All Elite Wrestling (AEW) is a relatively new professional wrestling promotion that launched in 2019. In just a few short years, AEW has become the top wrestling company in the United States outside of WWE. AEW features a strong roster of talented wrestlers and has put on many critically acclaimed matches and pay-per-view events.
With AEW’s rapid growth and popularity in the US, many international wrestling fans are wondering if and when AEW will expand overseas. The UK in particular has a strong professional wrestling fanbase and a rich history and culture around the sport. Fans in the UK are eagerly anticipating if AEW will run shows and tours in their country.
In this article, we’ll take a close look at the likelihood of AEW putting on events in the UK. Has AEW made any indication that they plan to cross the pond? What are the potential benefits and challenges? How soon could we realistically expect to see AEW in the UK? Read on for a full analysis.
Has AEW Discussed Running the UK?
AEW has not made any official announcement about running shows in the UK. However, there have been some hints and rumors that suggest it could happen in the near future.
In various interviews, AEW CEO Tony Khan has expressed interest in doing shows internationally. While their focus is still on growing their fanbase in the US, Khan has stated that AEW aims to run events in major overseas markets like the UK, Canada, Japan and Australia at some point.
Members of the AEW roster have also been vocal about wanting to do a UK tour. Wrestlers like Adam Page, Darby Allin and Orange Cassidy have all said they would love the chance to wrestle for AEW in the UK. There appears to be a lot of internal desire within the company to make it happen.
Most telling was when AEW President and CEO Tony Khan was spotted backstage at a recent Progress Wrestling show in London. Progress is one of the top independent pro wrestling promotions in the UK. Khan’s appearance and meetings with Progress officials suggest that AEW has real interest in working with existing UK promotions when they eventually cross the Atlantic.
So while there is nothing official yet, all signs point to AEW having serious intentions of running the UK. It’s likely only a matter of time before they start announcing specific dates and locations.
What are the Benefits of Running the UK?
There are a number of compelling reasons why expanding into the UK could be highly beneficial for AEW:
– Established fanbase – There is already a large audience for AEW programming in the UK that currently watches via streaming and social media. Live events would monetize and energize that existing fanbase.
– TV deal – AEW recently announced a major TV deal in the UK to air their shows on ITV. Running live events in the region would complement their growing TV presence.
– History and culture – The UK has a long and storied history with professional wrestling. The local fans are extremely passionate and would give AEW a great atmosphere and reception.
– Talent pipeline – The UK wrestling scene is loaded with talent that could get exposed to a wider audience by working with AEW. They can scout future stars.
– New market – The UK represents an untapped market for AEW and a new revenue stream as they continue expanding globally.
Benefit | Description |
---|---|
Established fanbase | There is already a large audience for AEW programming in the UK that currently watches via streaming and social media. Live events would monetize and energize that existing fanbase. |
TV deal | AEW recently announced a major TV deal in the UK to air their shows on ITV. Running live events in the region would complement their growing TV presence. |
History and culture | The UK has a long and storied history with professional wrestling. The local fans are extremely passionate and would give AEW a great atmosphere and reception. |
Talent pipeline | The UK wrestling scene is loaded with talent that could get exposed to a wider audience by working with AEW. They can scout future stars. |
New market | The UK represents an untapped market for AEW and a new revenue stream as they continue expanding globally. |
What Are the Challenges?
Despite the many advantages, there would also be some hurdles and challenges for AEW to overcome if they want to successfully run the UK:
– Scheduling – With a packed calendar of US events, AEW would need to plan UK shows carefully around existing commitments. Scheduling would take coordination.
– Travel – There is significant transatlantic travel required for AEW stars and crew to work shows in the UK. The costs and physical toll of frequent international travel needs to be managed.
– Production costs – It is an expensive endeavour to replicate AEW’s production value and spectacles in a new country. They will need strong live event revenues to offset costs.
– Partnerships – AEW will need to negotiate partnerships with UK promotions for local talent, crews and marketing. These deals take time.
– Fan expectations – UK fans will have high expectations. AEW will need to deliver big name stars, matches and storylines tailored for the market.
Challenge | Description |
---|---|
Scheduling | With a packed calendar of US events, AEW would need to plan UK shows carefully around existing commitments. Scheduling would take coordination. |
Travel | There is significant transatlantic travel required for AEW stars and crew to work shows in the UK. The costs and physical toll of frequent international travel needs to be managed. |
Production costs | It is an expensive endeavour to replicate AEW’s production value and spectacles in a new country. They will need strong live event revenues to offset costs. |
Partnerships | AEW will need to negotiate partnerships with UK promotions for local talent, crews and marketing. These deals take time. |
Fan expectations | UK fans will have high expectations. AEW will need to deliver big name stars, matches and storylines tailored for the market. |
When Could AEW Realistically Run the UK?
It’s tough to predict an exact timeline, but based on the factors in play, a realistic timeline for AEW to start running the UK would be:
Late 2023 – The earliest we could see AEW in the UK would be late 2023. They need time to coordinate schedules, plan logistics, broker partnerships and build excitement.
Early 2024 – A more reasonable and likely target is early 2024 for AEW’s first UK show. This gives them over a year to make all the arrangements needed.
Quarterly tours – If the first UK show goes well, AEW could start running quarterly tours – one every 3 months – in 2024 and beyond. This allows them to build momentum while not oversaturating the market.
Annual UK PPV – By 2025, AEW could be ready for an annual mega show in the UK, akin to their All Out and Double or Nothing events in the US. This anchors their presence in the market.
Timeline | Milestone |
---|---|
Late 2023 | The earliest we could see AEW in the UK |
Early 2024 | A more reasonable and likely target for AEW’s first UK show |
2024 and beyond | Quarterly tours – one every 3 months – allow them to build momentum |
2025 | An annual mega pay-per-view anchors their presence in the UK market |
So while fans may need to be patient, the day is coming when AEW will bring their red-hot wrestling product to the passionate fanbase in the UK. The demand is certainly there, and all signs point to AEW making their UK debut sooner rather than later.
Conclusion
AEW staging events in the UK seems inevitable based on the interest from fans, the roster, and executives like Tony Khan. While no dates have been locked in yet, the benefits of running the UK are too strong for AEW to ignore. They have found tremendous success in the US by offering an alternative to WWE, and now seem poised to take that formula across the pond.
However, the undertaking does not come without its challenges. AEW will need to solve some logistical issues and invest substantial resources into cracking the market. But the potential rewards of staking their claim in the UK wrestling scene make it a calculated risk worth taking. The pieces may take time to fall into place, but it’s likely just a matter of when, not if, before AEW brings its product to UK shores. Fans can reasonably expect to see the stars of AEW dazzling crowds in the UK by 2024. It’s an exciting time for professional wrestling as AEW aims to broaden its horizons.