AEW Rampage Faces Potential Cancellation Amid New TV Deal – AEW is reportedly nearing the finalization of a new media rights deal with Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD), which would include significant changes to their television lineup. The current deal expires at the end of 2023, and the new one, expected to be a four-year agreement worth around $170 million per year, would allow AEW programming to air across TBS, TNT, and TruTV.
One of the key aspects of this deal is the inclusion of AEW pay-per-views on the MAX streaming platform in some capacity, giving fans broader access to AEW’s major events.
However, as part of the restructuring, Rampage might be on the chopping block. Rumors suggest that AEW may replace it with a new one-hour show called Shockwave, which would potentially air on FS1 as part of separate negotiations with FOX. AEW has filed a trademark for the name Shockwave, fueling speculation about the new show’s debut.
The potential cancellation of Rampage aligns with WBD’s strategy of rebranding TruTV as a sports station, indicating that AEW programming might be simulcast or replayed there in addition to the primary broadcasts on TNT and TBS.
According to Dave Meltzer, with Collision and Dynamite already occupying AEW’s prime weekly slots, Rampage’s future is uncertain, especially as AEW explores new programming options like Shockwave. Fans can expect an official announcement soon, possibly during AEW’s Grand Slam event at Arthur Ashe Stadium, where several WBD executives are expected to be in attendance.
“This would confirm what another source indicated to us this past week that Rampage would not be continued, and that the third show, likely called AEW Shockwave given AEW just filed for a trademark for that term, would be the show being shopped around to FOX and likely others.”
AEW’s potential deal with FOX for Shockwave and the restructuring of its weekly shows signify major shifts in its broadcast strategy, designed to maximize exposure and revenue while aligning with WBD’s evolving programming needs.
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AEW Rampage Faces Potential Cancellation Amid New TV Deal
