The reason behind changes to AEW Dynamite’s booking over the recent episodes has been revealed and it’s all media rights related.
With next week’s landmark episode of AEW Dynamite seeing MJF facing Will Ospreay for the International Championship as confirmed on the July 10 episode of the show, this is just another example of Khan loading Dynamite with ‘high profile’ matches and angles.
Last night’s AEW Dynamite also saw Owen Hart Tournament Final winner Mariah May betray Toni Storm with the pair heading to AEW All In with the Women’s World Championship on the line.
On Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer has now revealed why AEW Dynamite has a heightened focus on big matches and angles, saying:
“The reason that these shows have been so loaded is because the negotiations aren’t done and they’re really looking… To get the best foot forward.
“Until the contract is signed, if it’s signed, which presumably it will, but these ratings are important as far as the final payment numbers and time slots and all the other stuff that’s going into the negotiations and all aspects of it.
“If the product looks hot in the ratings it’s gonna help them, that’s why next week’s show is so loaded, that’s why this week’s show is the way it was.”
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AEW and Warner Bros Discovery have been in ongoing negotiations over the company’s media rights with a recent report stating that WBD was ‘very happy’ with the ratings for AEW Dynamite.
With the June 19, 2024, episode of AEW Dynamite suffering a dip in viewership, a WBD source stated they “wouldn’t really put much into one week’s numbers.”
On June 28, it was reported that the negotiation window between both parties is “set to expire in a few weeks time” with it further being stated that “there is an offer on the table from WBD” and that the offer has been there “for months.”
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