AS I SEE IT
Bob Magee
Pro Wrestling Between the Sheets
PWBTS.com
Assorted AEW thoughts...
Last Wednesday, AEW and Prime Video announced a multi-year
agreement to offer AEW PPV events for purchase to fans
across the United States, Canada and the UK, which began
with yesterday's Revolution PPV. It represents a big
addition to the distribution of AEW's PPVs, making them more
accessible than ever to fans through Prime Video for anyone
using the Prime app. The agreement includes all AEW PPVs,
including Revolution, Dynasty, Double or Nothing, All In,
Forbidden Door, All Out, WrestleDream, Full Gear, and Worlds
End.
"We are thrilled to work with Prime Video to bring all AEW
pay-per-view events to their incredible service, marking a
major milestone in the continued expansion of AEW’s global
reach,” said AEW CEO, GM and Head of Creative Tony Khan.
AEW PPVs join Amazon Prime Video’s global live sports
lineup, including Thursday Night (NFL) Football, NBA, NHL,
UEFA Champions League, offered at no added cost on Prime,
plus add-on subscriptions such as FanDuel Sports Network,
MAX, AppleTV+ and discovery+, as well as a growing portfolio
of other PPV events, including Premier Boxing Champions.
AEW made the agreement after discovered that when AEW PPVs
were on the B/R app, a high percentage of PPV customers used
Amazon's checkout option, and decided to
sign the agreement to make PPVs available there to get them
out there in front of more people.
Of course, prior to Revolution, there were the trolls and
assorted others that engaged in performative whining about
AEW having signed to be distributed by Amazon Prime (because
of Amazon's very real labor issues, and Jeff Bezos's
ruination of the Washington Post); but in reality, likely
had no intention of buying Revolution anyway. News flash:
they'd better get ready to drop nearly every streaming
service they own.... after they Google Amazon Web Services.
For those legitimately concerned about Amazon's practices,
Amazon Prime is one of seven options available to order AEW
PPVs. In the future, simply use another service to order
PPVs. That's what I do.
Hopefully, by summer, MAX will be an option we all can use
for ordering our PPVs.
Moving on...
Last week, AEW and Joe Hand Promotions announced a multi-
year agreement for exclusive distribution of AEW’s PPVs, as
an extension of the long-term commercial distribution rights
partnership that began in 2019. Joe Hand Promotions is the
global leader in live sports viewing in bars, restaurants,
and casinos.
The partnership offers establishments flexibility and
accessibility to AEW events with a variety of ways to air
them, including DIRECTV for Business and DISH, select cable
providers via InDemand, and streaming options such as
PPV.com, YouTube, Amazon Prime, and TrillerTV.
Also...people got grumpy last week about AJ, Big Justice and
The Rizzler being on Zero Hour before last night's
Revolution PPV; as if the pre-show was supposed to feature
Omega-Okada.
The Costco Guys did media the week before Revolution,
including being featured at the LA Lakers home game, ESPN
LA, KTLA, and with other local LA media.
They aren't my thing (although AJ did wrestle indies in New
Jersey lots of years ago as American Power Eric Justice),
but their TikTok followers generate different eyes on AEW,
with those new eyes more likely to watch his match and
potentially buy the PPV. THIS is why AJ and the Costco Guys
are used by Tony Khan...they can get publicity in places AEW
itself can't or doesn't.
If these folks being on the Zero Hour bothers you that much,
take a few minutes, order your PPV DoorDash and go wait by
your door. Get a beer. Walk your dog. You'll live. Same
thing for Jericho matches if they give you agita.
Here's an update on what I said 2 weeks from the Warner
Brothers Discovery press release, which indicated that AEW
Collision would get two major post-sports slots for
Collision after NCAA March Madness second round coverage on
March 22 and 23; with one-hour episodes of Collision from
the March 19 Omaha, NE taping each night at 11pm (or at the
completion of March Madness coverage). In other words, have
your DVR ready or be prepared to watch it on MAX next
morning if you live in the East
By the way, next time you hear E-trolls tell you AEW isn't
competition; ask them why WrestleVotes just reported that
the next Saturday Night’s Main Event is scheduled for May
24, and WWE plans to hold NXT Battleground on May 25, both
in Tampa, FL...the very same weekend AEW is holding the
Double or Nothing PPV in Glendale, AZ.
Total coincidence, right? Saturday Night Main Event just
HAPPENS to be run head-to-head with the go-home Collision
prior to Double Or Nothing; and NXT Battleground just
HAPPENS being run head-to-head with Double or Nothing PPV.
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