, the Royal Rumble stands out because despite what we’re told (or, more importantly, what we choose to listen to), the event is always full of fun and surprises.


Check out Steven Mitchell’s 2024 WWE Royal Rumble Results & Review!


Women’s Royal Rumble Match

  • They really are driving home the “main event WrestleMania” point this year–strengthens my thought that women will main event Night 1. Triple H would catch a ton of heat if he keeps women out for the third straight year.
  • NAOMI! Good to see her back, and the emotional response she had.
  • Love Michael Cole calling out Naomi’s time in TNA, and recognizing her as a former Knockouts Champion.
  • Entering #3 doesn’t bode well for Bayley. I honestly don’t think she is gonna win.
  • JORDYNNE GRACE! I saw the reports earlier today. This is a much bigger deal than Mickie James, because Mickie was a returning legend.
  • “TNA HAS A WEAPON!” So glad to have Pat McAfee on the call.
  • Honestly, Jordynne Grace belongs in WWE.

  • Asuka comes in, and they sell the surprise of Bayley. STORYTELLING, people!
  • Something tells me when we get Kairi Sane in there, The Kabuki Warriors will eliminate Bayley.
  • Ivy Nile enters, and I immediately want to see her go toe-to-toe with Jordynne Grace.
  • What if they pulled some crazy sh*t and had Jordynne Grace win???
  • Just step through the ropes next time, Bianca.
  • When I first saw the C4 clock, I thought I would get tired of it But I am already used to it.
  • Here’s Kairi Sane, time to set the plan into motion!
  • This crowd does not appear to like Tegan Nox.
  • Welp, there goes my idea o Asuka and Kairi eliminating Bayley.
  • That was a hell of a way for Jordynne Grace to go out.

  • I think Michael Cole secretly loves to call a Meteora.
  • There’s a reason Maxxine Dupri doesn’t wrestle much.
  • That tandem Code Red was very Young Buckish. And that’s not a compliment.
  • Hair,…gear…this might be the messiest Royal Rumble yet.
  • Ah, here comes the winner, Becky Lynch (I am calling Becky eliminates Bayley to win her second Royal Rumble).
  • LOVE the scoreboard of time in the Rumble for selected wrestlers.

  • R-TRUTH?!?! (Funny story, it was Truth’s spot that Nia Jax took in 2019.)
  • If you push Mia Yim, she’ll take it further than you could imagine.
  • “How is everybody the most athletic person on Earth?” – Pat McAfee
  • Surprising that Roxanne Perez, at #27, is the first NXT entrant. I don’t think we’ll be seeing Tiffany Stratton of Blair Davenport since we only have 3 more to come.
  • Amazing reaction for Jade Cargill. Give her time, she’s definitely going to be a huge star.
  • JUST GIVE HER TIME.
  • Seriously, Nia Jax had to help Jade eliminate her–A LOT.

  • Greg Was Wrong: It is indeed Tiffy Time in the Royal Rumble.
  • Back to Jade–she is insanely over.
  • I know it won’t be, but this should be Tiffany Stratton’s official main roster call-up.
  • Liv Morgan returns at #30, and good for Liv. She nearly went wire-to-wire last year.
  • Liv Morgan: “Thank you!” Pat McAfee: “No problem.”
  • Tiffany Stratton eliminating Roxanne Perez is, to me, an invitation for a match with them on Raw this Monday.
  • Still love the scoreboard as Naomi passes an hour.
  • The camera is catching a lot of in-ring communications right now.
  • And Jade Cargill eliminates my pick to win. Bye Becky.
  • Jade Cargill in the final three of the Royal Rumble (with Liv Morgan and Bayley) is huge for her.
  • Hell of a debut for Jade Cargill.
  • And a huge win for Bayley.

Winner of the 2024 Women’s Royal Rumble Match: Bayley (eliminating Liv Morgan to win)

Fatal 4-Way Match for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship: Randy Orton vs AJ Styles vs. LA Knight vs. Roman Reigns (champion, with Paul Heyman)

  • Glad to see AJ Styles got his tights back. Pants AJ Styles (but still with the football gloves) was not working. Not just bring the beard back to your face Allen–the think beard also ain’t working.

