Existing TV rights deals expire in early 2023, suggesting that discussions may be happening as you read this about the finances and future of Dynamite and Rampage’s shows. These are the things Tony Khan will prioritize, which is less than ideal when his plate is full of dressing room drama between the top draw and EVPs and the prevailing sense that his creative golden age is over. The chaos at the All Out press conference further exposed damaging flaws in Khan’s leadership, unlike how the show itself (and The Forbidden Door before it) hid the weaknesses of his booking. But what are the goals and expectations of the organization at this point? In just three years, AEW’s purpose has already been remarkably served. Last year’s inaugural Grand Slam sold out New York’s beautiful Arthur Ashe Stadium, yielding around 10,000 tickets currently on sale This event of the year something of a disappointment. The same number that Dave Meltzer didn’t think of Any company beyond WWE that could achieve in 2017 is now seen as the sign that a hot pipeline product has cooled. This is change on an industrial scale, even if the past is currently required to shape an uncertain present. Destruction? Not exactly. But absolutely a reflection of the vibes the company could be moving away from. It’s okay – they’ve done it again… There were three specific people who needed to maximize their minutes in the first Dynamite after All Out 2022. The events of the post-show press conference were all he wanted to talk about to such an extent that an entire pay-per-view became almost pointless seconds after it ended. Even worse, the elephant in the room – or perhaps in this case, the small dog carried on Kenny Omega’s lap – was edited out of any clips and was completely unmentionable. No CM Punk, no Elite, no World or Trios Championship, no hope? Enter Tony Khan, MJF and Jon Moxley. Going some way to make up for the weak leadership that had failed to control the situation in the first place, Khan’s best on-screen performance to date succinctly outlined the future of the zones and the show, before MJF effortlessly escaped a planned showdown with CM Punk on one with Jon Moxley, and the former Champion himself delivered yet another promo for the ages that instantly re-establishes the promotion as the destination to find the best the industry has to offer.
