Report: What WWE’s new deal with Bleacher Report means for AEW

It was reported on Monday that WWE and Bleacher Report have signed a new multi-year deal that includes global highlight rights for WWE programming. Bleacher Report is owned by TNT Sports, which operates as a division of Warner Brothers Discovery.

Mike Johnson of PWInsider.com noted the following in regards to what this means for AEW…

“In speaking to a well placed source within WBD this morning, we are told this is a global deal inked by TNT Sports and the deal would not impact or breach any existing deal AEW has with WBD’s entertainment side. Based on the way WBD’s different divisions operate, Bleacher Report had the ability to enter into this deal.”

A WBD source told PWInsider that the company is “very happy” with its current AEW deal, which carries exclusivity only in the United States. The new WWE deal with Bleacher Report, meanwhile, is global and similar to the company’s agreements with the NFL and NHL.

The source suggested that the WWE partnership could actually benefit AEW by bringing more resources and attention to professional wrestling coverage, potentially attracting additional viewers to AEW content. The source also clarified that the WWE deal does not prevent Bleacher Report from covering or promoting AEW.