AEW might be in deeper trouble than fans realizeand Eric Bischoff just laid it all out.
On a recent episode of 83 Weeks, Bischoff explained why Warner Bros Discoverys rumored spin-off or sale could spell major problems for Tony Khans wrestling company. And according to him, AEW may be heading toward a wall of corporate silence with no big investments or long-term commitments coming anytime soon.
Drawing on his own experience with WCWs collapse under AOL Time Warner, Bischoff said this moment feels eerily familiarand AEW should be worried. The way he sees it, Warner Bros Discovery is already deep into preparing for a breakup or sale, especially of the linear cable channels like TNT and TBS.
Because of that, AEW is facing a media partner that isnt in a place to negotiate, let alone commit to another major deal.
Bischoff went even deeper, linking the situation directly to AEWs current status and what it could mean for their future on TV:
He said this approach mirrors what happened to WCW in the early 2000swhere cost-cutting and stalling became the strategy to boost a sale price, not to grow the product.
That means AEW shouldnt expect any big deals, contract extensions, or renewed backing from WBD as their current deal nears its end.
AEW has previously relied on strong relationships with Warner Bros Discovery for prime network slots and streaming placement on Max. But if WBD is truly heading for a breakupor if Netflixs acquisition deal falls apart in courtthen AEW might be left in limbo.
Theres no guarantee that whoever ends up with TNT or TBS will want pro wrestling on their network. And even if they do, they may not be willing to pay what AEW is expecting. Bischoff believes the entire AEW-WBD relationship is about to stall out right when it matters mostand Khan may be running out of time to find a new safety net.
AEWs ratings have seen consistent year-over-year drops, and their contract expires in 2027. If the market goes coldor if buyers stop looking at AEW as a growth propertythe next deal might not come at all.
AEW fans might want to buckle up. With WBDs future up in the air and big media companies playing a long chess game, the wrestling business is once again at the mercy of boardrooms and spreadsheetsand AEW could be caught in the middle.
Do you think AEW can survive another TV deal cycle if Warner Bros Discovery falls apart? Please share your thoughts and feedback in the comment section below.
