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TNT have just announced the return of professional wrestling to their network for the first time since the death of WCW, and after the recent struggles of WWE, it's safe to say that the wrestling world is excited. While we've yet to see a single show from AEW (Double or Nothing is just days away in Vegas), they've clearly put together an amazing group, and with Tony Khan and his team behind the product, they could be genuine competitors in the global wrestling market.
While it's going to be a long road to make a true impact on the global market, AEW have the pieces in place and the talent to become huge, and it all starts with their first show, Double or Nothing in Las Vegas. So without further ado, read along as we look to All Elite Wrestling's deal with TNT and tell you 5 reasons why you should be incredibly excited about the future of Tony Khan's company.
#5 The first major wrestling show on TNT since the death of WCW
There have been many comparisons made between WCW and AEW, but truthfully, the only one that makes sense is now the fact that they were both on TNT, and it's a big statement from the network to bring wrestling back after how poorly the last experiment ended. WCW lasted only 6 years on TNT, but with AEW, there's a much more wrestling-centric backing with Tony Khan, and because of that, TNT has yet again taken a chance on wrestling.
Sure, AEW may never wind up being as big as WCW, or they could be much better, but the simple fact that TNT is back in the wrestling game, should make casual fans and hardcore fans alike very excited. WCW died almost 20 years ago due to poor management and so many other factors, but if AEW can avoid those mistakes, TNT might be carrying the biggest threat to WWE ever, including WCW back in the day, and if they do it right, they'll bring droves of fans to All Elite Wrestling on TNT.
#4 A different, sports-centric look at pro wrestling
While a lot of the media attention goes to Cody and The Young Bucks for bringing AEW about, it wouldn't happen without Tony Khan, and the interviews he has done regarding this brand new company shed a lot of light on how it will be run. Khan has talked about his love for analytics, and with Wins and Losses finally ready to mean something, AEW will go deeper into the statistical side of things.
We'll wait and see how this plays out, as the new show isn't expected to begin until later in the year, and while the entire show likely won't be based around this, it's a very fun take on wrestling. Ultimately, it's the stories and the characters that win the fans over, and the company has plenty of that, but this could certainly add another layer to the show that will make it all the more enjoyable.
#3 AEW understands the desires of fans
While AEW isn't going to send WWE out of business, they will certainly get a lot of casual viewers by changing it up from the norm, and something they've already proven they can do is listen to the desires of the fans. As The Bucks, Kenny and Cody are all young, they all have their finger on the pulse, and while they can't give the fans everything they want, they've proven to be a company whose success will be built on their devoted audience.
This may all change when they finally get to TNT later in the year, but it's highly unlikely, and if they can give the fans logical storylines with fun conclusions and a diverse show, they'll be fantastic. It's going to be tough at the beginning of the TNT program, as there's a big learning curve for everyone involved, but ultimately, this company is going to thrive on giving fans what they want for the most part.
#2 The return of an icon on commentary
Before we even knew about All Elite Wrestling, there were rumours that J.R would be teaming up with the Bucks and Cody to bring you a new promotion, and while that didn't happen, he's certainly a big part of AEW going forward. Good Ole JR was announced as the lead commentator for AEW, and while there was criticism sent his way after his recent New Japan appearances, he's still arguably the best announcer to ever do it.
Flanked by Alex Marvez and the voice of PWG Excalibur, JR finally has a consistent product that he can sink his teeth into, and it's something that will definitely attract casual viewers. He's certainly not in his prime, and he won't be alongside his famous partner Jerry 'The King' Lawler, but JR is still the best of all-time, and given that he was the voice of the Attitude Era, he'll bring a lot of fans to AEW when they arrive on TNT.
#1 The diverse and exciting roster
The wrestling world is currently stacked with incredible talents, and the group that AEW have assembled so far are all fantastic, but they are different in their own way, which makes it very exciting. If we were here to talk about each individual wrestler and why they are going to help make AEW great, we'd be here all day, but from top to bottom, the roster is stacked with unique talent that are ready to make AEW a big time success.
Whether you like women's wrestling, death matches, technical style bouts, high-flying, tag team wrestling, strong style or anything in between, with the roster AEW have assembled, you'll get to see your favourite style. While casual fans are excited about Jericho, PAC, Omega, the possibility of Jon Moxley and others, it will be people like Jimmy Havoc, Joey Janela, MJF and so many others that keep them watching, and that's huge for AEW.
