CREDIT // SOURCE - JOE OTTERSON // VARIETY
All Elite Wrestling (AEW) is expanding its footprint on TNT.
The upstart pro wrestling promotion has signed a new multi-year deal with TNT that will keep it on the air through 2023. In addition, AEW will launch a new weekly show to go alongside its already-launched series “Dynamite,” which airs Wednesdays on the cabler.
“When we launched AEW one year ago, we wanted to start a revolution that would disrupt the wrestling business, but everyone said that it would take a strong weekly television partner to make AEW real in the eyes of everyone – above all, the fans,” said Tony Khan, president and CEO of AEW. “What virtually no one realized at the time was Kevin Reilly and TNT were committed to this very same movement from Day One, and their belief in us made it possible for AEW to think and act big from the start. Here we are, only four months into ‘Wednesday Night Dynamite,’ and now we’ve been extended through 2023! We’re now making the ultimate statement that the team of AEW and TNT is here to stay and to bring fans more of the great wrestling that the fans demand and deserve.”
“Dynamite” launched on TNT in October. The series has proven popular with wrestling fans and is currently averaging 1.2 million viewers per episode with 654,000 in adults 18-49 in the Nielsen Live+7 ratings.
“When Tony Khan first shared with me his idea of starting a new wrestling league, I was impressed by his audacity to go up against a contender that has been the only game in town for twenty years, and ultimately believed that together we could bring his vision for a new, authentic, gritty product to bear,” said Kevin Reilly, chief content officer, HBO Max and president of TNT, TBS, and truTV. “The fans have spoken and after only three months, we have seen AEW shake up the wrestling world and this will only continue as we build upon this momentum.”
AEW is headlined by Cody and Brandi Rhodes, Chris Jericho, Jon Moxley, The Young Bucks (Matt & Nick Jackson), Kenny Omega and “Hangman” Adam Page. The roster also includes top competitors including Nyla Rose, Awesome Kong, Dustin Rhodes, Jungle Boy, Dr. Britt Baker, MJF, Pac and SCU. In addition to being in-ring talent, Cody, The Young Bucks and Kenny Omega also serve as executive vice presidents with Brandi serving as chief brand officer.
WarnerMedia announced in May 2019 that it was working with AEW to build the promotion into a global pro-wrestling franchise. WarnerMedia has also been offering fans exclusive access to AEW’s pay-per-view matches via B/R Live. Their next event, “Revoultion” takes place in Chicago on Feb. 29 and will also stream on the platform.
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