The AEW MAX streaming mystery just got messierand a whole lot more transparent for everything except wrestling.
A recent Hollywood Reporter article revealed that MAX isnt shy about bragging when a show does well. The HBO-backed streamer dropped hard numbers this week for The Pitt, calling it a smash hit. According to MAX, the shows first season is pulling 10 million viewers per episode worldwide with the premiere reaching 16.2 million. They also said the series had 13 episodes in a row of first-night viewership growth. All of that completely contradicts the long-standing claim that MAX keeps all its ratings locked down.
So what does that mean for AEW? When a report from BJ Bethel claimed AEW Dynamite pulls 500,000 viewers weekly on MAXon top of its live TBS viewershippeople were skeptical. Eric Bischoff didnt buy it for a second, calling it a number pulled out of the air. On 83 Weeks, Bischoff said the story came from someone not associated with AEW, not associated with WBD just a wrestling fan who somehow discovered information that nobody else hasincluding Tony, according to Tony.
Bischoff also pointed to Tony Khans vague support of the report as nothing more than damage control: Then Tony, in a press conference, says, Ive heard those reports too. Which means hes not confirming it, and hes not denying it. But he loves the attention it inflates the image a little bit, and its all based on freaking ether. Its not true at all.
Khan, during the AEW Dynasty media call, tried to spin it as a positive, saying the report was very consistent with everything weve been told, and added, were one of the top sports streaming shows. But that just sounds like PR speakespecially now that we know MAX does release actual ratings when it suits their narrative.
And this week, it clearly suited their narrativewith The Pitt getting the full press push. Which leaves fans and insiders wondering: if AEW was really pulling half a million extra views weekly on streaming, wouldnt MAX be shouting that from the rooftops too?
For now, the answer seems obvious. They arent hiding AEWs numbers because of secrecy. Theyre not releasing them because theres probably nothing worth bragging about.
Do you think AEW is underperforming on MAX and just doesnt want anyone to know? Or is Tony Khan just being careful about what gets revealed? Hit the comments and let us know what you thinks really going on.
