As noted before, Warner Bros Discovery announced this past April that their shareholders had voted in approval of Paramount Skydance’s acquisition deal for the company. Both AEW and their media broadcast partner WBD denied rumors earlier this month of WBD had informed AEW CEO Tony Khan in the summer of 2025 that the plan was for WBD to be sold and others would be making decisions on further AEW programming.
Dave Meltzer reported in this week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter that there have been a lot of rumors and talks regarding the idea that Paramount won’t want AEW after their acquisition deal for WBD becomes official nor would they be interested in keeping AEW once AEW’s current media rights deal expires in either 2027 or 2028 if the option year is picked up.
Meltzer reported that one source spoken to within WWE stated that those in the company realize that any decision regarding AEW’s future with Paramount hasn’t been made. This same source reportedly also stated that nobody within WWE even knows when the merger deal is going through nor who will even be making the decisions regarding AEW if and when it does happen.
Another person within WWE spoken to reportedly stated that they have “definitely” spread the word among some if not many in the company that AEW won’t be on Paramount and questioned if AEW can get a viable new media rights deal elsewhere.
One person spoken to within WWE reportedly stated that several people at the highest levels in the company have been talking like AEW won’t get another television deal. Meltzer reported that those kind of stories had spread previously within WWE during AEW’s last negotiations but were more focused about AEW not getting a new deal that would pay at the same level or likely at a lower level than their prior deal. Meltzer reported that this belief turned out to be inaccurate due to AEW got around a 2.3x increase for their current media rights deal with WBD.
During Friday’s ROH Supercard of Honor 2026 post-show media scrum, AEW CEO and ROH owner Tony Khan denied the rumors of AEW will have difficulties finding a new deal once their current deal expires. Khan also brought up WWE’s habit of spreading bad news and rumors about AEW online as a way to hurt the company.
AEW: Thekla on Her Decision To Re-Sign with AEW Being a “No Brainer”, Paul Wight on His Acromegaly Diagnosis & Being Told By His Doctors He Wouldn’t Live Past 45 Without Surgery, Zilla Fatu on Not Being Interested in Signing with AEW If WWE Takes Too Long To Bring Him In
Luchasaurus on His Pneumonia Health Issues & Being Within Three Months, His Shoulder Injury, and His Goal To Return To The Ring By End of 2026
WWE NXT Notes: Naraku Makes NXT In-Ring Debut, Mason Rook Signs NXT Contract & Joins NXT Brand, 5/19 Show Card
