December 29, 2025 Observer Newsletter: AEW’s status heading into the new year, Worlds End preview
AEW fans have, from day one, had to deal with people claiming the company was one step from going out of business and constant fear-mongering with the idea the television would be canceled due to “poor ratings” (which generally at the time ranged from good to excellent), to overspending on talent (which in fact has resulted in a profitable company).
That talk should have been stifled one year ago when AEW and WBD signed a three-year deal for $555 million over the course of the three years with a fourth option year at a substantial increase in pay, covering television rights, streaming rights and a PPV deal which eventually would make HBO MAX the home of AEW PPV shows at a lower price in the U.S. than available elsewhere, a deal that also would bring in millions of dollars per year to HBO MAX on the other side.
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Dave Meltzer is the founder and lead writer on the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, the weekly constant when it comes to news and reviews in pro wrestling and mixed martial arts for more than 40 years. Dave also co-hosts Wrestling Observer Radio with Bryan Alvarez and had had bylines for The National, Yahoo Sports, MMA Fighting and others.