In a not so optimistic twist, Tony Khan, the head honcho at AEW, seems to have hit a speed bump in negotiations with Warner Bros. Discovery regarding AEW’s media rights deal. According to Matthew Belloni from The Puck, it appears that Khan is feeling a tad bit miffed with the current offer sitting on the negotiating table. It’s like trying to apply a figure-four leg lock but not getting that perfect grip – frustrating!
The clock is ticking away as Warner Bros. Discovery’s bigwigs, CEO David Zaslav and TNT Sports head Luis Silberwasser, seem keen on keeping AEW shows on TNT and TBS. However, the exclusive window is closing by July – yikes! This deadline seems tighter than a luchador’s mask during an intense match.
Belloni suggests that if Warner Bros. Discovery loses its NBA broadcasting rights (imagine if they fumble that ball!), AEW could gain some serious leverage in negotiations. Even though AEW’s renewal cost is peanuts compared to the NBA (not literally peanuts – we’re talking big bucks here), losing their deal with AEW could open doors for other wrestling promotions eyeing that spotlight… or should I say “spot”light?
But hold your folding chairs! Belloni doubts AEW’s charm outside of Turner networks (where it currently airs), hinting that only non-WWE partners might step up to bid for hosting duties. Despite this, he acknowledges AEW’s solid performance on Turner networks – it’s like watching your favorite tag team pull off a flawless double-team move!
In a glamorous turnbuckle twist post-“Double or Nothing” event, Khan poured praise over the past five years of fruitful collaboration between AEW and Warner Bros. Discovery. He wore his heart on his sleeve (or maybe spandex) about bringing wrestling back home to good ol’ TNT and TBS – channels deeply ingrained in American wrestling culture like hot dogs at a baseball game! Khan even gave Zaslav, the head honcho at Warner Bros. Discovery kudos for his leadership chops.
Khan didn’t hold back his love for keeping things going strong with Warner Bros. Discovery; it’s like watching your favorite wrestler never skipping leg day at the gym – commitment level 100! He expressed eagerness to stick around as long as they’d have him – talk about being more committed than a wrestler slamming an opponent through a table!
Despite the disappointment with the current low blow of an offer on the negotiation mat, Khan’s staying optimistic about working out something groovy moving forward… like a well-timed high-flying move off the top rope! With their media rights deal scheduled to wrap up by the end of 2024 (plot twist alert!), let’s hope this drama ends with more fireworks than your average pay-per-view event!