Brody King, scheduled to challenge MJF for the AEW World Championship at the Grand Slam event on February 14, was notably absent from the February 11 episode of AEW Dynamite, where only a promotional video for the title match aired. This unexpected removal relates directly to fan chants that emerged during the prior week’s show.
Fan Chants Against ICE Trigger AEW’s Decision
During the February 4 Dynamite episode, as Brody King’s match with MJF began, sections of the crowd voiced chants of “F*ck ICE,” referring to the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement. These chants followed King’s appearance wearing an “Abolish ICE” shirt earlier on AEW programming. Concerned about the crowd repeating such politically charged chants, AEW decided to withhold King from the live audience on the following show.
Corporate Concerns Influence King’s Absence
Journalist Dave Meltzer, speaking on Wrestling Observer Radio, explained that AEW’s choice to keep Brody King off the February 11 Dynamite was driven by fears that similar chants would recur in Southern California. Meltzer emphasized that the directive did not come directly from AEW president Tony Khan but from higher corporate levels, involving Warner Bros. Discovery’s broader business interests and sensitivities amid the political environment.
He added that with ongoing corporate dealings and regulatory approvals, AEW aimed to avoid negative attention or controversy.
Championship Match Still Planned Despite Tensions
Despite the controversy surrounding Brody King’s appearances, the highly anticipated AEW World Championship matchup against MJF remains set for the Grand Slam event on February 14. How AEW will manage crowd reactions or possible chants when King returns to a live audience is yet to be determined, highlighting ongoing tensions between wrestling entertainment and external political issues.
“AEW made the call to keep Brody off this week’s show due to concerns that similar chants could erupt again in Southern California.” ?Dave Meltzer, Wrestling Observer Radio
“The decision was not attributed directly to Tony Khan, but rather came from higher up.” ?Dave Meltzer, Wrestling Observer Radio
“There was concern about unwanted attention or backlash at a time when regulatory approvals and corporate dealings are ongoing.” ?Dave Meltzer, Wrestling Observer Radio
