It was previously reported that Dave Meltzer mentioned on an episode of Wrestling Observer Radio that the WWE was shopping RAW around to networks such as Amazon Prime, Warner Bros. Discovery and Disney’s FX about a month ago as they are looking to get close to $400 million in rights fees per year and WWE was also looking at the possibility of RAW staying with USA Network.
There was also a concern that talks with Warner Bros. Discovery seemed to be dead after WWE President Nick Khan and WWE Chief Content Officer Triple H had a meeting with their executives a month ago, but that does not seem to be the case, especially since CM Punk is back in the WWE as that has opened the doors for the WWE’s top executives to meet with the executives from Warner Bros. Discovery, with Punk as the selling point.
According to PWInsider.com, TKO’s Marc Shapiro, WWE President Nick Khan and WWE Chief Content Officer Triple H went to New York City last Monday morning, where they had a meeting for a number of hours at the Warner Bros. Discovery headquarters with top WBD executive Bruce Campbell, who holds the position of Chief Revenue and Strategy Officer, about RAW’s television rights.
It was also noted on the report that Monday Night RAW still has a few other suitors, but if a deal is reached between WWE and Warner Bros. Discovery, then that would have a major impact on AEW, who has a TV deal with WBD that runs through the end of 2024. Tony Khan did meet with WBD on Tuesday, but it is believed that the RAW deal will be finalized soon and the reason WWE will have CM Punk compete at the house show in Los Angeles is he is a big-time player for the company and the people they are courting have their headquarters in Los Angeles.
Some television rights news will be coming out within the next couple of weeks and WBD could have the WWE and AEW on their networks, but it all depends on how much WBD can afford because they also want to keep the NBA and that lingering deal is impacting TV negotiations for both AEW and WWE.
