AEW President Tony Khan has again voiced optimism about the anticipated combination of Paramount Skydance and Warner Bros. Discovery, saying he believes the corporate move could strengthen All Elite Wrestling as the company continues its relationship with Warner Bros. Discovery.
Khan addressed the situation during an X livestream held before the three-hour edition of AEW Dynamite in Fishers, Indiana, which served as the go-home show for AEW All Out. His comments came after reports that Paramount Skydance had reached a settlement with California and other states in litigation aimed at stopping its acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery.
While the larger transaction remains subject to its own process, Khan made clear that he has long viewed a Paramount-Warner Bros. union as a positive possibility for AEW. He presented the prospective merger not as an uncertain development to fear, but as a potentially beneficial next step for the promotion and its television future.
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“I've made it no secret, dozens and dozens of times I've gone on the record and said, ‘I look forward to a time when hopefully it will be Paramount and Warner Bros. together,’” Khan said. “I think it will make AEW stronger. I've said it time and time again. I believe we are very close to that time.”
For more background on this topic, read AEW Countdown to All Out 2026 Set for TBS After Dynamite & Collision.
Khan has consistently backed a combined media structure
The AEW president has repeatedly spoken positively about the idea of Paramount and Warner Bros. operating under the same broader corporate structure. His latest remarks continued that public stance at a notable moment: AEW is heading into All Out, one of its major annual pay-per-view events, while Warner Bros. Discovery’s future corporate makeup remains a significant topic across the media business.
For AEW, the central issue is the promotion’s established partnership with Warner Bros. Discovery. Dynamite has been a major part of AEW’s television identity, while the company’s programming and content strategy have remained closely associated with Warner Bros. Discovery platforms. Khan’s comments indicate that he sees the prospective arrival of Paramount Skydance leadership as compatible with, rather than disruptive to, that existing relationship.
There have been no reports during the merger process or the related legal proceedings indicating that AEW faces trouble as a result of the transaction. That absence of negative indications is important context for Khan’s upbeat message. He did not announce a new agreement, a programming change, or any finalized business terms for AEW. Instead, he offered his view that the expected corporate alignment would create favorable conditions for the wrestling company.
Khan also noted that Warner Bros. personnel were present for Wednesday’s Dynamite in Fishers. The attendance offered a visible reminder that AEW’s day-to-day relationship with the company remains active as the broader merger discussions and legal matters continue.
“Some top people” from Warner Bros. were at the show, Khan said, describing Warner Bros. as a group of “great partners.” That praise was not limited to AEW’s traditional television footprint. Khan specifically pointed to Warner Bros.’ involvement with AEW Advance on TikTok, illustrating the importance of digital distribution and short-form audience engagement alongside weekly live wrestling programming.
David Ellison receives strong endorsement from AEW president
A major focus of Khan’s comments was Paramount CEO David Ellison, who is expected to become an influential figure in the combined company’s leadership structure. Khan described Ellison’s involvement as a “fantastic announcement” for AEW and for AEW fans.
Khan’s endorsement centered on Ellison’s experience in sports and entertainment, as well as a personal professional familiarity built through football-related business circles. Khan, whose family owns the Jacksonville Jaguars, said he has worked with Ellison in the National Football League environment, referencing NFL Films and CBS’s partnership with the NFL.
“This is somebody who loves professional wrestling and loves sports,” Khan said of Ellison. “He's somebody I've worked with in the National Football League, whether it's NFL Films or now CBS and the great partnership with the NFL. This is a great TV producer. A great film producer, and somebody I think is going to be a great leader for Warner Bros., just like he is for Paramount.”
The comments are notable because Khan did more than offer generic support for a major executive. He emphasized Ellison’s stated appreciation for pro wrestling and sports, two areas directly relevant to AEW’s business. As a live event-driven promotion built around television, pay-per-view, streaming and social media content, AEW depends on leaders who understand both entertainment production and the value of sports-oriented programming.
Khan also framed Ellison as a proven executive across multiple forms of media. Calling him a great television producer and film producer, Khan expressed confidence that the Paramount chief could effectively guide Warner Bros. as well. It was a clear message that AEW sees opportunity in leadership with roots in both traditional entertainment and major sports media.
What the situation means for AEW right now
At present, Khan’s remarks should be viewed as a statement of confidence rather than confirmation of any immediate AEW operational change. The planned acquisition and its legal developments are larger corporate matters, and there is still a distinction between Khan’s expectations and finalized outcomes. He said he believes the parties are very close to the point where Paramount and Warner Bros. will be together, but did not put a date on a completed merger or identify specific AEW initiatives that would follow.
Still, his repeated public support matters. Wrestling companies are closely tied to their media partners, particularly when weekly television is fundamental to the product’s reach, revenue and momentum. Any major shift at a partner company can raise questions about programming priorities, executive relationships and future distribution. Khan’s message was designed to answer those concerns with reassurance: AEW’s president believes the incoming structure can enhance the company’s position.
His mention of both linear-style wrestling programming and TikTok-based content also points to the broad nature of AEW’s media ambitions. AEW is not being presented solely as a weekly television property. Khan highlighted a partnership ecosystem that includes live broadcasts, major events, sports-adjacent business connections and social platforms. A larger combined media company could potentially offer further scale, though Khan did not announce any specific plans.
For fans, the immediate focus remains AEW All Out and the stories coming out of the go-home Dynamite. But Khan’s livestream comments ensured that the business backdrop surrounding AEW was part of the conversation heading into the event. The presence of Warner Bros. representatives in Fishers, coupled with Khan’s praise for the company and for Ellison, underscored his confidence in AEW’s relationships at a consequential time.
More merger questions could follow on the All Out media call
Khan is scheduled to host a media call ahead of AEW All Out on Thursday, where the Paramount Skydance-Warner Bros. Discovery situation is likely to remain a subject of interest. Given how directly he addressed the matter before Dynamite, further questions about the merger’s potential impact on AEW would be expected.
What Khan can say beyond his broad optimism may depend on the status of the transaction and the information available publicly at that time. There have been no reported warning signs for AEW during the ongoing merger or lawsuit processes, and Khan’s position has been consistently favorable. Until there are formal announcements concerning AEW’s own rights, programming, distribution or corporate arrangements, however, any precise effects on the promotion remain unconfirmed.
The most definitive point from Khan’s latest appearance is his confidence. He believes a combined Paramount and Warner Bros. could make AEW stronger, views Warner Bros. as a valuable current partner, and sees David Ellison as a leader with meaningful appreciation for wrestling, sports and entertainment. As AEW moves into All Out weekend, Khan is signaling that he sees possibility—not instability—in the media changes unfolding around the company.
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Darryl Polo
Darryl Polo is a passionate wrestling fan covering WWE, AEW, TNA and beyond. He loves great rivalries, breakout stars and the moments that keep fans talking long after the bell. How we work.