Tony Khan Comments on AEW’s Talks for New Media Rights with WBD
As noted before, AEW and WBD are currently believed to be close to finalizing a new media rights deal that would be 3-4 years in length and worth in the ballpark of around $170 million per year.
A recent episode of the Busted Open Radio podcast featured AEW CEO Tony Khan as the guest. One of the topics discussed included Khan’s thoughts about AEW’s talks for a new media rights deal and the reports of AEW’s new deal with WBD.
“I didn’t bring my sunglasses to the Sirius studio today, but the future is so bright, I need them. The future is that bright. I know there have been a lot of reports. I have not done any of the leaking. With all due respect to the fine people at the Puck establishment and the Puck people, I didn’t talk to them. I know they have been reporting things that are very interesting. There are a lot of reports and rumors. I have not confirmed, and Warner Brothers have not confirmed anything officially. We have a really exciting future there. I can say with 100% certainty, AEW and TBS and TNT are here to stay for a long time.”
Transcript h/t: Fightful.com
Cash Wheeler Comments on Him Considering Retirement from Wrestling Following Aggravated Assault Incident in 2023
As noted before, Cash Wheeler was arrested for Aggravated Assault with a Firearm in August of 2023 in Florida following an alleged road rage and firearm brandishing incident in July of 2023 in the state. Wheeler’s case was closed this past May after prosecutors had filed a “Nolle Prosequi” notice dropping their case against him.
A recent episode of the AEW Close Up with Renee Paquette show featured FTR’s Wheeler and Dax Harwood as the guests. One of the topics discussed included Wheeler’s thoughts about his arrest in 2023.
“It was a very rough patch. From August, when I found out about it, to May when everything finally got dismissed, as it should have been the whole time. It was a long stretch. There was a point in time where I couldn’t think about life after May because I knew everything hinged on that. That was the be all, end all. I told my lawyers when it happened; I would not take any sort of plea deal, I would not plead guilty to any charge. I was not guilty and I would not take any sort of plea. On the flip of that, it means I faced the full repercussions if they do find me guilty.”
Harwood gave his thoughts about how Wheeler had told him that he was considering retiring from wrestling following his arrest incident.
“I don’t want to speak for him. From my perspective, he told me when everything happened. I guess a week after he told me what happened, he said, we have two separate contracts. He said, ‘I think I’m going to retire because I don’t want to subject you to any of this stuff that I’m going through.’ He knew the backlash on Twitter because it’s a cesspool. ‘I’m just going to retire. You don’t have to worry because your contract is with you. I’m going to leave wrestling.’ I had to talk him into not retiring.”
Wheeler responded stating:
“For me, I didn’t love it. At the same time, it was the only chance I had to escape from that. I literally didn’t know which match would be the last one. Every time we were going out there, ‘Alright, let’s go out there.'”
Transcript h/t: Fightful.com
AEW News & Notes
NFL Films recently released the full “24 Hours with Tony Khan” segment from this past Wednesday’s episode of NFL Films Presents that focused on this past April’s 2024 NFL Draft.
Deonna Purrazzo announced on Twitter that she recently started graduate school.
As noted before, AEW officials are currently considering plans for Deonna Purrazzo to lead a new potential stable. Fightful Select reported that their sources confirmed that AEW officials are currently considering creating a new stable for Purrazzo. It was reported that AEW officials are also currently considering the idea of creating a new tag team for Purrazzo.
The Luchador recently announced that The Outrunners, Truth Magnum & Turbo Floyd, will be among the cast for the upcoming new season of their “The Luchador: 1000 Fights of El Fuego Fuerte” action adventure audio drama series.
As noted before, Ricky Starks has been out of action for AEW since this past March due to a head-injury scare incident and AEW officials not having any creative plans for his return following the end of his tag team pairing with Big Bill. Despite his current lengthy absence from AEW and rumors of him leaving to WWE soon, Fightful Select reported that Starks is still under contract with the company. WrestlePursist Ibou reported that his sources confirmed that Starks is still under contract and Starks is not expected to be granted his release from the company.
In a recent interview with Undisputed, Bryan Danielson gave his thoughts about how he wanted Jim Ross to be on commentary for his match against Swerve Strickland for the AEW World Championship at AEW’s All In 2024 event. Danielson stated “I asked for Jim to be part of the match. He signed me to my first wrestling contract in 2000. I wanted him to be part of the call. Jim is still fantastic. I know he’s had a lot of health issues, and I’m sure getting to London was no picnic, but it meant a lot to have him there. I have also developed a really strong friendship with Tony Schiavone, so it meant the world to me that both of them could call the match.“
In a recent interview with Fightful, Paul Wight gave his thoughts about AEW’s authenticity being the most appealing aspect about the company. Wight stated “It’s exciting. It’s exciting because there’s a lot going on. Where I left was an incredible machine to work for. It’s an incredible company, incredible talented people that knew all the little ins and outs, idiosyncrasies. It was a big, well oiled machine that understood what it did. Then to come to AEW and get this incredible opportunity, for me it’s nostalgic in the way that it’s building something new. It’s not a formulated gargantuan entity. There’s a lot of authenticity that comes out of this company that I really appreciate. At this stage of the game for me, I love that excitement. I love that hustle. I love the drive in the younger talent’s eyes. I love the mistakes that are made because it’s all part of the learning process. These guys and gals are cutting promos and some of them are good and some of them are bad, but they’re learning and they’re defining their own authenticity and their own brand. For me that’s exciting. When you love the business, you want to see the business do well. Not only your company, but the entire business to do well because that’s opportunity for the talent. You could work for one company and things don’t go well, you try again in another company and you might find yourself or refine, re-evaluate yourself and then do what you’ve already dreamed of and the mistakes you’ve made and the dues you paid and you became able to relate to the audience and become a world star. So the fact that AEW is growing and we’re going to Australia now, coming here in February, I think this is a great opportunity for the company. I think it’s a great opportunity for the younger talent and I’m super proud to be a part of it.” (Transcript h/t: Fightful.com)
In a recent interview with Inside The Ropes, Will Ospreay gave his thoughts about how he has adapted to giving promos on U.S. wrestling television shows. Ospreay stated “I’m always nervous about promos, and that goes back to years ago, when I found out that I had ADHD. I’ve always really struggled with eye contact, and I’ve struggled with stringing sentences together. So then when you sign up for American TV, that’s 60 percent of the job. You’ve got to be able to talk people into the building and you’ve got to have that type of unique charisma. I guess it goes in my favor because I don’t sound like everybody. I don’t sound like the Yanks. I think the main thing is I’m just happy to be here and I just treat all the audience like they’re my mate. I’m your weird mate down the pub. So I feel like because I have that aura, I get away with a little bit more. I slipped up on one of my lines that I said in the week before my match with Max and I kicked myself about it. But I’d rather be honest with people and say, you know what, no, I slipped up on a line but I worked twice as hard next time because, once again, I’m not used to this and I’ve always struggled with this. I’m not perfect when it comes to promos. In fact, I wouldn’t even put me in the top 10 when it comes to promos. But I’m learning a whole new thing, this is still six months into me being here. I’m still getting used to this. If people want to throw shade my way because of that, they’ve never been in my shoes, they don’t understand what’s in my brain. For me, it’s all about being vulnerable, honest and open, and I think that’s what connects people with me a little bit more, the fact that I do show my mistakes.“
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