All Elite Wrestling is gearing as much as host episode 289 of Dynamite on April 16 in Boston. The particular “Spring Break Through” themed present is particularly significant as a result of it makes the AEW flagship the longest-running prime time weekly professional wrestling program on TBS or TNT.
The now defunct World Championship Wrestling held that distinction beforehand with Monday Nitro, which ran on TNT from Labor Day 1995 to March 26, 2001. Dynamite has develop into a staple Wednesday nights for Warner Brothers Discovery since its premiere October 2, 2019 on TNT. The collection has since moved to TBS and in addition now simulcasts on the Max streamer.
Tony Khan is marking the milestone with a stacked card together with the anticipated Mercedes Mone versus Athena showdown and Will Ospreay battling Konosuke Takeshita in Owen Hart Cup Event motion. We caught up with the CEO, GM and head of artistic within the modest of AEW’s newest accomplishment,
Tony, how are you?
Tony Khan: I’m doing very well. I used to be actually pumped we simply acquired a extremely good ranking for Collision from Saturday night time.
It feels there may be extra of a concerted effort with regards to Collision in making it extra must-watch.
There was a strategic effort to do this within the media rights negotiations. We actually felt like we may do extra if we may put out the strongest product we may put out. Specializing in doing an amazing two-hour Dynamite and nice two-hour Collision. I feel all of 2025, Collision has been incredible. I feel that has been a really constructive technique for AEW. I felt like Collision has held up very well this 12 months. There have been actually good rankings. It has carried out very well in 2025. The viewers for each exhibits really. They’ve been actually sturdy. Whenever you consider, Max is switched on now, and we’ve got the streaming viewers. We all know that could be a sizable viewers, and we’re probably the most high performing exhibits together with TBS and TNT. It’s actually thrilling.
AEW
I do know rankings are essential on the enterprise facet, stake holders like your self or community execs. Media too I get, however what do you consider this on-line obsession on the fan facet when it comes to rankings, viewers, attendance and different metrics?
I knew it was going to be like that going into it. I feel that it’s nice. Wrestling followers have the capability to memorize dates, outcomes and all that higher than another sports activities followers. The reminiscence wrestling followers have and the way in which they analyze the knowledge and research the trade of tv and give attention to efficiency, I feel it’s completely incredible. I used to be cognizant of this when AEW launched as a result of I’ve been a wrestling fan nearly my whole life. I used to be an enormous on-line wrestling fan as a child in the course of the late Nineties into the early 2000s when followers had been continuously speaking about rankings and developments within the wrestling enterprise. So, with there being a aggressive market within the wrestling enterprise at this time and AEW each Wednesday on TBS and Saturday on TNT and now additionally streaming on Max, AEW has develop into an enormous a part of the dialog in wrestling. I’m very excited to be part of the discourse and statistical breakdowns week-to-week of the knowledge.
This week marks the milestone for Dynamite exceeding WCW Nitro in variety of episodes throughout its run on TNT. What does this imply to you as a fan and promotion proprietor?
I’m so grateful to [execs] David Zaslav and Bruce Campbell and all of the individuals at Warner Brothers Discovery. The nice groups at TBS and TNT and Max. I’m grateful for the AEW wrestlers who’re the easiest and are nice individuals to work with inside and outdoors the wrestling ring. The AEW employees, there are such a lot of nice individuals on this firm. Most of all of the wrestling followers, I thank the followers who watch and have supported us and made it attainable for Wednesday night time Dynamite to develop into the longest working weekly primetime professional wrestling present within the historical past of TBS and TNT, which covers some incredible applications. Wednesday night time Dynamite goes to have an unimaginable 289th episode. The quantity 289 represents a big milestone, so I need ours to be memorable. We deliberate for a very long time to have this present in Boston for ‘Spring BreakThru ‘on Dynamite to be one among our easiest occasions. It’s a stacked lineup. All of the rivalries are in high type proper now.
Something you possibly can tease of who Hangman Web page’s Owen Hart Cup event wild card opponent is?
If it’s okay, not this second. I feel that is going to be a tremendous present to have fun an essential milestone and I feel the standard of the wrestling and the run of TV exhibits that AEW is on at the moment, as a result of our exhibits because the transfer with Max, have been incredible. I feel we’re on a scorching run of exhibits proper now. The enterprise may be very sturdy. I feel that this episode and the lineup of matches and what we will count on Wednesday within the present state of AEW with the incredible exhibits we’re having is the proper embodiment of AEW and the spirit of what made it attainable for us to succeed in 289 episodes and nonetheless going very sturdy. It’s one among our strongest runs ever.
Jon Moxley and Adam Copeland (AEW/Ricky Havlik)
I’m a vested viewer and have been pissed off by the Demise Riders. The final pay-per-view occasions I’ve been fairly mad after seeing Jon Moxley retain the AEW Championship. need? I get you’ve gotten this long-term artistic route you’re going in and have an finish sport. On the similar time, how is it managing these reactions whereas telling the story you imagine in?
We’ve got some very talked-about stars in AEW. There are additionally the darkest villains in wrestling. The AEW followers have their favorites. We’ve got these very passionate crowds. They’re very rabid wrestling followers. They’re very avid with regards to watching the game and following wrestling. The crowds on the main AEW exhibits are ceaselessly adamant about their dislike for the Demise Riders, however the Demise Riders are high wrestlers led by the best champion in trendy professional wrestling historical past. The one man to carry the AEW World Title, WWE World Title and the IWGP World Title in New Japan, and that’s Jon Moxley. Mox is probably the most embellished, dominant AEW Champion ever.
