Dive into the excitement as the hosts celebrate AEW's five-year anniversary and discuss its promising future with Warner Brothers Discovery. The surprise arrival of Shelton Benjamin shakes things up! They break down thrilling matches featuring stars like Minoru Suzuki, share travel tales from New York, and analyze college football highlights. The buzz around the upcoming WrestleDream event builds anticipation, particularly for the Will Ospreay vs. Takeshita matchup. With insights on memorable rivalries and the unpredictability of AEW's open challenge, this discussion is a must-listen!
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Quick takeaways
AEW's new three-year deal with Warner Brothers Discovery ensures its continued presence on major networks, greatly enhancing its growth prospects.
The recent signings of talents like Shelton Benjamin and MVP reflect AEW's commitment to diversifying its roster and enhancing match quality.
AEW's high-profile events, praised for quality storytelling and wrestling, highlight its ability to deliver electrifying performances that captivate audiences.
Deep dives
AEW's New Broadcasting Deal
AEW has secured a new three-year broadcasting deal with Warner Brothers Discovery, ensuring its presence on TBS, TNT, and HBO Max for both 'Dynamite' and 'Collision'. This deal is historic for the wrestling promotion and signifies a major milestone in its growth, allowing for more stability and opportunities for the talent involved. The deal reportedly averages around $185 million per year, with potential increases, reflecting the value that AEW has created in the sport. This development not only benefits the Khan family and performers but also enhances the overall wrestling industry landscape by providing more options for talent beyond WWE.
Talented Roster Expansion
With the announcement of new talent signings like MVP and Shelton Benjamin, AEW is expanding its roster significantly. The inclusion of these talents not only enhances match quality but ensures that AEW provides diverse competition for its existing stars. The debut of these stars, particularly MVP's return, has sparked discussions about the creative potential and storylines they can contribute to AEW. This strategic recruitment is designed to elevate the brand and provide fresh storylines and rivalries, further enriching the wrestling experience for fans.
Highlights from Major AEW Events
AEW has recently hosted high-profile events like the Arthur Ashe show and its five-year anniversary, delivering exceptional matches that showcased top talent. Performers like Daniel Bryan and Okada headlined these events, proving the level of quality and excitement AEW is committed to presenting. The reviews of these shows were overwhelmingly positive, with critics praising the wrestling quality and storytelling. Such events are viewed as elevating moments within the promotion, demonstrating that AEW's roster can consistently deliver high-stakes matches when the spotlight is on.
Future Storylines and Matches
Upcoming matches in AEW, including a three-way title match at WrestleDream featuring Will Ospreay, Ricochet, and Takeshita, promise to deliver compelling action and drama. Open challenges, such as that from Darby Allen, generate anticipation and speculation about surprise debuts or returns. The emphasis on storytelling, character development, and building feuds provides a framework for exciting rivalries going forward. The talent involved in these matches suggests that AEW is setting the stage for yet another exciting year of wrestling entertainment.
The Cultural Impact of AEW
AEW's influence extends beyond just wrestling as it engages in cultural dialogues through its storytelling and talent interactions. The promotion's commitment to diversity and providing opportunities for various performers from different backgrounds is noteworthy. AEW aims to foster a supportive environment for talent, enabling them to explore creative expressions and storylines. Fans are increasingly recognizing and appreciating AEW's role in reshaping the wrestling landscape, making it an essential player within the industry.
On this episode of Grilling JR, "The Voice Of Professional Wrestling" Jim Ross and host Conrad Thompson discuss AEW's new deal with Warner Brothers Discovery and what that means for the company moving forward. JR shares his thoughts on the surprising arrival of Shelton Benjamin to the AEW roster, and the rest of the excitement that unfolded during the companies big anniversary show. The guys also discuss the Netflix docuseries "Mr. McMahon" and JR shares what he learned if anything from the six part show. All that plus, college football, and everything else happening in the wild world of professional wrestling.
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