Add as a preferred source on Google Tony Khan responded to rumors that WWE executives believe AEW will not be able to land a new TV deal after its current agreement with Warner Bros. Discovery expires.
During the press conference after ROH Supercard of Honor, Khan said he saw the report involving people in WWE privately discussing AEW’s future with WBD and Paramount Skydance potentially taking control of the company. According to him, the information “couldn’t be further from the truth.”
“I’ve been trying to be respectful to them and conduct myself like a gentleman. If they want to talk off the record and spread these things, I’m just going to turn the other cheek. Maybe a few years ago, I wouldn’t have handled it that way.”
Tony Khan spoke about the reports saying WWE higher ups think AEW won't get a new deal from WBD/ Paramount at the end of 2027.
— Fightful Wrestling (@Fightful) May 16, 2026
“I saw something today, and it’s just a report, I don’t know if this is true. It could be true, but a lot of reports have substance to them, but you… pic.twitter.com/y4QUFKaEIR
The situation gained traction because AEW’s current deal with WBD runs through the end of 2027, with an option for 2028. The agreement, announced in October 2024, kept Dynamite on TBS and Collision on TNT, while also bringing both shows to Max starting in January 2025.
The corporate landscape also changed after Warner Bros. Discovery shareholders approved the $110 billion merger with Paramount Skydance, a deal that still has to clear regulatory steps in the United States and abroad.
Even with the natural uncertainty, Khan also indicated that he is excited about possible opportunities involving AEW and even ROH in this new landscape.
It remains to be seen whether WWE will continue treating AEW’s TV future as an internal topic, or if Khan will respond publicly again if more rumors gain traction.