AEW has been a symbol of innovation in professional wrestling, breaking the norm and establishing a unique place in the industry. As his company’s ratings continue to rise, AEW president Tony Khan is facing increasing pressure. Profitable auto-renewal deals with Warner Bros. Discovery Channel (WBD), which used to be a drama, is now covering it with uncertainty, which harms the future of AEW.
Meeting Tony Khan in Paris: more than just a chat
Warner Bros. Discovery CEO David Zaslav invited Tony Khan to Paris to attend a big event. Although Khan posted positive words on social media after the match, thanking Zaslav for the welcome and expressing his excitement for the future of AEW, the underlying problem was still evident. The ratings for AEW’s shows weren’t great, which had implications for the ongoing negotiations.
Khan’s posts on his X account (formerly known as Twitter) hint at big things to come, but the uncertainty surrounding AEW’s ratings cannot be ignored. The company, while enthusiastic about its fans, is now facing something hazardous: the lowering of the rates could be bad news for its negotiations with WBD.
The real shocker: AEW’s ratings are going down
AEW’s declining ratings have been a topic of discussion in the wrestling world, and many speculate how long the company will continue this downward trend. Legendary journalist Dave Meltzer explained this issue on his F4W podcast. He highlighted how the Paris Olympics were thought to be about wrestling jerseys, but no one predicted how bad it was, especially with AEW’s “Clash”.
Meltzer’s analysis is clear: “Collide’s” ratings reached a paltry 189,000 viewers. “Before the Olympics started, I drove some numbers from the Olympics,” he said. “But when you see a number like 189,000, it’s scary.”
This migration was not short-lived; This bodes well for AEW’s challenges. The importance of the 18-49-year-old demographic in television ratings cannot be overstated, and the percentage of this key demographic affects AEW. Meltzer noted that AEW’s “Clash” felt the most impact from the Olympics compared to other wrestling programs such as WWE’s “Raw” and “SmackDown”. The TV show’s 18-49 demographic rating of 0.08 fell far below the necessary ratings for the company’s survival.
Selective chain reaction
Dropping rates isn’t necessarily a problem for AEW’s character; This is a real problem at the company level. Meltzer rightly points out that the health of the business is closely linked to the success of the television industry, which is currently in jeopardy. “You want the 18-34 year old [demographic], and that’s where they’ve been hurting since March,” Meltzer said. The decline of this important age group raises serious questions about the future of AEW’s partnership with WBD.
The ongoing negotiations between AEW and WBD are now at a standstill. The popularity of Tony Khan and his mockery of the big announcements on social media cannot hide the real truth: If AEW does not change its decisions, the deal with WBD will fall apart, and it will be the company in a bad place.
Will Tony Khan change?
Tony Khan has been known for his toughness and ability to shock. As AEW prepares to host a huge “All-In” event at London’s Wembley Arena, the wrestling world is waiting to see if Khan can deliver on his promise. The stakes have never been higher.
With just a few weeks left until the All-In event, Khan has promoted one of the biggest moments in AEW history. On his X account, he predicted a series of big announcements that could change the direction of the company. But as exciting as this post is, the main issue needs to be addressed: AEW’s rating problem.
The wrestling world is full of speculation. Is the “All-In” event the turning point AEW desperately needs? Or could this simply be exacerbating the root issue? The future of AEW and the wrestling industry relies on the success of this deal, with only time able to reveal the outcome.
With Tony Khan getting ready to announce what he deems “the most significant news in AEW history,” there is a lot of pressure. The wrestling community is eager to see if Khan can endure the challenges and guide AEW towards a prosperous new chapter. The Paris conference marks the beginning of the journey, but there is still a long way to go. Will Tony Khan be able to overcome AEW’s rating issue, or will it be too difficult for him to conquer? The response may dictate the fate of the professional wrestling industry.
