A new wrestling rumor claims that AEW likely lost a major television deal opportunity due to their declining ratings on TNT and TBS.
There is no doubt that All Elite Wrestling is the No. 2 professional wrestling company on the globe. Since their introduction in 2019, they have shaken up the industry by being a clear alternative to the most dominant force in the industry, WWE.
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However, after a very productive first few years, the momentum has seemingly stalled for AEW. And instead has been picked up by WWE. Now, World Wrestling Entertainment is the hottest thing in the industry. And AEW has evolved its product into something more appealing to diehard wrestling enthusiasts instead of a mass audience.
That change in direction, along with less consistent and coherent storytelling has had a major effect on the demand to see the company’s product. Ticket sales and TV ratings have steadily declined since 2022 to where the promotion often sets new lows for episodes of Dynamite, Collision, and Rampage.
While those worrisome numbers did not stop them from getting a new lucrative media rights deal with Warner Bros./Discovery, it seemingly cost them another deal with a major network.
Is FOX no longer interested in working with AEW?
“There were talks with Fox and AEW, [but TV] numbers fell. And that’s the key. If their numbers had stayed stronger, I think that they would have a lot better shot getting on Fox. Because there are several nights a week where an AEW show could do what an AEW show from a year ago, or even six months ago, could have done. It could have done better than Fox does on those nights,” Wrestling Observer reporter Dave Meltzer revealed this week (h/t Wrestling Inc).
“And there are still nights that you could do that, but it’s not as much of a sure thing.”
AEW reportedly has been shopping another piece of TV content named Shockwave. There had been rumblings for some time that after FOX and WWE did not come to terms on a new deal, the network could look to find new wrestling content with their rival. However, this report seems to put those rumors to an end.
Related: Former Member Of AEW Management Blasts Company For Wasting Kazuchika Okada
