When AEW first started in 2019, one of the things it did that made sense at the time was to show some restraint with how many pay-per-view cards it put on each year. Through 2021, the company held just four PPV events, and it was a cadence that fit the promotion during its formative years (and was lighter on fans’ wallets).
In 2022, the schedule expanded for the inaugural Forbidden Door, but even that was a show with a unique purpose to cross-promote with New Japan Pro-Wrestling. It wasn’t until just last year, with the addition of All In, WrestleDream and Worlds End — all in the second half of 2023 — that it appeared AEW might be moving toward a monthly PPV slate.
January and February 2024 have now come and gone, however, and we’ve yet to see the first AEW pay-per-view of the year. That will change when Revolution hits Greensboro this weekend, and it’s quite possible something new will be coming between this event and Double or Nothing, which is expected to be held in its traditional Memorial Day weekend slot.
During his customary pre-Revolution conference call this week, AEW CEO, GM and head of creative Tony Khan was asked by Dave Meltzer of Wrestling Observer whether he was close to settling on a specific number of PPVs for 2024. Khan didn’t commit to anything on the spot, but he hinted heavily that one or two more shows might be in the cards.
“Going to eight events, it worked really well,” Khan said. “I believe we have the capacity to increase. I think this year … If you forced me to say, to use an expression I use in the back a lot, if you force me to say, if I had to say — and I don’t have to say, but I want to be open and honest — I could see this year being nine to 10 [pay-per-view events], and I think nine is probably a good sweet spot.”
A ninth show could be coming as soon as next month. Fightful Select (subscription required) reported earlier this week that AEW had filed a trademark claim for the name ‘Dynasty’ with the expectation that it was going to be used on a new PPV card this spring.
Word within All Elite Wrestling that we’ve heard is that it could be an April event.
That would indeed put AEW at nine pay-per-views for the year, assuming everything else from 2023 returns and nothing additional is added. Currently, the only PPV past Revolution that has a date and venue announced is All In on Aug. 25 at London’s Wembley Stadium, though Khan also confirmed last fall that WrestleDream will return later this year.
What we know for sure at the moment is that Revolution is taking place this Sunday, March 3 at the Greensboro Coliseum, highlighted by what is being billed as Sting’s last pro wrestling match.
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