AEW President and CEO Tony Khan has shared his thoughts on potentially reviving AEW Dark, the in-ring wrestling show that was canceled earlier this year. Khan expressed interest in bringing back the series, which originally aired on YouTube, as long as it aligns with Warner Bros. Discovery’s strategic direction. This update comes after AEW Dark’s final episode aired in April 2023.
Background: AEW Dark’s Role in AEW Programming
AEW Dark debuted in October 2019 as a platform that showcased both signed AEW talent and unsigned wrestlers looking to establish themselves. The episodes were streamed for free on YouTube, providing wrestling fans additional content beyond AEW’s televised shows. The program contributed to elevating emerging stars and expanding AEW’s reach during its run.
Khan’s Conditional Enthusiasm for AEW Dark’s Revival
In a conversation on WGN Radio, Tony Khan indicated that while he is enthusiastic about AEW Dark, its return would depend on considerations related to AEW’s media partnerships, particularly with Warner Bros. Discovery. He stressed the importance of integrating the show in a way that complements AEW’s broader TV strategy, particularly after launching AEW Collision, which is now a key weekly broadcast for the promotion.
Khan elaborated,
“I would love to do that. I think it has to be something that makes sense with our media partners, because when we launched AEW Collision, which is such an important part of AEW TV every week. When we really had this great opportunity to go into a new media rights package, and it’s the lifeblood of AEW. So if we bring AEW Dark back, I just want to make sure that whatever we do makes sense to our great media partners with Warner Bros. Discovery.”
Reflecting on AEW Dark’s Legacy
Khan recalled the positive experiences he had creating AEW Dark, highlighting the hundreds of episodes produced and the memories made. He remains open to reviving either AEW Dark or its sister show AEW Elevation if the timing and business conditions are right. His comments suggest a thoughtful approach to balancing fan engagement with the realities of media agreements.
He added,
“Because it was a conscious decision we made when we launched AEW Collision to sunset those for the time being. And I’m very open to their return if it ever makes sense for Warner Bros. Discovery.”
—Tony Khan, AEW President and CEO
What This Means for AEW’s Future Programming
The potential comeback of AEW Dark signals that Tony Khan and AEW remain committed to offering diverse wrestling content, but only when it aligns with partner goals and audience demand. Fans who enjoyed AEW Dark’s unique format may see new opportunities to access similar content, especially if Warner Bros. Discovery supports the initiative. AEW’s evolving broadcast strategy will likely continue to shape how and when such shows return.
