The situation surrounding AEWs media future just took another turn and this time the focus is on a new update that paints a very different picture of what actually happened behind the scenes. After Nick LoPiccolo stirred up conversation with claims that Warner Bros. Discovery had already decided not to renew AEW months ago, NFL insider John McMullen stepped in on May 3, 2026 with a much more detailed breakdown of the timeline. According to McMullen, AEW leadership wasnt blindsided they were given an early heads-up during the summer of 2025 that major changes were coming due to corporate restructuring involving Warner Bros. Discovery. He went further, explaining that this wasnt just internal chatter the message came directly from the top. WBD CEO David Zaslav personally spoke to Tony Khan about the situation and what it meant going forward. McMullen also addressed how the story got twisted early on, pointing out that the initial framing led to confusion, especially once LoPiccolos comments started circulating. That misunderstanding fueled the idea that AEW was taking a major hit something McMullen pushed back on hard. Instead of being a rejection, McMullen framed it as basic business logic tied to a company preparing for a sale. That explanation ties directly into the massive merger now in motion, which will ultimately determine AEWs next move. With that timeline in place, AEW now has a clear window to figure out its next deal but its not without complications. McMullen even laid out a worst-case scenario, making it clear that nothing is guaranteed once new ownership takes over. Behind the scenes, AEW isnt sitting still. McMullen noted that Tony Khan has already been discussing fallback options, including a temporary move to YouTube if needed. Theres also belief that a deal with Google could still be in play, depending on how things shake out. At the same time, AEW has already started building its own safety net with an in-house platform. Publicly, everything has looked stable but McMullen made it clear that internally, the company is preparing for change. To put things into perspective, McMullen pointed out that even WWE has had to rely on stopgap solutions when deals shift. That lines up with some of the concerns raised earlier but McMullens update suggests the situation is far more strategic than chaotic. Instead of scrambling, AEW may have been quietly preparing for this moment for months. The big question now is what happens next once the merger is finalized and new ownership takes control of the decision-making process. UPDATE: Shortly after this article was published, the original report was removed from Twitter. Ringside News will continue to monitor the situation and keep our readers informed. Do you think AEW is in a strong position heading into these negotiations, or could this situation still turn into a major problem down the line? Let us know your thoughts in the comments. G Add as a preferred source on Google
