Questions about AEW’s long-term television future have continued to surface following news that Warner Bros. Discovery is set to merge with Paramount Skydance, but a new report suggests there may be far less concern within AEW than some rumors have indicated.
According to Fightful Select’s Sean Ross Sapp, AEW President Tony Khan is said to be optimistic about the merger and the opportunities it could create for the company moving forward.
AEW currently has a media rights agreement with WBD that runs through at least 2027, with an option that could extend the partnership through 2028. While that means any major changes remain several years away, speculation has already begun regarding what AEW’s next television deal could look like once the current agreement expires.
Recent rumors circulating within WWE reportedly suggested that the Paramount-WBD merger could hurt AEW’s chances of securing a future rights deal. However, sources within AEW have painted a much different picture.
Fightful reports that Khan is enthusiastic about the possibility of continuing a relationship with the combined company after the merger is completed. One source indicated that Khan actually views Paramount as a more favorable long-term partner than the previous scenario involving WBD’s reported ties to Netflix.
Paramount also has a long history with professional wrestling. Over the years, the media giant has been associated with programming involving WWE, TNA Wrestling, and ECW, giving the company familiarity with the wrestling business.
Another point that has generated discussion is Paramount’s existing relationship with TKO Group Holdings, particularly through its broadcast partnership with the UFC. Despite concerns that those ties could complicate any future AEW negotiations, Fightful reports that sources close to Paramount do not view that as an issue.
According to the report, Paramount’s UFC agreement does not include any exclusivity provisions that would prevent the company from working with another wrestling promotion. A Paramount source reportedly emphasized that UFC is a content partner for Paramount, not a factor that would dictate whether the company could pursue a relationship with AEW.
While AEW’s current media deal still has several years remaining, the latest report suggests that those within the company are viewing the Paramount Skydance merger as a potential opportunity rather than a setback, and Tony Khan is said to be encouraged by what the future could hold.
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