Market valuation and profit in 2023 puts Tony Khan’s promotion in a much better position than you might expect

Since the arrival of AEW in 2019, Tony Khan has had clear goals regarding the promotion. He worked hard and built an empire of highly sk**led wrestlers and also delivered some unforgettable moments during these early years of the company. As things stand, fans are divided in the wrestling community between AEW and WWE which shows how much the stakes have been raised.

The company had a wild start during which AEW provided wrestling fans with a much-needed alternative. With all the new tools on the table, AEW began as a real competition to WWE and seemingly found success in its mission. With new and improved wrestlers, presentation styles and a changed atmosphere, AEW seemed like a huge deal.

With talent like Chris Jericho, Kenny Omega, MJF, and many more top stars, AEW started off with a lot of excitement and blew the roof off with their new product. Fans seem to love the competition WWE has given them. Almost 5 years after starting the company, AEW is ranked 3rd by Forbes under their 2024 Most Valuable Combat Sports Promotion.

Most Valuable Pro-Wrestling Promotions in 2024:

WWE — $6.8 billion / Approx. 2023 revenue: $1.33 billion

AEW — $2 billion / estimate. 2023 revenue: $250 million

(Source: @Forbes) pic.twitter.com/hlus2WsE9c

— WrestleOps (@WrestleOps) April 18, 2024

Sadly, the company’s golden period ended in the fall of 2022 and they have struggled to recover ever since. Ongoing injuries, poor booking choices, the departure of Cody Rhodes, and the whole CM Punk vs. AEW debate have severely damaged the credibility of the promotion.

With so much heat about their product, according to Forbes, Tony Khan’s company managed to be in the top 3 of the list, just behind WWE and UFC. It shows how much effort and investment Tony has put into the company over the years With a valuation of $2 billion, AEW has boosted itself again and could be a tough competition for WWE in the years to come.

A ‘new era’ has ushered in WWE which spells trouble for Tony Khan

While the ratings numbers are encouraging for AEW, their weekly ticket sales and viewership numbers say otherwise. Tony Khan’s AEW is not going smoothly in terms of tickets for their weekly shows which keep getting worse every week. Despite several high-profile bouts, the presence of AEW Clash, Rampage and Dynamite seems not to match expectations.

Also, the crew is using camera cuts and zoom-ins to distract fans from the rare appearance on stage. A concerted effort is being made to avoid placing full camera images.

Low ticket sales are nothing new for AEW Dynamite, and they align with WWE’s shift in focus and direction. With Triple H taking over as head of creative, WWE is moving forward with their new product. This new product has earned them the 2nd spot among the most valuable combat sports promotions with a valuation of approximately $6.8 billion.

WWE ushered in a new era for fans by adding Cody Rhodes as champion. The more changes Triple H brings to the table, the more excited the WWE Universe will be. Now that WrestleMania XL is history, viewers and fans of the WWE Universe around the world love it. This demonstrated the extent of the change in WWE’s production.

Things have changed for the company since the ma*sive merger between WWE and UFC in the TKO Group. WWE’s primary goal with their ma*s production strategy is to build enthusiasm for their product by adding authenticity to storylines and promos. Devotees love these modest embellishments, which also enhance the show.

LMFAOOOOOO AEW fans were cheering for CM #Punk During video footage 😭

Nothing can be worse than this 💀 pic.twitter.com/e9Yxtr1FGD

— Aftab Qayyum (@aftabbagghoria) April 11, 2024

Tony Khan’s business woes worsened after the Young Bucks promotion to AEW. The company eventually confirmed CM Punk’s claims, which they tried to discredit him with All In 2023 footage. Only time will tell if AEW will be able to bounce back soon in terms of ticket sales and overall quality of shows.