AEW: Tony Khan on AEW Being Poised for Big Media Rights Renewal Deal, Glacier Reportedly Recently Hired for Backstage Jobs, More News

Jun 28, 2024

Tony Khan Comments on AEW Being Poised for Big Media Rights Renewal

A recent episode of the Stillman & Company radio show had AEW CEO Tony Khan as the guest. One of the topics discussed included Khan’s thoughts about AEW being poised for a big media rights renewal deal.

“Live sports is the best way to draw a consistent audience for the top networks, cable channels, and streaming services. It’s really at a point where every major player in content is making moves in sports. That includes pro wrestling. Media rights for wrestling companies have been tremendous, and AEW is at the forefront. We have a big opportunity with AEW, going into our media rights renewal. The NBA is going to get a huge deal, draw huge revenues, get a big contract. That’s been happening in the industry. Top sports leagues like the NFL, the NBA, and now AEW are looking to draw big dollars for the content and rights fees. There is more ways to watch the content, but one thing that consistently brings big audiences, no matter how much viewership has changed and the platform has changed, is live sports. The one league that continues to grow and is at the very top and continues to find new ways to innovate at the forefront of media is the NFL. It’s the biggest sporting league in the world and continues to grow the pie, the revenues, and the audience. I think the NFL has it figured out better than anybody. Definitely, all the big sports leagues, including the NBA, and AEW are poised for big media rights renewals in the coming year.”

Transcript h/t: Fightful.com

AEW Reportedly Recently Hired Former WCW Wrestler Glacier to Backstage Job

The June 12th AEW Dynamite show in Des Moines, Iowa featured a brawl segment between MJF and RUSH that spilled over to the backstage. In an interesting note, one of the AEW officials who rushed out to break up the brawl was former WCW wrestler Glacier, real name Ray Lloyd.

Yoooo it’s Glacier!! #AEWDynamite pic.twitter.com/dbMBkb7x5S
— 𝐃𝐫𝐚𝐕𝐞𝐧 (@WrestlingCovers) June 13, 2024

Fightful Select reported that their sources confirmed that Lloyd was recently hired by AEW. It was reported that Lloyd has been working as a producer and coach for the company.

This was Llyod’s first on-screen appearance in AEW since Double or Nothing 2019 in May of 2019.

AEW News & Notes

AEW reportedly had sold 9,099 tickets for a live gate of $582,204 for this past May’s Double or Nothing 2024 event at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, according to Wrestlenomics. Brandon Thurston reported that these numbers came from recent audit data from Pollstar. Thurston reported that the May 25th AEW Collision show in the same venue had sold 3,944 tickets for a live gate of $112,298 based on Pollstar’s audit.

Fightful Select reported that their sources stated that former WWE talent Maximum Male Models, Mace & Mansoor, have been in recent talks with AEW officials for potential contracts with Ring of Honor. It was reported that AEW officials already have some material prepared for Mace and Mansoor should they come to terms and work for their Ring of Honor brand.

AEW recently announced that they will be holding a new AEW Collision show on August 31st at the Premier Center in Sioux-Falls, South Dakota. It was also announced that tickets for this upcoming show will officially go on sale starting on June 25th for the pre-sale and June 28th for the general public.

This past Wednesday’s AEW Dynamite show in Buffalo, New York featured AEW commentator Tony Schiavone being noticeably absent from AEW’s commentary during the final portion of the show for reasons unknown at the time. In a recent response to a fan question, Schiavone stated on Twitter that the reason for his sudden absence during the show was due to he had lost his voice. Schiavone stated “Lost my voice. It was giving me problems all weekend. Thanks for asking.“

AEW held one dark match prior to the start of this past Wednesday’s AEW Dynamite show in Buffalo. This was EJ Nduka defeating Marcus Mathers in a singles match.

In a recent interview with COMIENDO CARNITAS, Penta El Zero Miedo gave his thoughts about his current career in AEW and his belief that the Lucha Brothers helped changed the wrestling business. Penta stated “You know, there is a lot of interests involved, not just Tony (Khan). The complaints you have had, I’ve had too, especially being there on a weekly basis, but I always focus on the positive. I will try to not be stubborn, but I believe the Lucha Bros changed the business and the only wrestlers that got close to us when we started was The Young Bucks. When we wrestled on the BOLA in PWG, they (Bucks) did not know us. They knew we were brothers and there was some tension as it was another brother tag team, but they are professionals during the match and they learned who we were after the reception on that match because the fans knew who we were and why we had matching gear and face paint. After we had the match, The Young Bucks came up to us and said they wanted to work more with us, and that The Young Bucks tell you that while being champions is a big deal.” (Transcript h/t: Fightful.com)

In a recent interview with Sports Illustrated, AEW CEO Tony Khan gave his thoughts about being interested in NBA Hall of Famer Shaquille O’Neal making another appearance in AEW in the future. Khan stated “I would love to have Shaq back in AEW any time he’s available. He’s one of the greatest basketball players of all-time, and he’s extremely talented on-air in a number of roles. Shaq is also the greatest celebrity wrestler in wrestling history. But what people didn’t see is what happened backstage. When he wrestled in AEW, he went around backstage and showed respect to all the wrestlers. He told the wrestlers, ‘I want to make you look good.’ It was unbelievable. That’s the most recognizable athlete on the planet doing that.“

AEW recently announced the full card for Friday’s AEW Rampage show:

Vacant TNT Championship Ladder Qualifying match – El Phantasmo vs. AR Fox
2-on-1 Handicap match – Orange Cassidy vs. The Outrunners (Truth Magnum & Turbo Floyd)
Gabe Kidd & Roderick Strong vs. The Infantry (Carlie Bravo & Capt. Shawn Dean)
Queen Aminata vs. Skye Blue
Shingo Takagi vs. Dalton Castle