Tony Schiavone Hints AEW Could Expand on Max While Third Show Talk Cools Off

AEW fans holding out hope for a third weekly show might want to shift their focus. Tony Schiavone, AEW’s longtime commentator and senior producer, confirmed that while there was talk of adding another show, that discussion has gone quiet—and it may not be coming back.

During his appearance on What Happened When, Schiavone clarified that internal conversations about a third AEW show have tapered off in recent months.

“There was discussion about a third show and that’s… that discussion has not been banded around much as of late. So, I don’t know if that is still on the table or not.”

That revelation comes just as more light is shed on what fans previously believed to be a done deal: a new AEW program titled AEW: Shockwave that was rumored for FOX. While the company had filed a trademark for the name and Swerve Strickland even hinted at a potential FOX presence, the show never materialized. Now, we know why.

Speaking on The Hump, Sean Ross Sapp revealed the whole idea was more of a pitch than a locked-in agreement.

“It was only a pitch and a theory—it was never a concrete plan, so to speak. It was something that they brought up, but no deal was ever reached. It ended up falling through and just didn’t work out.”

So, while AEW: Shockwave may have stirred up fan speculation, the FOX deal is officially dead. With AEW’s $555 million media rights deal with Warner Bros. Discovery securing its current programming slate, Schiavone suggested that AEW might expand elsewhere—namely, on the Max streaming service.

“I do believe there’s a chance for us to do more specials. As a matter of fact, I really think the chance for us to do more—personally feel—is on Max, to do features and, you know, like the WWE does. I think there’s a lot of chance for us to do something there.”

Schiavone also acknowledged the upside of fewer preemptions due to Turner’s Inside the NBA shifting to ESPN, a move he wholeheartedly supports.

“I just think it’s good news that we’re not going to be as preempted as much, and I think it’s a shame… Yes, that’s the right thing to do because those guys are great.”

With Shockwave off the table and no new weekly show in immediate development, all eyes are now on Max as the next possible frontier for AEW expansion. Whether that’s through specials, documentaries, or something entirely new remains to be seen.

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