In a significant move for All Elite Wrestling, Tony Khan leads AEW to Fyter Fest 2025 success as the company reports a notable increase in viewership following its first four-hour Fyter Fest event in Denver, just ahead of the highly anticipated Summer Blockbuster scheduled in Portland.
Strong Viewership and Format Changes Drive Momentum
AEW’s recent Fyter Fest showcased the organization’s willingness to experiment, with Tony Khan marking his seventh year as promoter by merging Dynamite and Collision into a single four-hour show broadcast on TBS. The event opened with Jon Moxley, AEW World Champion, defeating Mark Briscoe in a non-title match, and featured International Champion Kenny Omega securing victory in the Fatal 4 Way Dynamite main event. Other highlights included Will Ospreay’s win over Lio Rush in the first Collision match and The Paragon, alongside Daniel Garcia, overcoming The Don Callis Family in an intense 8-man contest.
According to Programming Insider, Fyter Fest VI drew 655,000 viewers during the first two hours, which marks a 3% increase from the previous week’s post-Double or Nothing episode. This achievement also registers as the third-highest two-hour audience total for Dynamite since March 26.
Key Audience Metrics and Competitive Performance
The event demonstrated marked improvements in TV ratings, earning a 0.18 in the important 18-49 demographic for the first segment—a 12% rise from last week and the highest since March 19. This surge positioned AEW’s two-hour Dynamite block as eighth among all primetime cable broadcasts for the night, even as it aired concurrently with Game One of the NHL Stanley Cup Finals on TNT, which led the night with 2.086 million viewers and a 0.64 rating in the same demographic.
However, when the Collision portion of Fyter Fest VI commenced after 10pm, there was a sharp decline in viewers. The late-night segment drew 380,000 viewers and a 0.10 rating in the key demo, a drop of 25% and 44% respectively compared to the pre-empted Collision airing on May 31. Year-over-year comparisons for Dynamite’s corresponding week in 2024 showed a 17.1% dip in total viewership and a 36% fall in demo ratings, while Collision’s second half saw a smaller 2.1% drop in audience and a 23% decrease in its key demographic.
The Collision block aired outside standard primetime, preventing it from ranking in the top 10 for the night. Yet, had it been considered, it would have tied for tenth place on the chart—showing the continued value of AEW’s programming despite shifting times.
Summer Blockbuster Set to Continue Momentum in Portland
Building on Fyter Fest’s results, Tony Khan and AEW officials are shifting attention to the organization’s first-ever four-hour Summer Blockbuster event. Scheduled to air live from the Moda Center in Portland, the event will follow a similar format: starting at 8pm as traditional Dynamite, followed by Collision running until midnight. Both segments will be broadcast on TBS and streaming on Max, potentially capitalizing on the positive momentum generated by Fyter Fest 2025 and aiming to keep AEW’s audience engaged.
This progression highlights Tony Khan’s impact as a forward-thinking leader, with AEW fans and industry observers closely monitoring how changes in event formats and scheduling affect both viewership and overall brand growth. With Portland hosting the Summer Blockbuster and major names like Jon Moxley, Kenny Omega, and Will Ospreay featured, AEW continues to refine its approach while aiming for new audience highs in 2025.
