Tonight’s AEW Dynamite will air live from the State Farm Center in Champaign, Illinois on TNT.
* Hikaru Shida vs. Kris Statlander
* Trent vs. Fenix
* Christopher Daniels vs. Pentagon Jr.
* Jon Moxley vs. Joey Janela
* Dustin Rhodes and The Young Bucks vs. Sammy Guevara, Santana and Ortiz
AEW announced today that they have signed a new programming output deal with In Demand, which will guarantee the pay-per-view platform a minimum of one AEW event per quarter through June 2021.
“AEW pay-per-view events are the best shows in wrestling, and In Demand is a perfect PPV partner for us as well as our fans,” said AEW President and CEO Tony Khan in a press release. “With In Demand’s vast reach and connectivity, we’ll be able to bring all of our AEW pay-per-view shows into the homes of wrestling fans throughout North America.”
You can see the full announcement from AEW below:
IN DEMAND AND AEW SIGN LONG-TERM, PPV OUTPUT DEAL
— AEW Commits to Provide Minimum of One PPV Event Per Quarter through 2021 —
NEW YORK CITY (December 3, 2019)—In Demand, the leading transactional video-on-demand and pay-per-view (PPV) programming distributor, owned by Charter Communications, Comcast Cable, and Cox Communications, announced that it has finalized a deal with All Elite Wrestling (AEW) for a programming output deal that guarantees In Demand a minimum of one PPV event per quarter through June 2021.
“We’re huge fans of AEW’s exciting wrestling talent and events, and are pleased to partner with them as they continue to build their audience, marketing and distribution,” said Mark Boccardi, In Demand’s SVP, Programming & Marketing. “This commitment from AEW demonstrates that our programming partners see the value in a long-term relationship with In Demand, and with the pay- per-view platform itself. We’re able to offer our content partners the largest distribution reach in the PPV business, as well as customized marketing and promotional support.”
“AEW pay-per-view events are the best shows in wrestling, and In Demand is a perfect PPV partner for us as well as our fans,” said AEW President and CEO Tony Khan. “With In Demand’s vast reach and connectivity, we’ll be able to bring all of our AEW pay-per-view shows into the homes of wrestling fans throughout North America.”
About In Demand: In Demand is an innovative partnership between three of the leading cable companies in the U.S.—Charter Communications, Comcast Cable, and Cox Communications. In Demand is a company of trusted content aggregators and licensing experts, with unparalleled technical expertise and long-standing relationships with MVPDs, major sports leagues, Hollywood studios, and other entertainment and sports companies across North America. In Demand delivers great content to more than 60 million cable homes and has distribution deals with more than 200 companies. For more information, go to indemand.com.
About AEW AEW is a new professional wrestling promotion headlined by members of The Elite (Cody & Brandi Rhodes, Matt & Nick Jackson, Kenny Omega and Hangman Page) and Chris Jericho and Jon Moxley. For the first time in many years, AEW is offering an alternative to mainstream wrestling, with a growing roster of world-class male and female wrestlers who are poised to bring new spirit, freshness and energy to the industry. The inaugural event under the AEW banner was DOUBLE OR NOTHING in Las Vegas, followed by FYTER FEST in Daytona Beach, FIGHT FOR THE FALLEN in Jacksonville, ALL OUT in Chicago, and FULL GEAR in Baltimore.
AEW is broadcasting two-hour weekly shows on TNT (U.S.) on Wednesdays from 8 to 10 p.m. ET. The action-packed matches take place in different cities across the nation each Wednesday. For more info, check out @AEWrestling (Twitter), @AllEliteWrestling (Instagram), /AllEliteWrestling (FB), AllEliteWrestling (YouTube).
The Maryland State Athletic Commission is reportedly investigating AEW over the “Unsanctioned Lights Out” Jon Moxley vs. Kenny Omega match that took place at AEW Full Gear on November 9.
Former WCW announcer Chris Cruise recently contacted the commission regarding the Omega vs. Moxley match and asked about their rules on blading, and allowing matches to continue if a performer is bleeding either intentionally or unintentionally, and if there was a commission doctor at the show, according to the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.
After repeated requests, Cruise was told that the commission prohibits wrestlers from deliberately lacerating themselves or their opponents, or introducing human or animal blood into the match. The commission also said they were at Full Gear and they had a doctor assigned to the show. They also stated that they were conducting a formal investigation into the match and because of that investigation, they were unable to comment on questions about the match.
