WOW – Women Of Wrestling Announces Return With AJ Lee as Executive Producer & Tessa Blanchard

“WOW – Women of Wrestling” announced today in a press conference and press release that they will be returning with new episodes starting in September 2022.

The show has also signed a distribution deal with ViacomCBS, which will see it air “in weekend syndication” starting next fall. According to the press release, “ViacomCBS Global Distribution Group has already secured clearance in 160 markets, representing 70 percent of the United States via licensing agreements with deals that include CBS-owned-and-operated stations and Sinclair Broadcast Group. Historical seasons will be available on CW Seed and Pluto TV platforms, expected in December 2021.”

AJ Mendez AKA AJ Lee will be an executive producer and will do color commentary on the show. It’ll be her first time back in wrestling since leaving WWE in 2015.

Tessa Blanchard will also rejoin the WOW roster. It would be her first involvement in wrestling since 2020.

WOW last aired on AXS TV in 2019. Their relationship with the network ended when Impact’s parent company Anthem bought AXS TV in 2019.

Press release:

VIACOMCBS ANNOUNCES MULTI-YEAR DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT WITH JEANIE BUSS-OWNED “WOW – WOMEN OF WRESTLING”

ViacomCBS Global Distribution Group Provides Women’s Wrestling Its Largest Media Footprint in Sports Entertainment History

LOS ANGELES – Oct. 6, 2021 – ViacomCBS Global Distribution Group announced today a new multi-year distribution agreement with WOW – Women Of Wrestling (WOW), marking the return of the world’s leading women’s wrestling league. This historic and exclusive media rights deal gives WOW the biggest distribution opportunities for the U.S. and abroad in the history of women’s professional wrestling. WOW is owned by Jeanie Buss and was created by David McLane, founder of women’s wrestling’s original hit series GLOW.

New episodes of WOW will launch in weekend syndication beginning in the fall of 2022. ViacomCBS Global Distribution Group has already secured clearance in 160 markets, representing 70 percent of the United States via licensing agreements with deals that include CBS-owned-and-operated stations and Sinclair Broadcast Group. Historical seasons will be available on CW Seed and Pluto TV platforms, expected in December 2021.

“We are thrilled to partner with Jeanie Buss and David McLane to create a significant global footprint for WOW and expand our diverse, world-class content portfolio,” said Dan Cohen, President of ViacomCBS Global Distribution Group. “This series offers audiences unique, compelling and creative entertainment that features female ‘superheroes’ in the ring, behind the cameras and in all aspects of the business. Both in the U.S and abroad, we believe this is an event program that will make some noise in the marketplace.”

Former WWE world champion and New York Times bestselling author of Crazy Is My Superpower AJ Mendez will provide color commentary during each broadcast, which will feature the return of WOW World Champion The Beast and former world champion Tessa Blanchard to the squared circle.

“Wrestling’s presentation of women has long been very important to me, and we now are presenting the epitome in sports entertainment that will highlight the athleticism of these superstars as we reintroduce WOW,” said Jeanie Buss, Owner of WOW. “Our partnership with the entire ViacomCBS Global Distribution Group family allows us to continue our mission of providing wrestling fans and WOW Superheroes what they have all deserved: a global platform for a dedicated women’s wrestling league.”

Buss and Mendez will serve as executive producers, while WOW creator and founder McLane is the executive producer of the production, along with two-time Emmy Award nominee Nick Staller. ViacomCBS Global Distribution Group distributes the series in the U.S. and internationally.