On October 2, 2019, a new alternative professional wrestling show on national television was born. All Elite Wrestling (AEW) was founded on January 1, 2019, by President, CEO and General Manager Tony Khan. However, it wasn’t just him who played a significant role in starting this organization. Veteran wrestlers Cody Rhodes, Kenny Omega and The Young Bucks (Nick and Matt Jackson) played a prominent part in creating this new company as Executive Vice Presidents.
In the past 20 years, there have been multiple pro wrestling companies, such as TNA (Total Nonstop Action) and ROH (Ring of Honor), to put on an excellent product for the fans while being, at times, a viable No. 2 option next to industry leader WWE. But neither of those companies ever was on a premiere TV channel. TNA spent time on Spike and AXS TV, while ROH was on different smaller channels. The last companies to air on a major network were ECW on TNN in 1999 and WCW when they were on TNT and TBS in the 1990s.
That all changed on October 2, 2019. A new wrestling company, AEW, wasn’t just making its TV debut but did it on TNT as part of the Warner Bros. Discovery family. For the first two and a half years, the AEW flagship show “Dynamite” was on TNT and more recently switched over to air live on TBS in January 2022. At the start, AEW took the wrestling world by storm, with Dynamite hitting the one million viewers mark regularly throughout their time on TNT.
AEW started with a few former WWE stars, such as Cody Rhodes, Chris Jericho and Jon Moxley. Still, it brought elite wrestlers from the independent wrestling scene to the mainstream audience with The Young Bucks, Kenny Omega, MJF, Darby Allin and Adam Page.
Getting on a historic network such as TNT and TBS is a significant accomplishment, but getting a second contract with that same company is even more incredible. AEW announced on Wednesday, October 2, exactly five years after making their TV debut, that they are re-signing with Warner Bros. Discovery. After months of negotiating, AEW signed a multi-year multimedia rights deal with WBD for as much as $150 annually.
Beginning in January 2025, AEW’s two main TV shows, Dynamite and Collision, will simultaneously air on the popular streaming platform, Max. Also, for the first time in the company’s history, AEW will have a new home for its monthly PPVs. In 2025, AEW PPVs will air live on Max at a discounted price for fans. Dynamite is the No. 1 ranked show on cable for adults 18-49 on Wednesdays.
AEW is currently in the best place they have been in throughout the past two years. Bryan Danielson is the current AEW World Champion. He will defend his title against former friend, BCC compatriot and AEW champion Jon Moxley at WrestleDream on October 12 in Danielson’s home state of Washington. Moxley and Danielson are two of AEWs biggest stars and have played a massive part in getting the company to this point. On Wednesday’s fifth-anniversary episode of Dynamite, Danielson successfully defended his championship against AEW Continental Champion Kazuchika Okada.
The night’s opening contest renewed an old rivalry between AEW International Champion Will Ospreay and new AEW signee Ricochet. Two of the best athletes in the sport went to battle for over 20 minutes, and the match ended in a double-pin draw. Khan restarted the match, but Konosuke Takeshita interfered, setting up a triple-threat match at WrestleDream.
Dynamite’s fifth anniversary show in Pittsburgh was a success with great matches and storytelling for the future. Through five years on national TV, AEW has exceeded all previous expectations and should be complimented and applauded for this industry-changing accomplishment. They have shown that it is still possible for another company besides WWE to have success in pro wrestling. AEW’s success is great for everyone involved with more opportunities for wrestlers and a new, unique product for fans to consume.
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