Brody King was not featured on the recent AEW Dynamite broadcast, a choice reportedly made by Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD), AEW’s television partner, rather than by AEW president Tony Khan. According to Dave Meltzer on Wrestling Observer Radio, WBD decided to exclude King to prevent potential chants of “F*ck ICE” during the show, which risked causing controversy.
The decision came as WBD sought to avoid conflict with then-President Donald Trump amid their ongoing acquisition by Netflix, which still required regulatory approval. The company was cautious about anything that might jeopardize this process.
Warner Bros. Discovery’s Concerns Over Potential Political Backlash
Meltzer explained that, from WBD’s perspective, King’s appearance could reignite chants problematic for the company’s pending business deal.
“The deal is that they didn’t want the fans in the arena to be chanting that. If Brody came out, there was that risk…when he comes back, it will happen again,”
he said. Meltzer emphasized that this was a directive from corporate levels, not Tony Khan, driven by a desire not to upset President Trump, who might view the chants as personal offenses.
“No Brody King on the show when he absolutely, of course – of course Brody King and MJF should have had a segment on the show,”
Meltzer added, highlighting the wrestling storytelling disrupted by the decision.
Impact on AEW Storylines and Title Match Promotion
Both Brody King and MJF were absent from AEW Dynamite’s recent episode, where their AEW World Title match at Grand Slam Australia was promoted solely through a video package. King had secured the title opportunity following a dominant squash victory over MJF on the previous week’s Dynamite. Fans chanted the politically charged phrase “F*ck ICE” before that match, reflecting King’s prior public support, including wearing an ‘Abolish ICE’ shirt at wrestling events.
These events underscore the tension between wrestling narratives and larger corporate and political sensitivities, illustrating how external pressures can influence programming decisions in professional wrestling.
Broader Significance and Future Implications
The exclusion of Brody King from AEW programming reveals the complexities companies face when balancing creative freedom with political and business considerations. As Warner Bros. Discovery moves forward with its sale to Netflix, such decisions may continue to affect how storylines unfold and which performers are featured. The situation also highlights how wrestling promotions navigate controversies, potentially limiting certain voices to maintain corporate alliances and regulatory approvals.
