WBD Allegedly Unbothered by AEW Ratings Chatter

Online debates about AEW’s TV ratings have been a constant since the company launched in 2019, but according to a new report, Warner Bros. Discovery isn’t losing any sleep over it.

Speaking on Beyond The Bell, Andrew Zarian of Fightful.com revealed that WBD executives are not fazed by internet criticism surrounding AEW’s weekly viewership trends.

“I’ve been hearing very positive stuff from WBD,” Zarian said. “I brought up the ratings and the internet chatter to them and they don’t care. It doesn’t even resonate. The messaging on the internet is not even resonating with these people and they’re in key positions there.”

Despite fluctuating weekly numbers, especially during tough competition nights, WBD seems more focused on long-term value than weekly noise. The company is reportedly happy with AEW’s performance and is now looking at the bigger picture heading into a critical content window.

Zarian also noted that WBD is exploring the idea of airing multi-hour AEW specials to run alongside NHL Stanley Cup Playoff coverage. That would further cement AEW’s value as a flexible programming partner during high-stakes TV seasons.

Do you think AEW should lean into more specials during big sports seasons like the NHL playoffs? And how much should TV ratings matter when networks are happy? Drop your thoughts in the comments — let’s talk about it.