Tony Khan explains the boost in AEW world title matches on free TV

In prior years, the All Elite Wrestling World Championship was defended mostly on pay per views. This year, there have been a lot more matches on free television shows. Why the change?

AEW CEO Tony Khan talked about his promotion’s frequent title defenses in an interview with Case Lowe of Chicago radio station Q101.

“In 2026, you’ve had 13 world title matches on free TV between Dynamite, Collision, and Grand Slam Australia,” Lowe said. “You had just 11 from 2024 to the end of 2025. Are you being influenced by your TV partners for this influx of world title matches?”

“I think we’re delivering at the highest level and it’s great having these championship fights,” Khan replied. “And when AEW’s at our very best, I think you can tune in and expect to see the top stars fighting each other in huge matches and big rivalries.” 

Khan said it was important to serve all of AEW’s fans, whether they’re buying pay per views or not.

“I do think that having all these great championship fights on Dynamite, on Collision, on the major events, and having the very best pay-per-views, our fans are having their cake and eating it, too,” he said. “You get the very best on TV and a great wrestling product for the fans who can’t necessarily afford the pay-per-views that you can certainly expect to get such a high standard watching AEW on weekly TV, Wednesdays on TBS, Saturdays on TNT, or streaming everything on HBO Max. And I think there are some fans that necessarily maybe can’t buy every pay-per-view and they still are getting great wrestling every week.” 

Khan was sure to add that AEW’s best events are still on pay per view.

“And the cool thing about the AEW pay-per-views, they’re worth it,” he said. “I try to put out an incredible pay-per-view every time because I never want to take for granted the people spending the money on the tickets or on the pay-per-view and delivering at an even higher standard than the incredibly high standard that we try to hold ourselves to week to week in terms of delivering great matches and great episodes of wrestling television.”