In recent weeks, we've seen deals signed which, in 2024, will see SmackDown move back to the USA Network and NXT make the leap to The CW. However, when it comes to RAW, there's still no word on where WWE's flagship show is going to land.
According to pro wrestling historian Dave Meltzer, CM Punk has become a "selling point" for RAW (explaining why he signed with the Monday night show this week) and, now, there's a chance the long-running WWE show could head to a Warner Bros. Discovery-owned network like TNT or TBS.
If so, that could spell bad news for the AEW shows that currently air on those networks: AEW Dynamite, AEW Rampage, and AEW Collision.
Here's what Meltzer had to say:
"They would like to get close to $400 million. I don't think they're gonna get $400 million but they're shopping it around and WBD obviously being one of them. WBD seemed to be dead and it's not dead. With Punk there and everything like that, it's not dead. It's not like people should go oh my God this and that with AEW. There's no way of knowing anything more other than they did have a meeting and it's not dead. That's all."
"WWE as far as the Raw deal is the belief is that they're finalizing pretty soon. [Paul] Levesque was at Raw [on] Monday. [He] missed the one Raw if you remember because of whatever they were doing. They're trying to close that deal. That's pretty much it. Punk opened up what may have been a shut door. How open that door is or what is gonna transpire, I don't know."
"Punk, he's a significant player and that's one of the reasons he's gonna be at the house show in Los Angeles this week because I'm sure that the people who they are courting -- everyone's headquarters is in L.A. I'm sure that they're gonna invite everyone that they're courting there and figuring that they're gonna see, with Punk and Dom, they picked the right opponent for just a great reaction to go look, this is what you're getting, this is the show we're selling."
"They're in negotiations and AEW is in negotiations. These negotiations are going to be gigantic to the future of wrestling in many ways, depending on who gets what, depending on the days of the week, depending on the counters."
Warner Bros. Discovery owns a great many channels, so there's nothing to say the studio won't ultimately host both AEW and WWE programming. Still, WWE has to be a more appealing prospect than AEW, particularly when you look at ratings, recent buzz, and profitability.
Needless to say, Tony Khan's decision to fire CM Punk may have been the worst one he ever made.
As always, we'll keep you updated on this developing situation as we learn more.