  • Pat McAfee campaigning for Roman Reigns to be given at least a 26% chance is amazing.
  • Say what you want about LA Knight, he’s a damn star and totally belongs in this match.
  • Roman completely sandbagged Randy on the table drop. I don’t think it was on purpose, but he definitely didn’t jump.
  • Roman Reigns is very much like Gunther in that he does the simple things SO WELL, like a jumping clothesline. That’s how you do it.
  • Yes, I compared Roman Reigns to Gunther. Don’t @ me, I’m right.

  • RKO City, Bitch.
  • Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaand here’s Solo! (At some point, Solo will get tired of saving Roman’s ass.)
  • Solo ’bout to go through that barricade.
  • Solo indeed went through that barricade.

  • Yes, we had the Solo interference mid-match, but honestly in the end Roman won that clean.

Winner, #ANDSTILL your Undisputed WWE Universal Champion: Roman Reigns

WWE United States Championship: Kevin Owens vs. Logan Paul (champion)

  • Kevin Owens wearing Zubaz shorts in the Performance Center fight makes me very happy.
  • Logan Paul talking about a full time run, and now he’s putting on size.
  • Logan’s headband didn’t list very long.
  • I honestly hate it when modern-day wrestlers bust out a crotch chop.
  • If you were watching the Royal Rumble and didn’t know who Logan Paul was, you’d just assume he was a pro wrestler. That says everything you need to know about how good he is at this.
  • ANOTHER crotch chop. Now we’re at 2 too many.

  • Cue the “Better Buckshot Than Hangman” tweets. But they might be right.
  • I love the idea of a Logan Paul, Austin Theory, and Grayson Waller stable.
  • C’mon, there’s NO WAY Ryan Tran could see the knucks on Kevin Owens’ hand given his placement. It’s the little things.
  • Finish here tells me we’ll see KO vs. Logan Paul again. I’d guess on TV, if not in Australia.

Winner by disqualification, #ANDSTILL WWE United States Champion: Logan Paul

Men’s Royal Rumble Match

  • Jey Uso coming at #1 was expected thanks to the internet reports. But I still think Jimmy should be #1 and Jey #2, for the reaction shots on Jimmy.
  • Grayson Waller talking himself to the ring is perfect.
  • “No Yeet!” Grayson is a brilliant performer. I’d make a Roddy Piper comparison here, but y’all would get at mad at me.
  • Good to have Andrade back in WWE. Great reaction for him when the mask came off.

  • SmackDown superstar Carmelo Hayes! I really really really hope Trick is also in this match, just for the chants.
  • Melo pointed to the sign, C’mon, man.
  • Do you send Andrade to Smackdown, or do you send him to Raw and let him do his own thing?
  • Oh goody, Karrion Kross is here. Yay.
  • (Yes, that’s sarcasm you read.)
  • Dominik Mysterio is so good. Give him time, he’s going to be a huge star.

  • The Royal Rumble was a great place for the Apple Spot.
  • Here comes Bob Lashley–please just eliminate Karrion Kross.
  • Lashley wearing the WrestleMania white gear more than 2 months early.
  • Austin Theory still gets his concussion effect entrance, despite it being the Rumble.
  • What if–hear me out now–Finn Balor wins the Royal Rumble to get the shot at Seth Rollins, and Priest uses his briefcase to make that match a triple threat at ‘Mania?
  • I know he didn’t, but it sure looked like Jimmy was swerving while he drives in that interaction with Gunther.
  • Kofi did tell us the Rumble Magic wasn’t happening anymore.
  • Give me Ivar vs Gunther!
  • Bron Breakker is a star. It’s inevitable.
  • Of course Omos would be in the Rumble. Good to see MVP on my TV as well.
  • “I didn’t know humans came that big!” – Pat McAfee
  • I half think Pat McAfee didn’t know he was entering the Rumble.
  • Nice moment for Bron Breakker eliminating Omos. WrestleMania match?
  • R-Truth trying to get Dominik (Tom or Nick?) Mysterio to tag him in is brilliant.
  • DOM MADE THE TAG!!!
  • “And now R-Truth is the legal man.” – thank you Michael Cole.
  • Michael Cole delivers multiple TNA references tonight, along with a Dolph Ziggler reference. God Bless Michael Cole.
  • Imagine for a second that this was CM Punk’s actual WWE return.
  • The reaction to Drew McIntyre’s entrance is a reminder that they don’t actually need him.
  • Sami Zayn enters at #30, also known as “Not The Rock.”

