Warner Bros Discovery officially up for sale — and what could it mean for AEW?

Warner Bros Discovery officially announced that they were “open for business,” and if someone gives them the right deal, they’re more than willing to sell the company. While, on the surface, this might not seem to have anything to do with wrestling, it could actually become one of the biggest stories in wrestling if AEW loses its TV and streaming deals as a result.

So, I wanted to look at some of the potential buyers being reported and how each could impact AEW’s future.

1. Paramount/Skydance

This is where everything started when it comes to WBD wanting to sell, and this could be somewhat of a problem for AEW if they end up being the buyers. The issue here is that the company is run by a friend of Donald Trump, and we all know how closely WWE is currently aligned with the former president.

So, you could see a scenario where the new owner looks at AEW’s “middle of the road” ratings and streaming performance and decides to cancel the whole thing.

Of course, it could also go the other way — if AEW can prove they’re valuable programming, Paramount might decide to keep them. So, in this case, it’s really up to AEW to prove they deserve to stay on WBD’s TV channels and HBO Max.

2. Netflix

This is a long shot. While Netflix has shown some interest in acquiring WBD, they’re reportedly unwilling to spend as much as other bidders to buy the entire company.

If this somehow happens, it would likely be a disaster for AEW, considering Netflix already has a deal with WWE and wouldn’t want to jeopardize that relationship. If Netflix were to buy WBD, AEW would need to come up with a quick plan B and start shopping both their shows around to other networks.

3. Amazon

This would probably be the best-case scenario for AEW, as they already have a relationship with Amazon. That means they wouldn’t have to fear being canceled if Amazon bought WBD.

AEW pay-per-views seem to be performing well on Prime Video, and having all their programming on Prime — especially if HBO Max gets absorbed — would be a great thing for them. If I were Tony Khan, this is definitely the scenario I’d be hoping for.

Rumored Buyers

1. NBC/Universal:
I doubt they’d seriously consider buying WBD, but if they did, it would likely mean the end of AEW on television for now, since they already have a deal with WWE.

2. Disney:
Same as NBC/Universal — they have a strong relationship with WWE, so it’s unlikely they’d keep AEW programming on the air.

3. Apple:
I also doubt Apple would spend the money to buy WBD, but if they did, it could be a positive outcome for AEW. Apple doesn’t seem to micromanage what airs on its network, so AEW would probably be more than welcome on their platforms.

In the end, this deal will be a very interesting story to follow — not just for movie fans, but for wrestling fans as well. Depending on who buys WBD, the future of AEW in the United States could be significantly affected.

Random Thoughts

AEW’s Bipolar Booking and PPV Length

WrestleDream is over, and once again, all anyone’s talking about is how violent the Darby vs. Moxley match was and how “not family-friendly” it felt — along with complaints about how long the show ran.

On the length issue: yes, I do think these shows are too long and should be shortened unless AEW keeps running them in the afternoon.

The problem with running five- to six-hour shows every month in the evening is that it’s hard to maintain the crowd’s energy. Fans naturally get tired as the night goes on. The later the show ends, the quieter and less lively the crowd becomes — that’s just reality.

Plus, when shows go past 11 p.m., fans relying on public transportation may leave early to catch the last bus or subway, which hurts the atmosphere even more.

As for the Darby vs. Moxley match — most of the controversy centered on the fish tank spot. Personally, I don’t care much for that type of “garbage wrestling,” but I understand why others found it problematic.

AEW has said they want to be the more “family-friendly” alternative to WWE’s rising ticket prices. But if parents buy tickets thinking it’s safe for kids and end up seeing a violent match like that, AEW could face backlash — or even lawsuits if parents claim their kids were traumatized. Worse yet, if kids imitate those stunts and get hurt, AEW’s reputation could take a serious hit.

The bottom line is, you can’t try to appeal to families and still be an adult-oriented product. You either aim for the 14-and-up crowd, or you tone down the violence — but you can’t do both, not in 2025.

Why TNA Will Never Be a Major Player in Wrestling

I hate to say this, but unless something changes soon, I don’t see TNA becoming competitive in today’s wrestling landscape. It’s not about the talent or the matches — it’s about how they produce television.

TNA just held one of the biggest shows in their history, Bound for Glory 2025. You’d expect them to capitalize on that momentum with a strong follow-up episode of Impact the next Thursday. Instead, what we got was a Bound for Glory recap show. It was fine, but it killed the momentum and gave fans little reason to buy future pay-per-views since the highlights were shown for free.

You’d think they’d fix that the following week — but no, another recap show aired. That’s two weeks of lost momentum, and it makes fans stop caring. Bound for Glory should have been a springboard to grow the audience.

TNA should’ve either booked a live show right after the PPV or taped one nearby to keep the momentum going. Instead, by waiting until November for new tapings, they risk losing the new fans they gained — and even some loyal viewers who might assume the show’s off the air.

This lack of urgency is exactly why TNA is so far behind AEW and WWE. The follow-up after your biggest show of the year should never be a rerun.

That’s everything I’ve got for today. As always — have fun watching wrestling, and just celebrate the sport we all love.