The scenario surrounding AEW’s media future simply took one other flip — and this time the main target is on a brand new replace that paints a really completely different image of what really occurred behind the scenes.
After Nick LoPiccolo stirred up dialog with claims that Warner Bros. Discovery had already determined to not renew AEW months in the past, NFL insider John McMullen stepped in on Might 3, 2026 with a way more detailed breakdown of the timeline.
In response to McMullen, AEW management wasn’t blindsided — they got an early heads-up in the course of the summer season of 2025 that main adjustments have been coming attributable to company restructuring involving Warner Bros. Discovery.
“Warner Bros. Discovery knowledgeable Tony Khan and AEW in the summertime of 2025 that the plan was for WBD to be bought and that the choice 12 months in AEW’s present tv deal was now not a consideration, in line with a number of business sources.”
He went additional, explaining that this wasn’t simply inside chatter — the message got here instantly from the highest. WBD CEO David Zaslav personally spoke to Tony Khan concerning the scenario and what it meant going ahead.
“WBD CEO David Zaslav personally knowledgeable Khan {that a} sale was imminent and that the corporate wouldn’t be able to choose up the choice or negotiate an extension.”
McMullen additionally addressed how the story acquired twisted early on, declaring that the preliminary framing led to confusion, particularly as soon as LoPiccolo’s feedback began circulating. That misunderstanding fueled the concept that AEW was taking a serious hit — one thing McMullen pushed again on laborious.
“As usually occurs in professional wrestling, the information was initially misunderstood — partly as a result of the primary outstanding report got here from high-powered business agent Nick LoPiccolo, a vocal critic of Khan.”
“In wrestling’s extremely tribal fan surroundings, the event was extensively interpreted as a serious blow to AEW.”
“In actuality, it was not inherently unfavorable. It served primarily as an early courtesy heads-up from a enterprise companion, giving AEW time to arrange contingency plans forward of choices that might be made by new possession.”
As a substitute of being a rejection, McMullen framed it as fundamental enterprise logic tied to an organization making ready for a sale. That clarification ties instantly into the large merger now in movement, which is able to finally decide AEW’s subsequent transfer.
“In different phrases, Zaslav and WBD will not be making choices on AEW programming sooner or later, which is nothing greater than widespread sense.”
“On February 27, 2026, Paramount Skydance and WBD entered right into a definitive merger settlement below which Paramount will purchase WBD in an all-cash deal at per share, valuing the transaction at roughly 0.9 billion.”
“WBD shareholders overwhelmingly permitted the deal on April 23, 2026. It’s anticipated to shut within the third quarter of 2026, pending regulatory approval.”
With that timeline in place, AEW now has a transparent window to determine its subsequent deal — however it’s not with out problems. McMullen even laid out a worst-case state of affairs, making it clear that nothing is assured as soon as new possession takes over.
“AEW may have roughly 12–16 months to safe a brand new tv cope with both Paramount Skydance or elsewhere.”
“Paramount, although, already has important enterprise ties to WWE’s dad or mum firm, TKO Group Holdings, by the UFC and a serious billion-dollar tv rights settlement, which may complicate renewal talks.”
“In idea, the worst-case state of affairs is that the brand new house owners may additionally select to purchase out the rest of AEW’s present deal and take away the programming from their platforms completely.”
Behind the scenes, AEW isn’t sitting nonetheless. McMullen famous that Tony Khan has already been discussing fallback choices, together with a short lived transfer to YouTube if wanted. There’s additionally perception {that a} cope with Google may nonetheless be in play, relying on how issues shake out.
“Sources near Khan say he has advised associates that AEW is ready to maneuver to YouTube, presumably as a short lived placeholder whereas in search of a brand new companion.”
“Nevertheless, one supply indicated Khan believes he may doubtlessly strike a comparable deal to his present one with Google/YouTube TV, which has invested closely within the NFL however has been comparatively quiet on broader sports activities and sports-entertainment content material.”
On the identical time, AEW has already began constructing its personal security internet with an in-house platform. Publicly, every thing has appeared steady — however McMullen made it clear that internally, the corporate is making ready for change.
“The corporate additionally rushed the launch of the MyAEW App on March 9 as an in-house streaming possibility and extra distribution safeguard below the guise of worldwide points within the wake of Triller’s important monetary points.”
“Publicly, Khan has continued to undertaking stability and enterprise as normal to take care of inside morale and reassure AEW’s loyal fan base, usually talking of a robust relationship with Paramount chief David Ellison.”
“Behind the scenes, nevertheless, the corporate is working as if it’s going to want a brand new linear or streaming tv deal.”
To place issues into perspective, McMullen identified that even WWE has needed to depend on stopgap options when offers shift.
“To supply additional context, even WWE — whose mixed TV and streaming offers exceed billion yearly — just lately misplaced premium stay occasion protection for its developmental model NXT and used YouTube as a short-term placeholder earlier than finalizing an expanded cope with The CW this week that features linear tv broadcasts and a streaming element on ESPN Limitless.”
That strains up with a few of the considerations raised earlier — however McMullen’s replace suggests the scenario is way extra strategic than chaotic. As a substitute of scrambling, AEW might have been quietly making ready for this second for months. The massive query now could be what occurs subsequent as soon as the merger is finalized and new possession takes management of the decision-making course of.
UPDATE: Shortly after this text was printed, the unique report was faraway from Twitter. Ringside Information will proceed to observe the scenario and maintain our readers knowledgeable.
Do you assume AEW is in a robust place heading into these negotiations, or may this case nonetheless flip into a serious downside down the road? Tell us your ideas within the feedback.