  • In the ring, Drew McIntyre is amazing. Just keep the microphone away from him. (And stop the damn counting!)
  • And there goes my choice for the Men’s Rumble!
  • Love having both Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins in the press boxes watching to see who wins.
  • Punk kinda looks like Chris Jericho in there. Seriously.
  • Between Punk and Cody, Cody is the right choice. I really don’t want to watch Punk right now–he needs to hit the cardio, and hard. Given Seth Rollins’ injury and Punk’s conditioning, WWE would be smart to make the World Heavyweight Championship match at WrestleMania 40 a multi-man match.

Winner of the 2024 Men’s Royal Rumble: Cody Rhodes


Overall thoughts on the 2024 WWE Royal Rumble

For at least the second straight year, the Men’s Royal Rumble Match was kinda disappointing. Not the result–that’s fine. But the match itself. It just wasn’t nearly as exciting as the Women’s. Of the four matches, I would place it 4th in terms of enjoyment.

Great moments for both Bayley and Cody Rhodes. Logan Paul continually shows that he deserves to be considered a pro wrestler, not a celebrity who is wrestling. Pat McAfee is a joy on commentary. Jordynne Grace is a WWE Superstar, regardless of what company she is signed to. Bron Breakker is a star.CM Punk is very out of shape. Cody Rhodes is about to become THE guy, and he deserves it.

Overall I give the event a thumbs up, but they have to do something about the Men’s Royal Rumble Match moving forward.


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Opinion

WWE Raw Heads To Netflix: What Does It Mean?

Monumental news drops as WWE RAW is moving to Netflix. Is it truly a game changing move? Greg DeMarco analyzes this shift for the TV wrestling business.

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WWE Logo Metalic

Monumental news drops as WWE RAW is moving to Netflix. Is it truly a game changing move? Greg DeMarco analyzes this shift for the TV wrestling business.

Being a wee little kid in the 80s, I am “lucky enough” to remember having 3 TV channels, and my dad explaining what an 8-track is, how shocked I was when I say a laser disc for the first time, when I bought a 6 CD changer, installed my own car stereo, and all the way up to the fact that I have now been watching WWE pay-per-view/premium live events on the WWE Network and Peacock for 10 years. Hell, in the same month (February 2014) I signed up for the WWE Network, cut the cord to drop cable and got Sling TV. I have since moved onto YouTube TV which is highly recommended.

Over the last two years the NFL has put Thursday Night Football on Amazon Prime, simulcast to various streaming services, and less than 2 weeks ago put a playoff game exclusively on streaming when a Wildcard Weekend showdown between the Chiefs and Dolphins was only shown on Peacock.

And now it’s fully permeated into pro wrestling.

WWE and AEW are both in the midst of a very important time on the business side, with all of their TV rights up for grabs. The first domino fell when SmackDown On FOX became SmackDown on USA Network, and soon after we learned that WWE NXT was moving to broadcast television and joining The CW (which is also rebranding, but just to CW).

The AEW suite of programming that includes Collision, Rampage, and their most successful show Dynamite is up for renewal with Warner Bros/Discovery, and Tony Khan has been optimistic about the relationship and potentially an increase in rights fees.

That brings us to Tuesday morning, and the likely groundbreaking WWE announcement that Raw is moving to Netflix, starting in January 2025. Triple H tweeted that they’re changing the game, and TKO President and COO Mark Shapiro (who knows a thing or two about shifts in media consumption) used the word “transformative” in his statement, and I really think he couldn’t be more right.

But what does it all mean?

