All Elite Wrestling

All Elite Wrestling, LLC (AEW)[4] is an American professional wrestling promotion founded in 2019.[1] Its inception was announced by entrepreneurs Shahid Khan and his son Tony, with the former acting as the promotion's lead investor, and the latter being the founder, president and CEO of the company. Professional wrestlers Cody Rhodes as well as Matt and Nick Jackson, collectively known as The Elite, are the promotion's inaugural contracted talents. The three are serving as both in-ring performers and executive vice presidents alongside Kenny Omega, fellow professional wrestler and co-founder of The Elite.

All Elite Wrestling, LLC
All Elite Wrestling
Private
IndustryProfessional wrestling
FoundedJanuary 1, 2019 (2019-01-01)
FoundersTony Khan[1][2][3]
Headquarters1 TIAA Bank Field Dr,
Jacksonville, Florida,
United States
Area served
Worldwide
Key people
Products
  • Live events
  • Merchandise
  • Music
  • Pay-per-view
  • Publishing
  • Television
ServicesLicensing
OwnerShahid Khan
Tony Khan
Websitewww.allelitewrestling.com

Since October 2, 2019,[5] AEW has produced a two-hour weekly TV show, AEW Dynamite,[6] airing live on TNT in the United States.[7][8] CBS Sports described AEW as "the first company with major financial backing to take a swing at beginning to compete with WWE on a major level in nearly two decades".[9]

History

Background
Main article: All In (professional wrestling event)

In May 2017, professional wrestling journalist Dave Meltzer made a comment that the American professional wrestling promotion Ring of Honor (ROH) could not sell 10,000 tickets for a wrestling event.[10] The comment was responded to by professional wrestlers Cody Rhodes and The Young Bucks (the tag team of Matt Jackson and Nick Jackson), who were then top stars signed to ROH and good friends both inside and outside of professional wrestling as part of the group Bullet Club (and later, The Elite).[11] They promoted and held an independent professional wrestling event called All In in September 2018, featuring wrestlers from ROH as well as other promotions. The event sold out in 30 minutes and had the largest audience in attendance for a professional wrestling show in America held and organized by promoters not affiliated with WWE or World Championship Wrestling (WCW) since 1993. The event was attended by 11,263 people.[12][13][14][15] The event was acclaimed, and it led to much online speculation that Cody and The Young Bucks would expand their ambitions and create their own professional wrestling promotion or do a second All In event. People in the television industry were also very impressed with the show.[16][17]

Formation
Nick Jackson (left) and Matt Jackson (right) teamed with Cody Rhodes to help start the promotion.
Cody Rhodes

On November 5, 2018, several trademarks were filed in Jacksonville, Florida, that indicated the launch of All Elite Wrestling.[18] Names filed for trademark included: All Elite Wrestling, AEW All Out, All Out, AEW, Double or Nothing, Tuesday Night Dynamite, AEW Double or Nothing, and several logos.[19][20][21] In December 2018, Cody, The Young Bucks, and several other wrestlers left ROH.[22][23] The official announcement of AEW's creation came at midnight Pacific Time on January 1, 2019 in an episode of Being the Elite, a YouTube web series created by and featuring The Elite. Also announced in the episode was Double or Nothing, AEW's inaugural event and sequel to All In.[24][25][26] On January 2, 2019, Cody and The Young Bucks officially signed with the promotion as competitors as well as serving as AEW's co-Executive Vice Presidents, while entrepreneur, football executive, and longtime wrestling fan Tony Khan was announced as the president of the company.[27][28] Tony and his father, Shahid, were reportedly backing the promotion as lead investors.[29][30] The Khans are billionaires and part of the ownership group of the Jacksonville Jaguars and Fulham F.C.[31]

Cody's wife, Brandi Rhodes, was announced as the company's Chief brand officer on January 3, 2019.[32][33] On January 8, 2019, the company held its inaugural press conference on the forecourt of the TIAA Bank Field, where they announced talents that were going to perform as part of the promotion, including former ROH wrestlers the team of SoCal Uncensored (Christopher Daniels, Scorpio Sky, and Frankie Kazarian), "Hangman" Adam Page; independent wrestlers Dr. Britt Baker, Joey Janela, and former WWE wrestlers Pac, and Chris Jericho.[34] They also announced a working relationship with Chinese professional wrestling promotion Oriental Wrestling Entertainment (OWE).[35][36] On February 7, 2019, the group held a press conference where tickets were released for Double or Nothing. Other big announcements included Kenny Omega joining as a competitor and the company's fourth co-Executive Vice President, as well as the signings of Lucha Brothers (Pentagón Jr. and Rey Fénix), Best Friends (Trent Beretta and Chuck Taylor), and a partnership with Mexican promotion Lucha Libre AAA Worldwide (AAA).[37]

Programming
See also: List of AEW Dynamite special episodes and Wednesday Night Wars

On May 8, 2019, AEW reached a new media rights deal with British media company ITV plc to broadcast AEW shows on ITV4 with pay-per-views being broadcast on ITV Box Office starting with Double or Nothing on May 25, 2019.[38] On May 15, 2019, AEW and WarnerMedia announced a deal for a weekly prime-time show airing live on TNT beginning on October 2, 2019—the network that formerly had broadcast WCW's Monday Nitro during the Monday Night Wars (1995–2001). CBS Sports describes AEW as "the first company with major financial backing to take a swing at beginning to compete with WWE on a major level in nearly two decades".[9]

