AEW/WBD TV rights update: Rampage end date, Battle of the Belts

  • Ian Carey
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Dave Meltzer provided updates on the future of AEW Rampage and Battle of the Belts on the latest episode of Wrestling Observer Radio.

The two shows are not included in AEW’s new media rights deal with Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD). As a result, AEW could potentially shop the programs to other networks. However, Rampage may only remain on air for a few more weeks.

“As far as will there be Battle of the Belts, will there be Rampage? That is not in this deal,” he said. “They are open to shop this stuff around.”

“Rampage may not be going much longer. Not sure, the date could be just a couple more weeks or it could be at the end of the year.”

AEW might introduce a new program, potentially titled Shockwave, which could also be pitched to other broadcasters. Revamping either Rampage or Battle of the Belts is a possibility as well, Meltzer noted.

“There are, at least, two sets of talks out there for other stuff but I don’t know that any of them are imminent,” Meltzer continued.

AEW recently announced a new partnership with Fox Sports Mexico. The deal kicked off with the airing of WrestleDream and comes as WWE programming currently on the network prepares to move to Netflix in January.

AEW aims to expand internationally through similar deals in 2025, especially with networks set to lose their wrestling content due to the WWE-Netflix deal.

“Tony is very much into international growth. That is the 2025 goal is to grow internationally, get TV (deals in) more international places. The Fox Sports Mexico deal is an example of the battle plan. This is a station that WWE is on.”

Meltzer also says AEW wants to present more lucha matches catered to the Fox Sports Mexico audience.

“The deal is with Fox Sports Mexico, they want to produce – like, this two out of three falls match with Hologram and Mortos – they want to produce matches like this on a regular basis because of the Fox Sports Mexico audience.”

The full episode of Wrestling Observer Radio is available here.

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