In a bold move that has wrestling fans and corporate execs bodyslamming each other with joy, Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) has announced a snazzy rebranding of TruTV’s primetime lineup to “TNT Sports.” Could this be the golden ticket for AEW? You bet your turnbuckle it is!
On WBD’s Q2 Earnings Call, CEO David Zaslav dropped the bombshell, and it hit harder than a steel chair to the noggin. As per the ever-reliable Brian Steinberg, this transformation is set to roll out in October. It’s like adding fireworks to the Fourth of July – completely unnecessary but absolutely awesome!
Our pal Sean Ross Sapp over at Fightful spilled more beans than a clumsy waiter at a Tex-Mex restaurant. He revealed that the new programming block aims to emulate the wild success of Cartoon Network’s Adult Swim. Think of it like this: TruTV is Clark Kent by day, and TNT Sports is Superman by night. AEW talents are already being plastered all over ads for the upcoming “TNT Overdrive” program, suggesting that the squared circle might just become the centerpiece of WBD’s sports strategy.
Despite losing the NBA to Amazon Prime – a move that probably stung like a chop from Ric Flair – WBD’s commitment to sports is unwavering. They’re likely eyeing AEW and maybe even Ring of Honor (ROH) to fill the void. Tony Khan, AEW’s head honcho and potential future motivational speaker, has been singing ROH’s praises like it’s the next best thing since sliced bread. Yet, there’s no sign of ROH suplexing its way onto TV screens just yet.
Negotiations with WBD are what Khan describes as “complicated,” which is corporate-speak for “like herding cats.” But Khan is the epitome of optimism, recently having a heart-to-heart with Zaslav in Paris during the Olympics. Post-meeting, Khan tweeted so positively you’d think he just discovered unlimited free tacos.
The exclusive negotiation window with WBD has slammed shut, meaning AEW is now free to flirt with other networks. Will they stay loyal, or will a new suitor sweep them off their feet? Stay tuned, wrestling aficionados, because this storyline is far from over.