Backstage Update AEW’s Broadcasting Negotiations With WBD

Alongside All In, AEW’s ongoing negotiations with Warner Brothers Discovery over a new broadcasting deal has become the dominant story surrounding the promotion. And even though the exclusive negotiating window between AEW and WBD expired last month, there’s never been any sign the sides wouldn’t reach a new agreement, with some even reporting a deal was agreed to in principle.

At worst, it appears closer than ever to being signed. Fightful Select reports that those within WBD have acknowledged that a new offer was made to AEW, which came following AEW owner Tony Khan’s meeting with WBD President David Zaslav in Paris, France during the Olympics. The meeting between the two was described as “productive,” and while WBD sources believe there’s still red tape to get through before a deal is official, AEW is reviewing the offer, and both sides are optimistic regarding their relationship continuing for years to come.

Those in WBD called this new offer “extensive,” though it remains unclear to what extent, or how it relates to the previous offer WBD made, reportedly back in the early summer. It was, however, noted that WBD’s previous offer to AEW had been “at least double” the amount of AEW’s previous rights deal. Whether this amount doubles what AEW and WBD agreed to in early 2020, or the re-negotiated deal between the sides in 2023, when AEW launched “AEW Collision” on TNT, is a mystery.

One factor in how much AEW could make is the amount of content featured on WBD going forward. It appears “any and all combinations and possibilities” are on the table, from more hours of AEW TV to new reality series’, crossovers, next day streaming rights, library rights, and Ring of Honor. Inquiries have also been made about a shift in AEW’s PPV strategy.

Source: Wrestling Inc.

WWE NXT Preview 8/20/2024

WWE will present a new episode of NXT TV tonight on the USA Network at 8:00 PM EST.

  • NXT Championship #1 Contender’s Triple Threat Match: Wes Lee vs. Joe Hendry vs. Pete Dunne
  • NXT Women’s North American Championship #1 Contender’s Gauntlet Match: Wren Sinclair vs. Adrianna Rizzo vs. Sol Ruca vs. Jaida Parker vs. Kendall Grey vs. Karmen Petrovic
  • Hank Walker & Tank Ledger vs. The O.C.
  • Lola Vice vs. Wendy Choo
  • Dion Lennox vs. Ashante The Adonis
  • Chase U celebration for NXT Tag Team Title win

Backstage Update On Saraya’s AEW Contract & Future

Saraya’s current contract with AEW reportedly runs through at least September.

Fightful Select is reporting that the former Women’s World Champion’s deal with AEW will expire at some point later this year. It is said that there were option years on the deal but the exact nature of those option years is uncertain.

Additionally, it is said that Saraya and AEW have been in talks about extending the deal for one year. It’s unknown if that will be a new contract or the option being exercised.

Finally, it was added that while Saraya does not officially have a match announced for All In 2024, she is factored into the show.

Source: eWn

Backstage News On Matt Riddle Winning AAA Cruiserweight Title At TripleMania

For those who tuned in this past Saturday night on TrillerTV, either by paying full price or accidentally catching the show for free on the pre-show stream that never ended, AAA’s TripleMania XXXII: Mexico City was an event that won’t soon be forgotten. Among the other reasons for that was the three-way match for the AAA World Cruiserweight Championship, where non-cruiserweight and former WWE star Matt Riddle defeated former champion, AEW’s Komander, and TNA’s Laredo Kid to win the gold.

As for why Riddle walked way Cruiserweight Champion, one person has a theory on that. On Sunday’s “Daily Update,” Wrestling Observer Newsletter’s Dave Meltzer discussed Riddle’s victory at TripleMania, and indicated that Riddle was crowned Cruiserweight Champion due to AAA looking to get the belt off Komander, because to his AEW commitments. Meltzer also noted the oddness of Riddle, a heavyweight, winning a title out of his division.

The reasoning given for Riddle winning the title does seem to contradict some of what happened on screen, however, including the fact that Laredo Kid was in the match with Komander and Riddle, and could’ve won the title instead of Riddle. Perhaps most glaring though is that TripleMania XXXII: Mexico City ended with an AEW talent walking away with AAA gold, as Satnam Singh won the AAA World Tag Team Championships with partner Raj Dhesi.

Singh’s win would suggest that, despite past issues, AAA has no problem putting titles on AEW talent for the time being, and instead calls into question Komander’s future with AAA going forward. As for Riddle, he is expected to enter a program with El Hijo del Dr. Wagner Jr., who defeated Riddle in AAA this past June. Riddle challenged Hijo del Wagner after his win Saturday, requesting the match have “no rules.”

Source: Wrestling Inc.

WWE Raw Preview 8/19/2024

WWE Raw airs live tonight on USA Network from the Amerant Bank Arena in Sunrise, Florida.

