What Netflix Buying Warner Bros. Discovery Could Mean for AEW’s Television Future

AEW has been in bed with Warner Bros Discovery since the company opened. This deal, which was ushered in thanks to personal connections to a higher-up in the media giant, may be in jeopardy. Since Netflix put so much on the table to buy WBD, that is a very interesting situation indeed.

Concerns about AEW’s long term television future surfaced this week following reports that Warner Bros. Discovery rejected a hostile takeover bid from Paramount while Netflix remains the leading suitor in talks to acquire WBD. Now that is looks like the WWE-friendly Netflix may have ownership of AEW’s air waves in a year, plenty of questions have come up.

The situation has drawn attention because reports suggest Netflix may not be interested in acquiring all of WBD’s assets, like AEW. That uncertainty has led to speculation about where AEW could land if major changes occur at the corporate level.

The topic was discussed at length on Devon & The Duke, where Devon shared his concerns about AEW’s future and why he hopes the company remains on television. The WWE Hall of Famer had a lot to say about this, because he’s seen a lot of deals go down.

“I don’t want to see AEW go out. I would love to see AEW last. I would love to see them on TV and give fans an alternative perspective on pro wrestling. You got people upset with WWE right now because of the whole John Cena thing, and they need somewhere else to go. AEW can be that place. It might not be on the same level, but it’s the number two company. They have stars. They’re entertaining. So I want them to bounce back, get a deal, and move forward.”

Devon then made it clear that his comments were not meant as criticism of AEW’s existence or their talent for that matter. Instead, this concern is rooted in the business side of the industry and the livelihoods attached to it. There are a lot of people employed by AEW, so their downfall would be a bad thing for the business.

“Listen, dirt sheet writers and AEW fanatics—I am not in any way against AEW. I don’t like some of the business decisions being made, but that has nothing to do with how I feel about the company overall.”

“I’ve had AEW guys come to my school and train. I’ve welcomed them in. My doors are open to everyone—WWE or AEW. I want them to thrive. I don’t want my friends over there to lose their jobs.”

Devon added that the idea of AEW talent being forced back into WWE, because that may not be a good situation. Not only may WWE not want anyone from the AEW roster, but it would certainly put them at a disadvantage.

“I don’t want to see them crawling back to WWE like they’re begging, especially when that company (WWE) maybe didn’t give them what they deserved before. That wouldn’t be right.”

As talks around WBD’s future continue, AEW’s next media deal is still one of the biggest unanswered questions in professional wrestling. This will certainly be an interesting situation to watch over the next year, because a lot of careers are also at stake in this situation.

What’s your take on Netflix buying WBD? Do you think that they will cancel AEW? Let us know what you think in the comments section!