On this iteration of Mox, it has been a 180 from the blue collar hero that AEW followers have gravitated towards because the first AEW present. Jon Moxley’s actions in current months are in direct opposition with what followers come to affiliate with Jon Moxley, which is professional wrestling at its finest. Fight with honor. This actually nice man who labored so arduous to get to the highest of professional wrestling and works arduous each day to maintain it. The Demise Riders are dominant at this time, maintain championship gold. Jon Moxley sits atop of AEW and there’s a lengthy line of nice challengers within the Owen Hart Basis Males’s Event lining up. We’ve bought nice matches this Wednesday on Dynamite and All In Texas, there might be an enormous world title match. I can inform you that. There is no such thing as a scarcity of incredible stars for my part, the easiest wrestlers on the planet. They’re lined as much as attempt to take that world championship from Jon Moxley. I feel the followers need to get behind the heroes in AEW, which is superior.
Mariah Might (Lee South/AEW)
I’ve appreciated what you’ve been doing with the ladies’s division. Somebody who has been an essential a part of that and been a scorching matter at this time has been Mariah Might. Ideas on her and her future with regards to AEW?
In 2023, Mariah Might arrived in AEW and at first got here in to some followers who could not have been accustomed to her as an amazing worldwide wrestler as an enormous fan of “Timeless” Toni Storm. It turned out over occasions that performed out within the following 12 months that it was an act Mariah was placing on. She got here in pretending to be one thing she was not as an enormous fan of “Timeless” Toni Storm and downplaying her credentials as a wrestler. Toni took within the huge fan of hers and got here to depend on Mariah to assist her in her matches. It was an unimaginable portrayal when Mariah gained the Owen Hart Basis Event and attacked her mentor. She dropped the protégé act and revealed “The Glamour” Mariah Might. It led to their incredible match at Wembley Stadium for Girls’s World Championship the place Mariah was in a position to seize the championship in entrance of her hometown and vanquish her one-time mentor and attain her grasp plan that was in some ways impressed by All About Eve. The next months it appears Mariah Might had vanquished “Timeless” Toni Storm. After we noticed Toni Storm once more, she got here again because the rookie Toni Storm, or a minimum of it appeared that means. It was her pretending to be one thing she wasn’t.
Now Toni Storm was the one taking part in the thoughts video games. It was the unpenned sequel to All About Eve I’ve wished to do. It was Margo Channing’s huge revenge. When Toni revealed at AEW Homecoming at Each day’s Place she hadn’t forgotten and was taking part in thoughts video games with Mariah and admitted she performed the rookie on her strategy to profitable match after match to safe a shot on the AEW Girls’s World Championship at Grand Slam Australia. It was a narrative that performed out in so many nice locations. Toni gained in entrance of all her household and so many pals from rising up and regaining the championship. It was a part of one of many biggest AEW TV exhibits we’ve ever carried out. It culminated in one of many nice moments. I felt that the proper ending to finish this may be a Hollywood ending within the rubber match to settle all of it. It was a completely incredible match. It was an ideal ending and strategy to culminate the story and rivalry. I actually loved working with each of them. It’s a narrative I felt strongly about with Mariah Might coming into AEW….It advanced into an amazing rivalry main into that Hollywood ending at Revolution. It was incredible working with each girls. With “Timeless” Toni Storm having vanquished Mariah Might, we’ll see what’s subsequent for her and “Timeless Toni Storm.
Adam DeVine and Tony Khan
You spoke in regards to the Revolution pay-per-view in Los Angeles. I liked seeing Leslie Jones’ power watching within the crowd. Adam DeVine additionally spoke extremely of being on the present and ended up getting within the ring. Can we count on to see them once more after their constructive reactions?
Each are totally different instances. Leslie Jones got here and was an enormous fan. I had by no means met her, however she was actually excited. She got here backstage and that power was very actual. She was comfortable to be there. She was very passionate in regards to the present and complimentary of AEW. Leslie Jones was completely incredible. She is welcome again any time. Adam I had spent a while on the Tremendous Bowl and the entire night time after the Tremendous Bowl. I had a good time assembly him and his spouse Chloe [Bridges]. They confirmed me round New Orleans. I feel they’re incredible individuals. I actually like Adam loads.
That led to me asking him if he wished to pitch one thing to Warner Brothers Discovery the place Adam DeVine and Tony Cavalero from The Righteous Gems would come to advertise the premiere episode of the season, which was the identical night time as Revolution. I prompt we name it “Gemolution.” I actually assume Adam is only a nice man. I noticed he had some complimentary issues to say about AEW on his podcast. I frolicked with Adam and Blake [Anderson] and they’re each nice guys. I actually loved speaking about TV and flicks and sports activities with them. On this case, Adam got here to Revolution as a part of a cross-promotional occasion, however it’s one thing we arrange with pals. It labored out nice. I might like to have him again any time. I keep in contact with Adam. He’s an superior individual.
Lastly, any replace on Darby Allin. I do know numerous followers have been excited to listen to how he’s doing.
We haven’t seen Darby Allin since he was thrown down the steps and put out of wrestling by the Demise Riders. No one has heard or seen him. I’m very optimistic about what’s going to be an amazing 2025 for AEW, and Darby is without doubt one of the greatest stars in AEW ever. Everybody is aware of he had a dream to climb Mount Everest. I do know it’s one thing which means the world to him. It’s one thing I actually imagine he may accomplish. He made peace with himself that he may attain the summit and obtain one thing so particular. I do know it means loads to him. Each time he’s again to one hundred percent, Darby loves AEW. He was an unique star again earlier than we launched the very first Dynamite. He loves wrestling, loves the followers. I cannot wait till he’s again. I really like Darby, and am excited to have him again hopefully quickly.
AEW Dynamite, Wednesdays, 8/7c, TBS (Streaming on Max)
AEW Collision, Saturdays, 8/7c, TNT (Streaming on Max)