CM Punk will have a “can’t miss message” for Drew McIntyre

  • WWE Women’s Triple Threat Tag Team Championship Match: Alba Fyre and Isla Dawn (c) vs. Damage CTRL (Kairi Sane and IYO SKY) vs. Pure Fusion Collective (Shayna Baszler and Zoey Stark)
  • New Day (Xavier Woods and Kofi Kingston) and Odyssey Jones vs. Karrion Kross and AOP (Rezar and Akam)
  • Sheamus vs. Pete Dunne
  • Randy Orton to appear
  • Maxxine Dupri vs. Ivy Nile

Scott D’Amore Comments On Launching Maple Leaf Pro Wrestling

Former TNA Wrestling executive Scott D’Amore announced the launch of Maple Leaf Pro Wrestling earlier this month, with the first shows set to take place on October 19th and 20th. D’Amore spoke with CBC on a number of topics, including growing up watching Maple Leaf Wrestling.

D’Amore said, “It was what came through on Saturdays on CHCH out of Hamilton. Every week they took a match from one of the Maple Leaf Gardens house shows, live events, and they showed it on TV, and the only place you got to see that was on Maple Leaf Wrestling.”

On launching Maple Leaf Pro Wrestling:

“Canadian talent has to work twice as hard, three times as hard as U.S. talent … I think we can give that platform for Canadian talent to go out there and compete with the best in the world and show how good they are.”

Source: PWMania

Update On The Status Of AEW Star Jay White

According to Fightful Select, AEW star Jay White is now healthy again and the company has plans to bring him back to television programming soon.

White suffered a minor foot injury during his match with Hangman Adam Page in the semifinals of the Owen Hart Tournament, back on the July 6 episode of Collision.

Due to White’s injury, the Bang Bang Gang was forced to vacate the AEW World Trios Championships, which are now held by Christian Cage’s Patriarchy faction.

Source: WrestleView

AEW Collision Preview 8/17/2024

AEW will present a new episode of Collision tonight from the Esports Stadium in Arlington, Texas. The show will air live on TNT starting at 8:00 PM EST. 

  • ROH World Tag Team Championship: Undisputed Kingdom (c) vs. Dustin Rhodes & Sammy Guevara
  • AEW World Tag Team Championship #1 Contender’s Match: FTR vs. The Acclaimed
  • Britt Baker vs. Harley Cameron
  • Jack Perry vs. TBA
  • Eddie Kingston addresses AEW All In 2024
  • A Film by Toni Storm

WWE’s Bobby Lashley Reveals He Recently Had Surgery After ‘Freak Accident’ In France

Bobby Lashley’s time with WWE has come to an end, as he and former associate MVP have officially been moved to WWE’s “Alumni Section” on its website. This means that his last WWE match didn’t even happen on TV. Lashley was last seen in the ring at a WWE Live event in France on May 5, where he managed to pick up a win over Santos Escobar, despite suffering an injury during the bout.

On the “Laboratory” podcast, Lashley opened up about what he’s been doing since his last match, revealing that he had to go under the knife following the injury. “I had surgery. So a little boo boo happened in France during the match, just a freak accident. After that, I had my surgery, they told me I wasn’t suppose to be back for like six months. Six weeks, I had the brace off, I’m working out, my physical therapist is like ‘you’re not supposed to be able to do that,’ and I said ‘I’m different. I’m different bro.’ Like I’m working out, I’m lifting, and I don’t even think I’m two months out of surgery now, and I’m hitting it pretty hard. So I think I’ll be ready clear in less than a month.”

Regardless of where Lashley wrestles his next match, his comments about working out extra hard correlate to the reports that he will continue wrestling even after leaving WWE. Rumors have already surfaced about a potential Hurt Business reunion in AEW, but at the time of writing, Lashley’s future has still not yet been confirmed.

Source: Wrestling Inc. credit to “Laboratory” podcast

WWE And AEW To Run Orlando Shows Directly Opposite Each Other In December

WWE has announced a new live event in Orlando for December 28, the same day as AEW Worlds End 2024. Tony Khan’s promotion will be running its final pay-per-view event of the year from the Addition Financial Arena on December 28, meanwhile, WWE has announced a “WWE Live Holiday Tour” show on the same date just 15 miles away at the Kia Center.

This isn’t the first nor most significant instance of WWE and AEW booking shows on the same date as one another, with “AEW Dynamite: Title Tuesday” running head-to-head with “WWE NXT” on October 8. And fans will remember that “NXT” used to go head-to-head with “Dynamite” on Wednesdays every week from October 2019 until April 2021, in what came to be known as the “Wednesday Night War” in reference to WWE’s former rivalry with WCW. But it is a rare instance for the promotions to run the same city and date. Later this month, both companies will be running major events from Europe. AEW will present the second iteration of what’s seemingly becoming its WrestleMania, All In, from Wembley Stadium in London, England on August 25. Then, on August 31 WWE will present Bash In Berlin from the Uber Arena in Berlin, Germany, its first Premium Live Event in the country.

Source: Wrestling Inc.