![](https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/tony-khan-laughing.jpg?width=600)
![](https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/tony-khan-laughing.jpg?width=600)
For the last week, AEW has been in the news for all the wrong reasons, thanks to receiving backlash for CM Punk’s firing. But the focus might just shift as big financial news regarding AEW just hit the market. It’s been just four years since AEW was launched by Tony Khan but it is already proving to be formidable competition for WWE not just in ratings, but financially as well.
WWE has been in the business for over 40 years now and, in that time, its market value has quadrupled from what it was at the start.
AEW as a company is valued at over $2 Billion
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
AEW has been making waves in the wrestling business for quite some time now. Just recently its PPV ‘All In’ broke the record for the highest attendance for a pro wrestling event at the Wembley Stadium with 81,035 fans. In addition to that AEW has increased its weekly televised programming with the addition of Collision since June.
![](https://image-cdn.essentiallysports.com/wp-content/uploads/Tony-Khan-2.png?width=150&blur=15)
AEW also launched its very own wrestling game called AEW Fight Forever on 28 June. All of this coupled together has definitely been helping AEW in raking in the moolah. And if they continue aggressively at their current rate of expansion, Triple H and Co. might have to rethink their strategy if they want to continue to dominate the wrestling business.
Recently, Mike Ozanian, the assistant managing editor of Forbes Media and co-host/managing editor of Forbes SportsMoney, derived the market value of AEW after doing an in-depth analysis of the business over the last four years. And he arrived at the conclusion that the company is valued at $2 billion, at the minimum.
Mike Ozanian, the Assistant Managing Editor of Forbes Media and co-host/Managing Editor of Forbes SportsMoney, did a study on the AEW business and valued the company at over $2 Billion, likely at minimum. pic.twitter.com/HzyP0TiKcN
— Wrestle Ops (@WrestleOps) September 8, 2023
Just to put things into perspective, WWE’s net worth is around $8.15 billion. Despite AEW’s numbers being just 1/4th of WWE’s, it’s quite a warning bell for the WWE clan to make some big changes going forward to regain market control.
But fans are very skeptical of these AEW figures and they had a field day on Twitter because of it.
Fans feel AEW’s value is highly inflated
WWE made a total profit of $1.29 billion in 2022 while AEW just made $100 million. So although AEW still has a long way to go as far as revenue making is concerned, their net worth is already 1/4th that of WWE. But fans obviously think these numbers are fudged and voiced their opinions on Twitter.
2 billion? Is that how much TK’s dad is putting into the company? Aside from Wembley they can’t be making that much money
— Jason Anoaʻi (@JayAnoai18) September 8, 2023
Fans joked that this $2 billion valuation is the doing of Tony Khan’s father, Shahid Khan, a billionaire and owner of the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Most of it is just Tony's family money and less is earned
— Yash kulshrestha (@y1ashk) September 9, 2023
Some fans think that the number is a joke, as no one in the right mind would be paying that much for access to an AEW PPV.
The idea that AEW is worth 2B+ is a joke. And i've watched AEW from the beginning. No sane person would pay anything close to that.
— justin johnson (@justinj74491018) September 8, 2023
However, there were a few others who supported the brand and applauded it’s hard work.
They’re very valuable. They may be “secondary” but they’re still bringing in a lot of $.
— Cory (@Cory_Hays407) September 8, 2023
In a backhanded compliment, one fan said that the company’s valuation wasn’t too bad compared to WWE.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
Not bad for "secondary"!
— Paul (@PaulEyezOnMe) September 8, 2023
Dave Meltzer reporting from The Wrestling Observer Newsletter also pointed out that these figures might be inflated and AEW’s actual value might be around $1 billion. But irrespective of that, one thing is for sure. AEW’s success is growing exponentially and this might be a cause of upset for WWE in the future.
ADVERTISEMENT
Article continues below this ad
Do you think AEW will topple WWE from the top of the wrestling food chain to attain the top spot?
Watch this story: Deep Dive Into Hollywood Star and WWE Legend John Cena’s Lifestyle