Wrestling Remains A Strong Media Product

I have been claiming this for over a year now. As many online will cite a decline in TV viewership for both WWE and AEW, the TV product has been a strong value to networks. Even in dropping SmackDown, FOX themselves said they didn’t pump enough resources into the show, and that the advertising return wasn’t what they wanted. That doesn’t mean the product (TV value, we’re not talking about creative here) isn’t strong. It’s so strong that USA Network picked up SmackDown for $280 million per year, giving WWE an increase over the FOX deal. CW is paying $20-$25 million annually for NXT, and now Netflix is paying $500 million for RAW.

Why? Because wrestling isn’t just a strong media product, it’s consistent. And that is key.

Look at this quote from Netflix Chief Content Officer Bela Bajaria:

“Raw is the best of sports entertainment, blending great characters and storytelling with live action 52 weeks a year and we’re thrilled to be in this long-term partnership with WWE.”

Now cross reference that with a comment from CW President Dennis Miller from back when the CW/NXT deal was announced:

“We are thrilled to welcome the WWE brand into the CW Sports portfolio as they play an integral role in our mission to bring live sporting events to the network year-round.”

What do those statements have in common? The year-round, 52-week nature of wrestling programming. It’s an unbeatable value for networks. It’s cheaper than a deal with a major sports league, and it’s not finite. Wrestling joins news, talk, and sports talk as the only year-round programming available to networks. And WWE and AEW have shows that essentially always land in the Top 5 after you factor out live sports. You can’t beat it.

What Does This Mean for Netflix?

Don’t get it twisted, this is also a huge leap for Netflix. Prior to the WWE Raw deal, Netflix has only experimented with live events, streaming the live Chris Rock “Selective Outrage” special, and showing The Netflix Cup live (a golf event featuring athletes from their F1 series “Drive To Survive” and their golf series “Full Swing).

WWE is the perfect partner for Netflix as it gets into live programming. It’s sports entertainment: sports like programming (which Netflix has done) that focuses on storytelling (which Netflix has obviously done). And no one does it better than WWE. It’s essentially plug-and-play for Netflix, the perfect solution for their live programming aspirations.

The perfect solution that they were willing to pay $5 billion for.

What Does This Mean for AEW?

The biggest risk to an AEW renewal with Warner Bros Discovery was WBD picking up WWE Raw–and that risk has been eliminated by Netflix. Don’t discount that fact–Netflix did Tony Khan a huge favor by throwing $500 million per at WWE. The path is clear for AEW to remain on the Turner networks.

But at what price?

I know I usually write as if I have all the answers, but I have zero idea either way on this one. WBD no longer has any other options if it wants to keep wrestling (except for TNA, who recently expressed a desire to be on a bigger network), and AEW (at least, Dynamite) is a weekly Top 5 program for them on Wednesdays, on cable.

On the other hand, AEW doesn’t exactly have another network begging for their services. The reason WWE could get a yearly increase for Raw, SmackDown, and NXT is because it was truly a bidding war. Unless Tony Khan gets another network involved, any threat of walking away from a deal doesn’t really hold water.

So if I were a betting man (and who would ever bet on this) I would expect an announcement of a renewal for AEW and WBD relatively soon. We may not know the terms of the deal, I will take a shot in the dark and say that AEW gets a small increase (not the “nearly double” that had been reported last year).

Regardless of the increase (or not), given AEW’s recent attendance challenges, this likely renewal would have to be viewed as a win for the company.


Personally, this is simply an amazing time to be a fan. We’ve seen WWE go from one live TV show per week with Monday Night Raw, through the Monday Night Wars, the addition of SmackDown and later NXT, to being this global juggernaut that is commanding half-a-billion dollars per year for Raw. I also think this makes Raw the flagship once again. All of this comes after Vince McMahon is largely out of power, Triple H has taken over creative (and holds a pretty good success rate so far), and the company was sold to Endeavor, and merged with the UFC as a business entity under the TKO banner.

If you know me, you know I am a huge follower of the business side of the wrestling business. I often care less about WHAT wrestling companies do, but HOW they do it. I have always gravitated towards that, since middle school. And for the past near 24 months, I have been like a kid in a candy store.

The Peacock deal for the WWE Network runs out in 2026, right? The fun never stops!


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