Fox Eyeing AEW Programming as WBD Deal Nears Completion

Big news could be on the horizon for AEW! The wrestling promotion is reportedly closing in on a new deal with Warner Bros Discovery, but that’s not where the buzz ends. Speculation has been swirling all weekend about the possibility of AEW programming making its way to another network as well.

While the WBD-AEW deal is said to be “very close” to being finalized, nothing has been officially signed just yet. When rumors spread that an announcement might come at AEW All Out, representatives from Warner Bros Discovery told Fightful Select the talks are “ongoing and amicable.” Both parties are confident that the partnership will continue for years to come. But what about Fox?

Fox just wrapped up their five-year partnership with WWE, and it seems they may not be out of the pro wrestling business for good. Although there were some tensions with WWE before Vince McMahon’s exit, Fox has had its eyes on expanding its wrestling content for some time. A few years back, they almost struck a deal to bring MLW to Tubi, which led to a lawsuit. More recently, reports indicated that Fox had been exploring the idea of a seasonal wrestling program for Tubi.

There’s even been speculation that AEW content could potentially land on the Fox family of networks—whether it’s on Fox, Tubi, FS1, or elsewhere. The rumors kicked into high gear after a Shockwave trademark surfaced, leading to internal chatter about a new AEW program possibly finding its way to Fox properties.

Sources close to Fox have indicated that there’s interest in bringing wrestling back to their lineup, especially now that WWE SmackDown is off their schedule. However, the cost of SmackDown was reportedly a major factor, but with the right deal, Fox could be eager to keep pro wrestling as part of its programming.

One major wrinkle in this development is AEW’s existing exclusivity agreement with WBD, which is why AEW Dark was pulled from YouTube after the launch of Collision. This exclusivity runs through the end of the year but is reportedly being re-evaluated in current WBD negotiations. If non-exclusive programming makes a return, it could open the door for AEW to explore deals with other networks.

While at least one source claimed there had been contact between AEW and Fox, reps from Fox did not respond to requests for comment. Neither AEW nor Fox have confirmed any official talks, leaving fans to wonder: Could AEW be expanding its reach beyond Warner Bros Discovery?

What do you think about the possibility of AEW appearing on Fox? Could this open up exciting new opportunities, or would it complicate their current partnership with WBD? Share your thoughts in the comments below!