CNN Affirms WBD’s Ownership Stake in AEW

In a recent report, CNN confirmed that Warner Bros. Discovery (WBD) holds a minority ownership stake in All Elite Wrestling (AEW). This detail was mentioned within an article discussing the intersection of politics and professional wrestling. WBD is the parent company of CNN, highlighting how interlinked the media and entertainment sectors are.

Ownership Stakes and AEW’s Future

Tony Khan, the head of AEW, has been frequently questioned about WBD’s stake during media calls. However, he has remained non-committal, emphasizing that he retains complete control over AEW’s decision-making processes. Despite years of speculation, Khan has not disclosed the exact percentage of WBD’s ownership.

Implications of Minority Stake

• If WBD’s ownership exceeds 10%, they are required to publicly disclose it due to regulations applicable to publicly traded companies.
• The specific rights associated with WBD’s stake in AEW remain unclear.
• It is uncertain whether WBD’s ownership percentage has changed following AEW’s latest media rights agreement.
• The impact on ownership shares if AEW transitions to another media entity is also not defined.

The confirmation of WBD’s stake in AEW not only reveals underlying financial dynamics but also raises questions about the long-term direction of the wrestling promotion.