Cruise recently Wrestling with History podcast and talked about why he doesn’t see AEW succeeding.
“AEW has millions of dollars from the son of a billionaire and is not setting the world on fire and will not succeed,” Cruise said. “It may last a long time, but will never be profitable. Somebody once said ‘if you want to be a millionaire, start with a billion dollars and buy an airline.’ It’s the same thing with a pro wrestling organization; it’s just going to bleed you dry. Not everything is guaranteed to last forever. It’s my convention that wrestling has seen better days.”
Below is Cruise’s Facebook post from November 23, where he mentioned his plans to contact the commission:
I’ll be asking the Maryland State Athletic Commission why it didn’t enforce its own rules at AEW Full Gear. Here are some of those rules. See esp. (m).F. Prohibited Activities.
(1) The following actions are prohibited:
(a) Striking an opponent with a fist or using the knuckles;
(b) Scratching or gouging the opponent;
(c) Butting the opponent;
(d) Slamming an opponent into a ring post;
(e) Striking an opponent with a foreign object;
(f) Kicking an opponent unless a recognized wrestling move;
(g) Stranglehold;
(h) Pulling hair;
(i) Inhibiting breathing by covering the nose and mouth at the same time;
(j) Jumping from the ring ropes onto an opponent;
(k) Deliberately leaving the ring enclosure during a contest;
(l) Unsportsmanlike or physically dangerous conduct; and
(m) Deliberately lacerating oneself or one’s opponent, or, by any other means, introducing human or animal blood into the ring.
(2) A wrestler continuing to engage in prohibited activities after sufficient warning may be disqualified by the referee.
Source: Wrestling Inc.
The following matches were taped for tonight’s AEW Dark episode on YouTube:
* Jimmy Havoc vs. Brandon Cutler
* Sonny Kiss vs. Shawn Spears
* Proud and Powerful (Santana and Ortiz) vs. Jurassic Express (Jungle Boy and Marko Stunt
AEW star Joey Janela took to Twitter on Tuesday night and made an interesting tweet that has since been deleted.
Janela noted that he did not get on his flight to Chicago for tonight’s Dynamite episode, and said AEW officials aren’t answering his phone calls.
He wrote, “Didn’t get on my flight for @AEWrestling Dynamite tonight, I’m not going…. Nothing was addressed about the way I was eliminated from the match last week, I’m losing all the steam I created on my own through 14 years of hard work, right these wrongs and answer the phone…”
Janela then deleted the tweet shortly after. There’s no word yet on if this is part of an angle, but we will keep you updated.
Janela was not previously announced for a match on tonight’s Dynamite episode and really hasn’t received much focus over the past few months. He worked the Dynamite Dozen Battle Royale last Wednesday night but was eliminated by Shawn Spears during a commercial break.
Source: Wrestling Inc.
Tonight’s AEW Dynamite will air live from the Sears Centre in Chicago, Illinois.
* AEW World Championship: Chris Jericho (c) vs. Scorpio Sky
* Chris Jericho’s “Thanksgiving Thank You Celebration”
* MJF vs. Adam Page (DDP to present AEW Dynamite Ring to the winner.)
* Cody Rhodes in action.
The following matches were taped for tonight’s AEW Dark episode on YouTube:
* “The Librarian” Leva Bates vs. Awesome Kong w/Brandi Rhodes
* Big Swole vs. Shanna
* Trent vs. Pentagon Jr.
* AAA Mega Championship: (C) Kenny Omega vs. Jack Evans
It took 8 weeks, but WWE NXT has finally topped AEW Dynamite in viewership.
Wednesday’s NXT drew 916,000 viewers on the USA Network while AEW Dynamite on TNT drew 893,000 viewers, according to Showbuzz Daily. NXT topped Dynamite by 2.6%.
This is the best NXT viewership since the official two-hour USA premiere on October 2. The first two NXT USA episodes had just one hour air on cable, and they drew 1.179 million viewers and 1.006 million viewers. The NXT viewership is likely up due to fans expecting top RAW and SmackDown Superstars to appear for the final Survivor Series build on NXT. As noted, top main roster stars such as Seth Rollins, RAW Women’s Champion Becky Lynch, Drew McIntyre, The Revival, and others appeared.
