In just over five years All Elite Wrestling has changed the landscape of professional wrestling around the world. This isn’t a take that needs to be litigated or debated, because it stands as objective truth. The biggest challenger to WWE since WCW, the company has effectively ended WWE’s vice-like monopoly of the sport, providing more opportunities to talent than ever before, and having a knock-on effect that’s forced everyone to improve their product for the betterment of wrestlers and talent.
At the center of this revolution is AEW founder and CEO Tony Khan, who has become a lightning rod for criticism — some of which is deserved, some unfairly leveled due to wrestling’s rampant brand tribalism. I spoke with Khan about the first five years of AEW, how the company has changed, and what looms on the horizon for fans.
The biggest hurdle for any sports brand isn’t getting its first TV deal, but landing its crucial second. Networks are willing to take a gamble on new programming, but following that up is where the rubber meets the road. In early September AEW announced a new multi-year contract with Warner Bros. Discovery, which will keep its weekly programming on TBS and TNT, while also expanding to include the Max streaming service.
“It’s going to be a very exciting time for AEW at the start of 2025,” Khan says. “We will make history as the first ever simulcast pro wrestling show across TV and streaming.” The AEW CEO says that he always hoped a deal would be reached to keep his program with Warner. Aside from the money, keeping wrestling on TBS and TNT has a lot of personal significance for him as a die-hard wrestling far for the majority of his life.
“There’s this really great tradition of pro wrestling on TBS and TNT that goes back 50 years,” Khan says, “and it’s really special that AEW is now part of that tradition.” In terms of what’s changed for AEW from those first initial shows in 2019 to now, Khan sees it more as a continuation of what he wanted his company to be.
“The goal we’ve always had in mind was this media rights renewal. We want it to be a success. For the whole company, for fans, and reach an agreement that would set AEW up for the future. I think that’s what we’ve done with the agreement we made here.”
When asked if it was difficult to honor the tradition of wrestling on TBS and TNT without invoking WCW (which WWE owns the library and trademarks for), Khan acknowledged that it was at times, but was quick to note that he considers the legacy of wrestling on Turner Broadcasting to go back before WCW, to Georgia Championship Wrestling, and the years of success during the territory system.
Now there are new “territories” in wrestling, so to speak. The sport is more global that at any point in history, with unparalleled cross-promotion between different wrestling companies worldwide. For AEW it’s two biggest agreements are with CMLL in Mexico, and New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW). I asked whether these agreements could lead to a multi-promotion title being established to truly crown a unified “world champion” of wrestling.
“We’re entering a new phase of our partnership with New Japan Pro Wrestling on the verge of Wrestle Dynasty. So there’s a good chance there I think to deepen the partnership between AEW and NJPW and strengthen it. We’ve got a great chance to build on the success of Forbidden Door and develop a new joint venture at Wrestle Dynasty that is a great compliment to Wrestle Kingdom. It should make for an excellent two nights of wrestling at the Tokyo Dome.”
Along with this big international venture comes a massive shift to AEW’s pay-per-view slate in 2025, with its biggest stadium show “All In” moving from London’s Wembley Stadium to Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas — home of the Texas Rangers. It will be the first AEW show to take place in a baseball stadium, and I asked Khan how that will change the nature of the show.
“AEW All In is more than a tentpole for us. I think it’s a massive wrestling institution. We launched it to great success in London, and I’m excited to bring that to Arlington, Texas on July 12, 2025. Tickets are on sale now, and it’s a massive undertaking. It’s been decades since any alternative wrestling promotion has attempted to run a major stadium show in a baseball or football stadium. That’s what we’re going to try here, and I think it’s a very bold play that will be rewarded.”
There are a lot of things to still work on for AEW. Even ardent fans have been critical of the company’s storytelling right now, and are waiting to see how key talents are integrated back into the roster after suffering significant injuries that have caused them to miss time.
The hope is that with the media rights deal now done AEW can return to focus more on the creative side of their business, and that will take their programming beyond incredible in-ring performances and make it a more well-rounded company.
One thing is certain: AEW is on the verge of becoming the longest-running wrestling TV show that isn’t WWE. With 20 more episodes AEW Dynamite will surpass WCW Monday Nitro for most episodes from a non-WWE show. There are challenges along the way, but Tony Khan and AEW are ready for whatever comes next.