Will AEW Move to Paramount+?

Speculation regarding the long-term television future of All Elite Wrestling has intensified following a series of high-level corporate developments. The latest round of rumors centers on the impending merger between Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD), prompting widespread debate within the industry about how the television landscape will shift once the corporate restructuring is finalized.

According to a recent report in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, the situation has become a major talking point behind the scenes in the wrestling world. The report alleged that high-level figures within WWE have been actively discussing AEW’s broadcast future internally, with some reportedly spreading the belief that the newly formed Paramount/Skydance entity will opt to drop AEW programming once the merger is fully executed. This internal chatter has raised questions among competitors about whether Tony Khan’s promotion would face challenges securing a comparable media rights package elsewhere.

AEW’s current television agreement with Warner Bros. Discovery keeps flagship programs like Dynamite and Collision on TBS and TNT through the end of 2027, with an additional option year for 2028. Because the deal also heavily integrates AEW content and pay-per-view distribution onto the Max streaming service, any disruption to WBD's current network strategy naturally draws intense scrutiny from analysts tracking the multi-million dollar wrestling television market.

AEW President Tony Khan addressed the rumors publicly during a recent Ring of Honor media scrum, directly dismissing the narrative being circulated by rival executives. Khan stated that the reports regarding high-level doubt over AEW's television future could not be further from the truth. While acknowledging that competitors are entitled to their opinions, Khan expressed surprise that individuals within WWE were addressing the matter on background, noting that he intends to remain respectful and focus on his own media partners.

Industry analysts have pointed out that similar doom-and-gloom rumors circulated prior to AEW signing its lucrative extension with WBD, only for the promotion to secure a highly favorable increase in rights fees. Despite the chatter, sources close to the television industry emphasize that AEW remains a highly valuable asset for a network. The promotion consistently delivers strong viewership in key advertising demographics and provides a relatively inexpensive source of live, year-round content compared to other sports properties like the UFC.

Khan has previously voiced optimism regarding the ongoing media consolidation, indicating that he maintains a strong professional relationship with Skydance leadership, including David Ellison. For now, the corporate merger remains a complex, moving puzzle, but the public pushback from AEW leadership suggests the promotion is confident in its positioning on the cable grid well into the future.