Folks, let me tell you, HUGE backstage buzz in the world of wrestling! All the big brains are chattering, saying All Elite Wrestling (AEW)—you know, the one with Tony Khan, a guy who clearly has a “deal-signing face”—is possibly cooking up a juicy, and I mean juicy, new TV deal. And not just any old deal, we’re talking FOX. That’s right, ladies and gentlemen, the network where football, primetime drama, and cartoon families reign supreme! But let’s not forget, these are rumors, which means they’re mostly true, but maybe not… probably, though. Trust me, I’ve seen it all.
Now, sources are saying the Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) deal is still on the table, but Tony Khan, the man who looks like he could overthink a light switch, hasn’t signed anything yet. Why? Simple. Khan’s keeping his cards close, very close. The guy could bluff at Monopoly. And now, we’re hearing whispers that AEW might not stick to just WBD like a bad Tinder date. Oh no, folks, FOX is flirting. And we all know what happens when FOX gets involved—money flies, wrestling suplexes into prime time, and ratings become bigger than my numbers at a rally. Just saying.
Let’s break it down: Fox loved the cash from WWE’s “SmackDown”—loved it so much—but here’s the kicker: it was way too expensive, folks. Like a steak dinner at a five-star restaurant that leaves you wondering why you’re still hungry. Now they’re thinking, “Why not AEW? Cheaper! More bang for the buck!” It’s like the budget wrestling buffet everyone wanted, but didn’t know they needed.
And here’s where it gets spicy: Fightful Select says Fox has been in talks with AEW, though Fox is doing its best “Who, me? I don’t know what you’re talking about” routine. Classic. Andrew Zarian jumps in, telling us that Fox is totally down for wrestling, as long as it’s not costing them a gazillion bucks. AEW fits that bill perfectly, but hold your horses—no official deal yet, folks. Still, you can practically hear the network execs in the back, shaking hands, and whispering, “How about them ad dollars?”
Oh, and remember “Collision”? You know, the AEW show WBD exclusively locked down like a high school clique? Well, exclusivity has been a huge deal, and that’s why we saw “AEW Dark” and “Dark: Elevation” vanish like my opponents after a debate. But that exclusivity could be running its course by the end of 2024, and when that clock runs out? Folks, the bidding war could be fierce. Like me in the boardroom. Tough, elegant, and always getting the deal.
Fox, though, has options. They’re not just some one-network wonder—they’ve got FS1, Tubi, and other places to toss AEW content. It’s like a wrestling paradise, really. WBD is cool with AEW, don’t get me wrong, they’re planning to rebrand parts of TruTV into “TNT Sports,” because if you can’t have basketball, at least you’ll have wrestling and all that TNT drama.
In conclusion, AEW might soon be bouncing between WBD and Fox, like a wrestling superstar in a contract negotiation, and who could blame them? It’s all about options. Stay tuned, folks. This could shockwave wrestling in a big, beautiful way.