AEW signed a multi-year media rights deal with Warner Bros. Discovery last year and the lucrative deal has certainly helped AEW make huge improvements to their overall product. However, it appears Kevin Nash is questioning whether AEW is actually profitable at all.
While speaking on his Kliq This podcast, Kevin Nash was asked whether AEW is actually profitable. Nash stated that he was curious about their contracts and how much they spend. He pointed out that AEW is renting big arenas, but theyre often empty, which means theyre not making enough money to cover the costs. He said that if they keep doing this, they might end up holding shows in the Grand Canyon.
A report showed AEWs expected revenue for 2023 was about $154 million, up from $100 million in 2024. But their expenses were estimated at $188 million, which means theyd lose $34 million before taxes and other costs.
Nash compared this to WCWs old numbers and wasnt surprised by the losses. He also questioned AEWs spending on talent, wondering if the $85 million budget included travel costs and if wrestlers still had to pay for hotels. He mentioned that when he worked at Turner, he never paid for anything except food, and hoped AEW would not go backwards with their deals.
Nash also shared his thoughts on whether AEW Fight Forever helped them make money. Nash talked about the video game industry, specifically at Rockstar Games. He explained that once the game is made, the company makes a lot of profit, but the people who worked on it dont always get a big cut.
In the past, there were fewer people working on a game, and they could make $75K to $100K from royalties. But now, with so many people involved, the main way they make money is through things like in-game purchases for outfits and other extras, so its not a great way for AEW to make a profit.
Tony Khans company is currently earning $3.6 million per week thanks to AEWs deal with Warner Bros. Discovery and Khan is confident AEW will become the second most profitable company in wrestling history. Nonetheless, Tony Khan is determined to ensure that AEW sees a ton of success so well have to see whether AEW will actually become profitable somewhere down the line.
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What do you think about Kevin Nashs concerns over AEWs profitability? Do you believe AEWs spending habits are sustainable? Let us know in the comments below.
