Jim Ross Wouldn’t Be Surprised To See AEW Make Major Change

Jim Ross has talked up the value of AEW.

On October 2nd, it was announced that All Elite Wrestling had reached a new media rights agreement with Warner Bros. Discovery. The deal is said to be for the next three years with the addition of a fourth option year that can be exercised by WBD.

A further report claimed that AEW stands to net a stunning $555 million over the course of those three years.

During a recent episode of his Grilling JR podcast, Jim Ross gave his thoughts on the deal and explained why it’s good news for the industry as a whole and not just Tony Khan.

Yeah, I think so (AEW’s new TV deal is great for the wrestling business) because, you know, with the advent and the development of AEW, it gives talent an option. Everybody can’t work in WWE. Everybody can’t make a living doing just the indies.

So, I think AEW’s a good alternative without question and it’s good for the talent and any time you can create an environment or a business plan that includes the enhancement of talents and you have a way to keep the talent happy which is paying ‘em, it’s a pretty good deal. Our company is unique in the sense… the travel schedule for the talent is probably as good as it’s ever been in the history of pro wrestling.

So, a guy’s got a chance, if they choose to, to have a life. To have a chance to be a dad or a mom or whatever, and so it’s (a) unique time in the business without question.

Tony (Khan) did a great job of cutting that deal and a lot of talents should feel very relieved that it’s done and they can continue to earn a good living in AEW and not be traveling all the time.

Jim Ross Expects AEW Expansion

Continuing on, Ross said he wouldn’t be surprised to see either Dynamite or Collision expanded to three hours.

Not totally (would I be surprised if Dynamite or Collision became a three-hour show). I totally wouldn’t be just shocked. I think it’d be Dynamite; would be the first preference. So yeah, it wouldn’t surprise me a bit and it might be a good idea. Hell, I don’t know. You sure get a lot more wrestling on it and it gets more talent exposed which is not a bad thing.

Jim Ross has been with AEW since 2019 and signed a new contract with the company in early 2024. The commentary legend has since admitted he’s likely in his last year as an announcer.

H/t to POST Wrestling