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The leisure trade may have see one other monopoly within the close to future. As reported by Kim Masters in The Hollywood Reporter, trade observers imagine that Comcast CEO Brian Roberts is seeking to merge NBCUniversal and Warner Bros. Discovery. If that is one thing that Roberts does certainly pursue, negotiations wouldn’t be capable of start till April 2024. While the apparent implications of a merger this large revolve across the exterior competitors, as these two titans coming collectively would rival Disney in sheer dimension, there are variables from inside that might change one particular trade’s panorama: skilled wrestling.
The two largest wrestling promotions on this planet right this moment are independently owned, however every have tv agreements with one of many probably partnering events. All Elite Wrestling airs AEW Dynamite and AEW Rampage on WBD channels TBS and TNT and holds its pay-per-views on B/R Live, whereas World Wrestling Entertainment broadcasts Monday Night Raw and WWE NXT on NBCU’s USA Network and holds month-to-month premium reside occasions on Peacock.
Chances of a crossover between the 2 promotions have at all times been written off as an inconceivable fantasy, however a merger like this could theoretically deliver AEW and WWE below the identical tv umbrella. The cause that is still a hypothetical is as a result of AEW is at the moment looking for a tv renewal with WBD as its present contract is ready to run out someday in 2023. AEW President Tony Khan has touted AEW’s sturdy relationship with WarnerMedia, nevertheless it stays to be seen how a lot the brand new regime at WBD values his product.
On the opposite facet, WWE’s tv take care of NBCU expires someday in 2024. Even although the USA Network has been the house of Raw for many years, it is price noting that FOX initially sought the rights to WWE’s pink branded present earlier than it opted to buy SmackDown as an alternative. If FOX is impressed with SmackDown viewership come Raw‘s deal’s expiration, it may flirt with the thought of including WWE Mondays to its calendar. Going even additional, the WWE Network is barely on Peacock till 2026, and WWE co-CEO Nick Khan has already teased the thought of working with Netflix sooner or later sooner or later.
“We imagine Netflix’s urge for food for reside (programming) will solely enhance after the introduction of their advert tier,” Nick Khan stated earlier this yr. “As everyone knows, the strongest CPMs are these offered in opposition to reside programming.”
Regardless of what the televised future holds for each promotions, let’s play with the concept AEW and WWE are nonetheless with WBD and NBCU when this potential merger goes down. As evident by latest House of the Dragon and Shark Week-branded specials on AEW Dynamite, it is clear that WBD fancies crossing over its properties. Depending on how a lot leverage WBD would have on this merger, executives on the WBD facet would seemingly entertain the thought of bringing collectively the 2 promotions for a televised particular. Beyond that, AEW has run a number of wrestling crossovers earlier than, most notably on this previous June’s tremendous present with New Japan Pro Wrestling, AEW x NJPW: Forbidden Door.
Even with the precedents that lie earlier than it, it is unclear if a crossover between AEW and WWE may very well be mandated by the networks or if both promotion would get the last word say. That stated, it may develop into considerably extra seemingly if WWE sells itself to NBCU, which has been rumored for a few years now. If WWE is outright owned by NBCU, that might change the hierarchy of decision-making throughout the firm.
It additionally helps the possibilities of a crossover that this potential merger would seemingly additionally mix HBO Max with Peacock, as evident by this previous summer time’s announcement that Discovery+ would quickly develop into a tab on HBO Max. If there is a world the place AEW Double or Nothing and WWE WrestleMania are being streamed on the identical platform, it is solely a matter of time earlier than executives start discussing a mixed tremendous present.
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