AEW closing 2024 with devastating rejection

AEW is wrapping up its sixth year of operations, which may have been the most successful period so far. After significant happenings such as the new media rights deal and the company's Hammerstein Ballroom debut, Tony Khan's young promotion was just hit with some dreadful news. The announcement comes days before the second annual Worlds End, the final event of 2024.

All Elite Wrestling cemented Warner Bros. Discovery as its main network partner during the first year, not long after launch. The companies recently announced their new very lucrative media rights deal, which was highly anticipated for months. Khan has inked deals with several partners to air AEW outside of the United States, such as ITV in the UK, India's Discovery Inc., TNT in Spain, and DAZN in other international markets, among others. They even stream on NJPW World in Japan due to the working relationship between the two companies, and Triller TV offers programming to international viewers.

AEW announced a new deal with Sky Italia in August 2020 to air all company programming, except Collision, in Italy through the network's sports channels. Comcast owns Sky Italia but also owns World Wrestling Entertainment rights in the United States. Khan's company actually replaced WWE programming on the Sky Italia schedule after two decades.

AEW Italian commentator Salvatori Torrisi took to Instagram today to announce that Sky Sport Italia will no longer air All Elite content. Sky Italia chose not to renew its television deal with Khan's company, and their original contract expires at the end of this year. Torrisi expressed optimism that a new agreement will be worked out in the future.

It remains to be seen where Khan's flagship programming might air in Italy for the new year. Fans in The Italian Republic can still catch All Elite programming through Triller's subscription packages.

Sky Italia aired AEW pay-per-view events on Sky Primafila. Sky Sport Arena aired Dynamite on Friday nights, while Rampage then aired on Monday nights, also via Sky Sport Arena.

AEW set for first special events of 2025

All Elite Wrestling will kick off the new year on January 1 with the sixth Fight for the Fallen charity event, which will raise money for Hurricane Helene victims in Western North Carolina. The episode will air live from Harrah's Cherokee Center in Asheville, featuring Jamie Hayter vs. Julia Hart, and FTR's hometown return to confront The Death Riders.

AEW will then host the inaugural Maximum Carnage edition of Dynamite on January 15 from the Brady Music Center in Cincinnati. They will return to the same venue one night later, on January 16, for the Maximum Carnage edition of Collision, airing later in the week on Saturday.

Officials have not confirmed any additional TV specials for 2025 as of this writing, but the next special event on the schedule is the inaugural Grand Slam: Australia pay-per-view, set for Saturday, February 15 at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre in Brisbane, Australia.