AEW still topped NXT in the 18-49 demo, as it ranked #8 in the Cable Top 150 for the 18-49 demo, while NXT ranked #14. AEW ranked #36 in overall viewership, while NXT ranked #35 in viewership.
Last week’s Dynamite episode drew 957,000 viewers and ranked #5 in the Cable Top 150, and #37 in viewership, so it dropped 6.7%. Last week’s NXT episode drew 750,000 viewers and ranked #22 in the Cable Top 150, and #41 in viewership.
AEW drew a 0.39 rating in the 18-49 demographic while NXT drew a 0.30 in the same demo this week. Last week’s AEW episode drew a 0.43 in that demographic while NXT drew a 0.25.
The Democratic Debate on MSNBC topped the night in the 18-49 demographic at #1 with a 1.08 rating, also topping the night in viewership with 6.604 million viewers.
Chicago Med on NBC at 8pm topped the night in viewership on network TV with 8.433 million viewers. The Masked Singer on FOX topped the 18-34 demographic with a 1.2 rating.
To compare, this week’s pro wrestling viewership looks like this so far:
* Monday’s Survivor Series go-home edition of WWE RAW drew an average of 2.128 million viewers, up from last week’s 2.058 million viewers for the taped episode from England. RAW was #11 for the night in viewership on cable, and #4 in the 18-49 demographic on the Cable Top 150, for the fourth week in a row
* Tuesday’s Total Divas season 9 finale on the E! network drew 295,000 viewers, up from last week’s 258,000 viewers. Total Divas ranked #95 on the Cable Top 150 this week with a 0.12 cable rating in the 18-49 demo
* Tuesday’s WWE Backstage episode on FS1 drew 180,000 viewers in the 11pm hour, up from last week’s 100,000 viewers
* Wednesday’s AEW Dynamite on TNT drew 893,000 viewers, down from last week’s 957,000 viewers. Dynamite was #36 for the night in viewership on cable and #8 in the 18-49 demographic on the Cable Top 150 with a 0.39 rating
* Wednesday’s NXT episode on the USA Network drew 916,000 viewers, up from last week’s 750,000 viewers. NXT ranked #35 for the night in viewership on cable, and #14 on the Cable Top 150 with a 0.30 rating in the 18-49 demographic
Below is 2019 NXT Viewership Tracker:
September 18 Episode: 1.179 million viewers (one hour on the USA Network)
September 25 Episode: 1.006 million viewers (one hour on the USA Network)
October 2 Episode: 891,000 viewers (season premiere, both hours on the USA Network)
October 9 Episode: 790,000 viewers
October 16 Episode: 712,000 viewers
October 23 Episode: 698,000 viewers
October 30 Episode: 580,000 viewers with a 0.18 demographic in the 18-49 demographic
November 6 Episode: 813,000 viewers with a 0.30 demographic in the 18-49 demographic
November 13 Episode: 750,000 viewers with a 0.25 demographic in the 18-49 demographic
November 20 Episode: 916,000 viewers
Below is 2019 AEW Dynamite Viewership Tracker:
October 2 Episode: 1.409 million viewers (premiere episode)
October 9 Episode: 1.018 million viewers (on TNT, 122k on truTV)
October 16 Episode: 1.014 million viewers
October 23 Episode: 963,000 viewers
October 30 Episode: 789,000 viewers with a 0.33 rating in the 18-49 demographic
November 6 Episode: 822,000 viewers with a 0.35 rating in the 18-49 demographic
November 13 Episode: 957,000 viewers with a 0.43 rating in the 18-49 demographic (post-Full Gear episode)
November 20 Episode:893,000 viewers
Source: Wrestling Inc.
Tonight’s AEW Dynamite will air live from the Farmers Coliseum in Indianapolis, Indiana.
* AEW World Champion Chris Jericho to make a huge announcement.
* Jon Moxley vs. Darby Allin
* Fenix vs. Nick Jackson
* Private Party vs. Santana and Ortiz
* Dynamite Dozen Battle Royal (The final two participants will meet next week, winner of that match receives an AEW Diamond Ring.)
* Britt Baker vs. Hikaru Shida
* Kenny Omega to speak.
The following matches were taped for tonight’s AEW Dark episode on YouTube:
* The Young Bucks vs. Strong Hearts
* Big Swole and Kris Statlander vs. AEW Women’s World Champion Riho and Britt Baker
* Best Friends (with Orange Cassidy) vs. Private Party
* Dustin Rhodes is the special guest commentator
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