Jim Ross Addresses AEW Dynamite Potentially Expanding to Three Hours After Media Rights Deal

AEW has seen tons of growth over the years but there is always room for more growth and improvement. In fact, now that AEW has secured a new deal with Warner Bros. Discovery, Jim Ross has addressed AEW Dynamite possibly becoming three hours long.

Earlier reports confirmed that AEW and Warner Bros. Discovery have finalized a new multi-year media rights deal, further strengthening their partnership. The agreement spans three years, with an option for a fourth, and is valued at $185 million.

While speaking on his Grilling JR podcast, Jim Ross talked about AEW’s new media deal and praised Tony Khan for his hard work in securing it. Ross said that AEW is great for wrestling because it gives wrestlers another option besides WWE, especially since not everyone can work for WWE or make enough money on the independent scene. AEW offers a good alternative, allowing wrestlers to have steady jobs and get paid well.

Ross also mentioned that AEW has a lighter travel schedule compared to most wrestling companies, which gives wrestlers more time for their personal lives, whether it’s being with family or just having a break. He believes this makes AEW a great place to work.

‘Yeah, I think so (AEW’s new TV deal is great for the wrestling business) because, you know, with the advent and the development of AEW, it gives talent an option. Everybody can’t work in WWE. Everybody can’t make a living doing just the indies. So, I think AEW’s a good alternative without question and it’s good for the talent and any time you can create an environment or a business plan that includes the enhancement of talents and you have a way to keep the talent happy which is paying ‘em, it’s a pretty good deal.

Our company is unique in the sense… the travel schedule for the talent is probably as good as it’s ever been in the history of pro wrestling. So, a guy’s got a chance, if they choose to, to have a life. To have a chance to be a dad or a mom or whatever, and so it’s (a) unique time in the business without question.

Tony (Khan) did a great job of cutting that deal and a lot of talents should feel very relieved that it’s done and they can continue to earn a good living in AEW and not be traveling all the time.”

Recently, the length of WWE shows has become a hot topic. For the rest of the year, Raw will be cut down to 2 hours before moving to Netflix, where it will likely return to its usual 3-hour format in January. There are also rumors that SmackDown could extend to 3 hours starting next year.

On AEW’s side, the 5th-anniversary special of Dynamite ran for 2 and a half hours, thanks to an extended overrun. With AEW regularly getting permission for overruns and more money being invested into the product, Jim Ross was asked if he thought Dynamite or Collision could permanently extend to 3 hours each week.

Ross said he wouldn’t be completely surprised if this happened, particularly with Dynamite. He mentioned that it could be a good idea, as it would allow for more wrestling and give more wrestlers a chance to be featured, which could be a positive for the company.

“Not totally (would I be surprised if Dynamite or Collision became a three-hour show). I totally wouldn’t be just shocked. I think it’d be Dynamite; would be the first preference. So yeah, it wouldn’t surprise me a bit and it might be a good idea. Hell, I don’t know. You sure get a lot more wrestling on it and it gets more talent exposed which is not a bad thing.”

Regardless, we will have to wait and see whether AEW will end up having more having hours worth of programming soon enough, as Tony Khan made it abundantly clear that AEW has secured the bag.