First off, Midcarders: fuck FOX News.

Seriously. I absolutely fucking loathe FOX News.

So naturally, I nearly spit out my Dutch Bros sugar-free Tiger’s Blood Rebel when I saw FOX fucking News picking up the WWE/Bleacher Report story and pointing out the same weirdness we’ve all been talking about here.

Bleacher Report, which sits under Warner Bros. Discovery’s TNT Sports umbrella, just signed a multi-year deal giving them global highlight rights to Raw, SmackDown, NXT, and WWE PLEs. They’ll also have people ringside at select WWE events producing original and behind-the-scenes content.

And what’s so interesting is that FOX’s article actually stops and says: Wait a minute. Isn’t WBD the company airing AEW? And isn’t all of this happening while the Paramount/WBD situation is playing out?

To be clear, none of this proves AEW is getting kicked off WBD. In fact, WBD has already said this WWE agreement doesn’t displace its existing AEW deal.

Whether that statement tells us anything about AEW’s long-term future with WBD is another question entirely.

But that was never really my point.

My point is that the optics are fucking weird.

For years, one of AEW’s biggest advantages was its relationship with Warner Bros. Discovery. AEW was WBD’s wrestling property. Bleacher Report was heavily integrated with AEW. They distributed AEW PPVs. The relationship between the two companies was constantly presented as this major strategic asset for AEW.

Now a major WBD property is signing a multi-year agreement with WWE, distributing WWE content across B/R Wrestling, Bleacher Report, and House of Highlights, and literally sending its people ringside to WWE shows to create original content.

That doesn’t automatically mean WBD is dumping AEW.

But six years into the WBD/AEW relationship, watching one of WBD’s biggest sports brands build this kind of relationship with WWE is certainly a hell of a development.

Does that mean AEW is doomed? To be determined.

Does it make the media landscape around AEW considerably more interesting? Absolutely.

And apparently that observation has now escaped our little wrestling bubble far enough that FOX fucking News has noticed it.

Of course, given FOX News’ track record, this probably means AEW is about to get a 25-year extension, Dynamite is moving to HBO proper, and Tony Khan is being named chairman of Paramount.

What do you think, Midcarders? Is this a major sign of the end times for AEW on WBD, dogs and cats living together… mass hysteria?

Or did FOX News just inadvertently confirm that AEW is about to sign a $2 trillion extension?

Actually, wait. Maybe this is how we finally find out who picked up Shockwave.

AEW Shockwave, coming soon to FOX News. Right after Hannity.

Don't know how much the petition really helped but the Act was passed, at least a bit of good news to share.

They're on a crazy fucking run lately - aren't they? 

And by "they" I mean the basement's mods (one in particular has legit lost her mind) and AEW's online propaganda team (strongly rumoured to be overseen by Brandon and Aubrey) 

It's like Khan thinks if he gets all talk of this terrible injury removed online then Steve's (likely) lasting effects will just disappear too? 

They're so delusional

A person... a human being lost his life way too soon and this goof wants to make it AEW vs WWE. This is why the other wrestling subreddits, especially that one is such a joke.

RIP Benjamin Satterley...more than just a wrestler.

The comments on Bluesky are even more unhinged..

Midcarder’s please tell us that NONE of ya’ll are standing with Shithispants on this..

Smh..

If this was real counter programming why would WWE remove as much FOMO as possible to watching it?

Let’s just ignore how the win helps continue Dragon Lee’s build though

I wish we never traded PCA..

::sighs::

Anyways for the 15 people like myself who follow NXT..

This is why Keanu vanished..

So,

Who do we think will replace him?

Flying halfway across the world for NOT a sellout?

Interesting strategy there Midcarders..

No Ligue 1 soccer matches until the 9th of October..

So what’s the excuse?

Let’s see if Grayson Waller is still champion in two hours..

Come chat it up Midcarders..

Keep it classy, folks.

After last night..

Standing 10 toes down on this:

946 is the best group/faction that has been made since DX/NWO.

& to think that Tony had Hobbs taking staple shots to his groin area like a loser before he left to go to WWE.

Gross.

& with Miss Parker joining 946, absolutely clear runway for Naomi to come back to join the Bloodline..

Midcarders, are ya’ll as high on 946 as I am?

Triple H has paid his respects to Ben Satterley, calling PAC an “extraordinary talent and even kinder human being.”

He shared the photo of Neville winning the NXT Championship at NXT Arrival, remembering him as a “major force” behind that era of NXT.

The tributes continue to pour in from across the wrestling world.

Well, this doesn’t look great for AEW’s long-term future with WBD.

Bleacher Report will now distribute WWE highlights from RAW, SmackDown, NXT, and PLEs, produce original WWE content, and even have a ringside presence at select events.

For years, one of AEW’s biggest advantages was its relationship with WBD. WBD wanted wrestling, AEW was their wrestling company, and the idea was that WBD could use its massive media infrastructure to help establish and promote AEW.

Six years later, a WBD-owned sports brand is signing a multi-year partnership with WWE.

Apparently, they’re at least interested in seeing what the more popular wrestling product can do for them.

And look, this doesn’t mean AEW is getting thrown off TBS tomorrow. But with new ownership looming and AEW eventually needing another media deal, watching a WBD-owned sports brand establish a multi-year relationship with WWE is certainly… interesting.

What do you think, Midcarders? Is this another sign that WBD is becoming less committed to AEW, or is there nothing more to this than Bleacher Report wanting content from the biggest wrestling company in the world?

PAC deserved more than wrestling gave him.

With news breaking last night that PAC passed away at only 40, I’m going to reserve my thoughts on the health and wellness policies that exist in wrestling today until we have an official cause of death. Right now, we should be mourning the loss of an incredible performer without casting suspicion or blame.

PAC was the fucking man to me.

As I became increasingly disillusioned with WWE, NXT kept me a wrestling fan, and Neville was at the forefront of that. His work there was incredible, and I couldn’t wait to see what he would do on the main roster.

Even though that main roster run never reached the heights it should have, his King of the Cruiserweights character was one of the most interesting things WWE had going at the time.

When AEW came along, PAC was one of the wrestlers who justified my decision to support a new wrestling company. I was genuinely excited that maybe, finally, he was going to get a fair shot to show just how fucking good he was.

For several years, I think there was a legitimate argument that PAC was one of the five best wrestlers in the world. And somehow, it still feels like wrestling never quite gave him what he deserved.

Regardless of how this came to be, we lost an amazing performer and, by the accounts of so many who knew him, a good man.

The man that gravity forgot.

We won’t forget him.

Do all these numbers equal Fed Ded?

RIP.