More on AEW’s New Media Rights Deal with Warner Bros Discovery – Rampage Future Update, Battle of the Belts Not Expected to Continue, More Media Rights Deals Talks, AEW’s Profitability

As noted before, AEW recently signed a new media rights deal with Warner Bros Discovery that was made official earlier this month. AEW’s new deal includes their AEW television shows and pay-per-view events airing on MAX and their AEW Rampage series currently believed to be getting canceled at the end of this year.

Dave Meltzer reported in a special preview edition of this week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter that his sources stated that AEW officials had the goal to publicly announce their new media rights deal on the day of their Dynamite 5 Year Anniversary Show.

In regards to the monetary value, Meltzer reported that AEW’s new deal is worth around $555 million in total for three years with the breakdown being $180 million in 2025, $185 million in 2026, and $190 million in 2027. This new deal reportedly currently only covers AEW’s weekly Dynamite and Collision shows, AEW shows simulcasts on MAX, AEW’s library being made available on MAX, and PPV events eventually airing on MAX at a discount.

Meltzer reported that the terms of AEW’s new deal currently do not contain Dynamite or Collision being moved to a new night nor a change in runtime length for either show. Meltzer also reported that Rampage is confirmed to not be part of the deal and the show is currently expected to be ending soon and by the end of this year.

AEW officials reportedly have held talks regarding Rampage or another third show which would either be called the same name but as a “reimagined Rampage” in the sense of being a different type show or changing the third show’s name to Shockwave. This show reportedly is currently being shopped around including FOX. Meltzer reported that talks regarding this third show is currently not believed to be close to being finalized.

Meltzer reported that AEW officials have also been in talks for multiple new media rights deals which could involve TruTV as a potential network home and also could involve Ring of Honor moving back to television for ROH TV.

In regards to the future of AEW’s Battle of the Belts specials, Meltzer reported that Battle of Belts is also not part of AEW’s new deal with Warner Bros Discovery but this is also something that is currently being shopped around. Meltzer reported that AEW officials currently do not have any plans to continue their Battle of the Belts special for their new deal with WBD.

In regards to AEW’s profitability from their new deal, Meltzer reported that AEW is currently guaranteed to be significantly profitable for the next three years. Meltzer also reported that those spoken stated that AEW officials are not under any pressure to set profit records and confirmed that the company will increase spending in certain area with the new additional $95 million in television revenue from 2024 levels next year. AEW CEO Tony Khan reportedly had specified that one of the main priorities in 2025 would be investing profits into international growth.

Meltzer also reported that AEW’s new media rights deal will make the company the second most financially successful pro wrestling company in wrestling history, only behind WWE.

In regards to AEW’s new media rights deal with FOX Sports Mexico, Meltzer reported that as of 2025, AEW would have the widest television exposure in Mexico due to FOX Sports Mexico being in more homes than Space, hone network of Lucha Libre AAA, and Netflix, new home of WWE. Meltzer reported that only CMLL is on a network with far more exposure, Televisa, but their shows do not air on prime time on the network.

Meltzer reported that those spoken to stated that AEW CEO Tony Khan currently has plans to present more Lucha Libre content on shows to cater to their new FOX Sports Mexico market and Latin American market going forward. This reportedly was the reason for the booking of Hologram vs. The Beast Mortos in a Best 2-out-of-3 Falls match at WrestleDream 2024.

In regards to AEW’s library on MAX, Meltzer reported that AEW’s entire library will eventually make its way to MAX with most of it to be available once their new deal with WBD goes into effect at the start of 2025. Meltzer reported that the reason why the whole library will not be going all at once is due to AEW officials having to go through certain things from their past shows.

In regards to AEW’s Dynamite and Collision shows airing live on simulcast on MAX, Meltzer reported that AEW’s shows on MAX is currently scheduled to also feature commercial breaks spots.