AEW’s stars have been on the rise ever since the promotion started back in 2019. Apart from providing engaging wrestling content, the promotion attracted the best talents. The decades of dominance in the wrestling world by WWE have been challenged before as well. The likes of WCW and TNA wrestling have posed a potential threat to them for a time. But none have given WWE a run for the money that AEW has, particularly with a new streaming deal for the latter down under.
There have been many detractors of the Tony Khan-led promotion and definitely have come hard on it. But it has ridden through the tough times and now looks set to be reaping its rightful rewards. Contesting against the juggernaut that is WWE is no mean feat. But AEW has certainly got a shot in the arm earning a TV deal with a major sports platform. The company has struck a deal with sports giant ESPN to stream its product in Australia, New Zealand, and the Asia-Pacific region.
This comes as major news for the die-hard followers of the promotion. The new agreement not only provides an expansion to the product but also recognizes its global presence. Gone are the days when Vince McMahon’s WWE was set on a path of dominance around the world.
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AEW certainly looks to be here to stay, at least for the foreseeable future. The understanding comes after the promotion signed a deal with DAZN for rights to stream in 40 countries as per TJR wrestling.
Fans react to the news
The news of the deal was broken by the company on its social media page. And the fans were quick to acknowledge the news and provide their opinions. They were particularly happy with what AEW has achieved in such a short span of time and were majorly congratulatory in their comments.
These are some of the top comments:
Pretty big deal for ESPN to open their door to AEW in some markets.
— Jared Searcy (@Searcy306) February 10, 2023
Jim Cornette said you are going out of business in March of 2020.
— Wrestling Spotlight💡 (@WrestleLight) February 10, 2023
Welcome to Australia @AEW! ..for the longest time there really has been no competition on Australian TV in the world of wrestling, until now!
— Leon (@LeonOnTheRadio) February 10, 2023
This is awesome @TonyKhan, maybe ESPN in the US will work something out to get more AEW program on our TVs 👍🏻
— Gerald De Venuta II (@JerDeVenuta13) February 10, 2023
That's awesome thanks for making it easier for the Australians mr aew
— Funny Man Sean (@wrestlinghaha) February 10, 2023
@TonyKhan can we please have live events down under??????? 🙏🏻
— Luke McLachlan (@LukeMcLachlan1) February 10, 2023
That's great for them! AEW now a global wrestling company.
My congratulations to @TonyKhan— Jim Fagen (@FagenJim) February 10, 2023
Excellent news. Looks like AEW is expanding. Good news for everyone that likes good quality wrestling. Congratulations guys🍺🍻
— Teo86 (@Teo869) February 10, 2023
The ever-spreading wings of the company give its followers a credible alternate option. Particularly those who enjoy a different type of storytelling than what existed before.
AEW has had some controversies
Not even four years in, AEW has had its fair share of controversies as well. The CM Punk media scrum fiasco of last year still haunts many. Not that he was not showing signs with his disparaging comments about “Hangman” Adam Page not long before the aforementioned incident.
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The company sure looks on an upward journey with the latest deals. AEW has established itself against experienced players like WWE. And if one goes by the reaction of fans to the new deal with ESPN, this is only the tip of the iceberg.
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