After weeks of speculation, the upstart promotion All Elite Wrestling (AEW) and Turner have confirmed their television partnership at the WarnerMedia upfronts in New York City.
Turner will bring live weekly wrestling television for the first time in 20 years on its TNT channel. A time slot and day were not revealed, but the official press release confirmed that the weekly AEW show will be in primetime.
"All Elite Wrestling is a talent-forward, fan-first league whose inclusive approach to creating high-quality, athletic wrestling competition is already making waves with fans and attracting top-tier wrestlers," said Michael Quigley, executive vice president, commercial operations, content strategy and monetization for TBS and TNT in a press release. "It is high-adrenaline, gripping entertainment and we can't wait to bring it to fans everywhere with this game-changing new business."
AEW was started up in January by President and CEO, Tony Khan and members of "The Elite" Cody Rhodes and The Young Bucks (Matt and Nick Jackson). Jacksonville Jaguars owner Shahid Khan, Tony Khan's father, is backing the endeavor financially.
The new promotion promises to offer fans "less scripted, soapy drama and more athleticism and real sports analytics." Wrestlers of AEW will also be given more freedom to explore their characters while the promotion will introduce statistics to make wins and losses matter as competitors work toward championship opportunities.
"Wrestling fans have wanted - and needed - something different, authentic and better for the far too long," said Tony Khan in a press release. "AEW is answering the call. AEW is about more than wrestling, it's about a movement fueled by wrestling fans who have been underserved and perhaps even disappointed by what the industry has produced in recent years. AEW is rising to the occasion with Double or Nothing and today taking it a step further by partnering with WarnerMedia, which is as committed as we are to making wrestling fans the one and only priority. With WarneMedia, AEW is poised globally to redefine wrestling as we know it today."
Along with the AEW/TNT television partnership announcement, streaming options for the promotion's first show, Double or Nothing, was revealed.
B/R Live will serve as the exclusive digital streaming partner in the United States for Double or Nothing on Saturday, May 25. The hour-long live pre-show, "The Buy-In," will stream on WarnerMedia and AEW's social channels.
AEW's growing roster consists of top-tier talents like Cody Rhodes, The Young Bucks, Kenny Omega, The Lucha Bros, Chris Jericho, PAC, Hangman Page, Britt Baker and much more.
What do you think of the AEW and TNT deal? Are you excited for the new promotion? Let us know in the comments section below.
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