AEW President Tony Khan confirmed he has held multiple conversations with David Ellison regarding the future of AEW under the newly formed Skydance banner. Khan addressed the topic during the post-show press conference for AEW WrestleDream on October 17, 2026, when he was directly asked whether he had spoken with Ellison about where the promotion stands going forward.
According to Khan, the answer was a clear yes. He told reporters at the press conference, “Yes, I’ve had a [number of] good talks,” indicating that discussions between the two executives have already been underway and have left him optimistic about the direction of those conversations.
The question stems from the significant corporate shakeup affecting AEW’s broadcast partner. Warner Bros. and Paramount completed a merger that has resulted in the formation of Skydance, with David Ellison now at the helm of the newly combined media company. Because AEW’s programming arrangement has long been tied to the Warner Bros. Discovery side of that corporate structure, any shift in ownership or leadership at the top naturally raises questions about how the promotion’s business relationship will be shaped moving forward.
Tony Khan has built AEW’s media presence around a close working relationship with its television partners since the company’s founding, and the merger represents one of the more consequential corporate changes the promotion has had to navigate from a business standpoint. His willingness to confirm direct dialogue with Ellison, rather than deflect the question, suggests that AEW’s leadership views this relationship as an active and ongoing priority rather than a settled matter.
Neither Fightful nor Ringside News reported additional specifics from Khan on the content of those discussions, the frequency of the conversations, or any timeline for further corporate decisions affecting AEW’s television or streaming arrangements. Khan’s comments were limited to confirming that the talks have taken place and characterizing them as positive, without detailing what, if anything, has been decided about AEW’s long-term place within the Skydance-controlled media landscape.
The timing of Khan’s remarks, delivered immediately following AEW WrestleDream, placed the business update alongside one of the promotion’s marquee annual events, ensuring the comments reached a wide audience of media covering the show. AEW has not announced any changes to its broadcast deal as a result of the merger, and Khan’s statements at the press conference represent the most direct public confirmation to date that talks between AEW and Skydance’s new leadership are ongoing.