On May 25, 2019, AEW produced their first ever pay-per-view (PPV), Double or Nothing. It took place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena, and saw the debut of Jon Moxley. The event earned positive reviews from critics including Canadian Online Explorer, CBS Sports, ESPN, Pro Wrestling Torch, Pro Wrestling Dot Net and WrestleView, with the last three matches earning the most praise.[39][40][41][42][43][44] Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter wrote that "after just one show", AEW is already "the hottest non-WWE force in the U.S. pro wrestling business in more than 20 years".[45] On September 19, 2019, TNT's website listed AEW show's as AEW Dynamite, a one-hour preview show was also scheduled for October 1 at 8 PM.[46]

AEW releases a "Road to..." and "Countdown to..." series of videos on its official YouTube channel prior to Dynamite and pay-per-view events. The videos consist of interviews, video packages, and backstage segments. The series is used to hype pre-existing matches, as well as create new rivalries.[47]

In November 2019, AEW announced Bash at the Beach, a nine-day series of events, featuring two episodes of Dynamite, including one aboard Chris Jericho's Rock 'N' Wrestling Rager at Sea.[48]

On January 15, 2020, WarnerMedia and AEW announced a contract extension for Dynamite on TNT through 2023 and that AEW would be launching an upcoming second weekly show.[49]

ProgramOriginal releaseOriginal networkNotes
AEW DynamiteOctober 2, 2019–presentTNTAEW's flagship program.
AEW DarkOctober 8, 2019–presentYouTubeFeatures untelevised matches held during Dynamite tapings on AEW's YouTube channel.

Events
Main article: List of All Elite Wrestling pay-per-view events

AEW pay-per-view events are available via B/R Live in the United States and Canada, and via FITE TV internationally. Additionally, AEW PPVs are also available via traditional PPV outlets in the United States and Canada and are carried by all major satellite providers.[50][51]

On February 19, 2020, AEW reached a new media rights deal with German media company Sky Deutschland (which previously broadcast WWE and Impact Wrestling shows) to broadcast AEW pay-per-views on Sky Select Event.[52]

Personnel
Main article: List of All Elite Wrestling personnel

Championships and accomplishments

Championships
Championship Current champion(s) Reign Date won Days
held		 Location Notes
AEW World Championship Jon Moxley 1 February 29, 2020 121 Chicago, Illinois Defeated Chris Jericho at Revolution.[38]
AEW TNT Championship Cody 1 May 23, 2020 37 Jacksonville, Florida Defeated Lance Archer in a tournament final to become the inaugural champion at Double or Nothing.[53]
AEW Women's World Championship Hikaru Shida 1 May 23, 2020 37 Jacksonville, Florida Defeated Nyla Rose in a No Disqualification and No Countout match at Double or Nothing.
AEW World Tag Team Championship
Kenny Omega and "Hangman" Adam Page 1 January 21, 2020 160 Nassau, Bahamas Defeated SoCal Uncensored (Frankie Kazarian and Scorpio Sky) aboard Norwegian Pearl at Chris Jericho's Rock 'N' Wrestling Rager at Sea Part Deux: Second Wave.
Aired on tape delay as part of the January 22, 2020 episode of Dynamite.

Accomplishments
AccomplishmentLatest winnerDate wonLocationNotes Ref.
Casino Battle Royale (men) Adam Page May 25, 2019 Paradise, Nevada Last eliminated MJF at Double or Nothing to win, earning a match for the inaugural AEW World Championship at All Out.
Casino Battle Royale (women) Nyla Rose August 31, 2019 Hoffman Estates, Illinois Last eliminated Britt Baker at All Out to win, earning a match for the inaugural AEW Women's World Championship on the debut episode of Dynamite.
Dynamite Diamond Ring MJF November 27, 2019 Hoffman Estates, Illinois The two winners of the Dynamite Dozen Battle Royale faced each other in a singles match for the Dynamite Diamond Ring. MJF won the battle royal alongside Adam Page and then defeated Page on Dynamite to win the ring. [38]
Casino Ladder Match Brian Cage May 23, 2020 Jacksonville, Florida Defeated Frankie Kazarian, Scorpio Sky, Kip Sabian, Darby Allin, Orange Cassidy, Colt Cabana, Joey Janela, and Luchasaurus at Double or Nothing to win, earning a future AEW World Championship match. [54]

References
  1. All Elite Wrestling [@AEWrestling] (May 15, 2019). "Breaking News - @AEWrestling to air on @TNTDrama" (Tweet). Retrieved May 16, 2019 – via Twitter.
  2. Hignet, Katherine (May 27, 2019). "Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Praises AEW Wrestler Cody Rhodes: This Is 'What Growth Looks Like'". Newsweek. Retrieved September 3, 2019.
  3. Muthanna, Pradhan (March 15, 2019). "AEW To Sign Two Former WWE Stars? Swagger Admits Possibility". International Business Times. Retrieved May 16, 2019.
  4. Satin, Ryan (November 21, 2018). "Elite Related Trademark Filings Seemingly Connect Group to Rumored New Promotion". ProWrestlingSheet.com. Pro Wrestling Sheet. Retrieved January 1, 2019.
  5. Otterson, Joe (July 24, 2019). "All Elite Wrestling to Launch on TNT Wednesdays in October". Variety.com. Variety. Retrieved July 24, 2019.
  6. "AEW on TNT starts Wed, October 2nd 8/7c - #AEWDynamite" (Press release). All Elite Wrestling. September 19, 2019. Retrieved September 19, 2019.
  7. Ross, Jim [@JRsBBQ] (May 27, 2019). "Yep, @tntdrama beginning this October, day of week TBA Live, 2 hours.....check us out. Thanks. 🤠" (Tweet). Retrieved May 28, 2019 – via Twitter.
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