Tony Khan has already been talking business with David Ellison, and he likes what he’s hearing. Following AEW WrestleDream on October 17, 2026, the AEW President confirmed that he’s had several conversations with Ellison about the company’s future under Skydance following the Warner Bros. and Paramount merger.
During the WrestleDream post-show press conference, Khan was asked whether he’d spoken with Ellison about what the merger means for AEW. Khan made it clear that the two have already discussed the company’s future multiple times.
“Yes, I’ve had a conversation with David Ellison about the future of AEW. I’ve had a few great conversations with David Ellison about AEW. He is very excited to be partnering with AEW.”
Khan believes bringing Warner Bros. and Paramount together under Skydance could open up more opportunities for AEW. He pointed to the additional resources available under the new company and expressed confidence in Ellison’s leadership.
“Skydance means Warner Brothers and Paramount under the same roof, and this means more exciting opportunities and more resources. Warner Brothers is going to be stronger. There were two great buyers, but this was the solution that made sense for so many reasons.”
Another reason Khan is excited about the partnership is Ellison’s interest in professional wrestling. According to Khan, Ellison is already familiar with the business, and the two have an existing connection through the NFL.
“David Ellison is going to be a great leader, and he’s a great partner for us with the NFL. He’s going to be a great partner for AEW. He’s somebody who is the same age as me; he’s a wrestling fan. That’s really exciting for us.”
One of the biggest concerns surrounding the merger has been what happens to AEW’s television and streaming homes. AEW currently has programming on TBS, TNT and HBO Max, and Khan explained why keeping those platforms together is important.
“He wanted to keep TBS, TNT, and Warner Brothers streaming under the same roof. For us, that’s important because we’re on HBO Max and TBS and TNT.”
Khan also brought up AEW’s television rights renewal from 2024, which secured the company’s relationship with Warner Bros. Discovery for years. He believes the Skydance arrangement makes sense for AEW moving forward.
“This is a plan that makes a lot of sense for everyone in AEW because it was important and exciting for AEW to get Warner Brothers Discovery to put together this great renewal in 2024 to continue for years. Yes, I’ve had good talks with David Ellison. Several good conversations with him. I’m excited that he’s going to be running Skydance.”
While Khan didn’t announce any new television deals or programming changes, his comments suggest he’s feeling good about AEW’s position under the new ownership structure. The fact that he’s already had several conversations with Ellison is also a positive sign for the company’s existing relationship with its television partners.
For now, AEW’s television future remains tied to its existing deal, but Khan clearly sees the merger as an opportunity rather than a problem. Whether that leads to more AEW programming, additional streaming opportunities or something else remains to be seen.
What do you think about Tony Khan’s conversations with David Ellison? What changes would you like to see for AEW under Skydance? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below!
