Tag: Skydance

Report: Tony Khan ‘Extremely Happy’ After Meeting With Skydance Executives

AEW President Tony Khan reportedly came away from a recent meeting with Skydance executives feeling more optimistic about the company’s future than ever before.

According to Dave Meltzer on Wrestling Observer Radio, Khan met with Skydance representatives in Los Angeles on Friday. While Meltzer said he did not know the specific details discussed, he noted that Khan was particularly pleased with how the meetings went.

The update comes as AEW’s future under the Skydance merger continues to draw attention, with questions remaining about how the new corporate structure could affect the wrestling promotion.

Tony Khan Reportedly More Optimistic Than Ever

Meltzer described Khan’s reaction to the meetings as especially positive, despite the fact that the AEW president has consistently expressed enthusiasm about the relationship.

“I don’t know any of the details yet, but I do know that he came out of the meetings extremely happy,” Meltzer said. “Much happier than he’s been about this relationship — he’s always been happy about this relationship, he’s always been beaming about it since Day One — but he definitely came out of these meetings the happiest he’s been.”

Meltzer also noted that Skydance had already made two moves involving wrestling, neither of which he viewed as positive. However, he indicated that the situation surrounding AEW itself did not appear to involve any cutbacks.

What the Skydance Merger Means for AEW

The merger has prompted speculation about how Skydance’s involvement could impact AEW, particularly as the company continues to operate under Khan’s leadership.

Khan has previously spoken favorably about Skydance CEO David Ellison, describing him as a supporter of AEW and expressing confidence that the company would benefit from the relationship.

Meltzer’s latest report suggests that Khan’s recent discussions with Skydance have reinforced that optimism. According to the report, there was no indication that AEW had been targeted for reductions following the meetings.

Women of Wrestling and Roku Programming Also Affected

Meltzer also discussed other wrestling-related changes under the broader Skydance landscape.

According to his report, Women of Wrestling will receive another season, although the show will not be syndicated. Additionally, a Roku channel that carried Women of Wrestling and NWA 24/7 has reportedly been canceled.

Those developments were described as two of the wrestling-related moves made by Skydance that Meltzer viewed negatively.

For AEW, however, the reported outcome of Khan’s meetings appears encouraging. While the specific plans discussed remain unknown, Khan’s reportedly positive reaction offers a glimpse into how he views the company’s relationship with Skydance moving forward.

AEW Media Partner WBD Officially Has Merged With Paramount, Will Operate Under The Name Skydance

“One of the biggest corporate stories affecting AEW is now official. Warner Bros. Discovery, the company’s longtime media partner, has completed its merger with Paramount Skydance, creating a new entertainment giant that will operate under the Skydance name.”

According to Deadline, the long-awaited merger closed on Tuesday after more than a year of negotiations, regulatory reviews, and legal challenges. The combined company will now operate under the Skydance name, with shares beginning to trade under the new branding while Warner Bros. Discovery and Paramount stock listings have been discontinued.

The merger creates one of the largest media companies in the world and is expected to have significant implications across television, film, streaming, and cable news.

Within the wrestling industry, the deal has attracted attention because of its potential impact on AEW. Warner Bros. Discovery has served as AEW’s primary media partner since the promotion launched in 2019, with Dynamite, Collision, and other AEW programming airing on TBS and TNT.

For now, there appears to be little reason to expect immediate changes. AEW’s current media rights agreement is believed to run through at least early 2028, with an option that could extend the partnership into 2029.

Questions remain about how Skydance’s leadership views professional wrestling and whether the newly formed company will maintain the same level of commitment to AEW moving forward. However, AEW President Tony Khan has previously expressed confidence in the relationship, citing his positive rapport with Skydance CEO David Ellison.

While the merger marks a major shift in the media landscape, AEW’s television future appears secure in the short term. The real significance of the deal may not become clear until future media rights negotiations begin several years down the road.