On December 4, it was announced that Netflix had successfully acquired AEW’s partner Warner Bros. Discovery, thereby taking ownership of the wrestling organization. This development creates an interesting dynamic where Netflix, already streaming WWE’s Monday Night Raw, now has control over the platform that broadcasts AEW weekly.
With Netflix potentially integrating AEW into its service, significant changes could be on the horizon for the company. Here are six possible ways Netflix might alter AEW.
6. End of Simulcasting on HBO Max
Netflix’s takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery brings major implications for AEW’s digital infrastructure. Warner Bros. Discovery operates HBO Max, a streaming service that directly competes with Netflix. As a result, it is widely anticipated that AEW will be removed from HBO Max. This means AEW Dynamite and Collision will no longer be simulcast there, pay-per-view events won’t be accessible to HBO Max subscribers, and the streaming service itself will likely be phased out in the context of AEW content.
Fan Take: This shift matters deeply to AEW fans, as it signals a new era of how and where they consume wrestling content. With Netflix’s vast reach and resources, AEW could gain a bigger audience, but fans will need to adapt to changes in viewing platforms and access.
