Below are a couple of top AEW news stories of the day.
• The wrestling world is gearing up for a bidding war as Penta El Zero Miedo’s contract with AEW is set to expire between August and September 2024. This impending free agency has sparked interest from WWE, setting the stage for a high-stakes competition between the two promotions.
Penta El Zero Miedo, known for his dynamic in-ring style, has an impressive resume. He has competed in numerous promotions, including AAA, MLW, TNA Impact, CMLL, and Lucha Underground. His accolades include a one TNA World Championship and two Lucha Underground Championships.
According to the Wrestling Observer, Penta is open to leaving All Elite Wrestling and going to WWE. However, Penta has noted in interviews that he hasn’t talked to WWE yet because that would be contract tampering.
Tony Khan is confident that he’ll be able to re-sign Penta.
Penta will be in trios action on the Forbidden Door Zero Hour pre-show this Sunday, where he will team up with Rey Fenix and Mistico to take on Hiromu Takahashi, Yota Tsuji & Titán.
WATCH: Torrie Wilson Taking A Shower:
• AEW Double or Nothing 2024 took place on May 26, 2024, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Paradise, Nevada. The event, though eagerly anticipated by fans, didn’t result in significant profits for Tony Khan’s company.
According to the Wrestling Observer, Mike Mansury filed tax credit forms in Nevada for the expenses related to the television taping and Double or Nothing pay-per-view show on May 24 and 25. The report indicated that these shows were only marginally profitable.
Revenue from the two shows was estimated to be between $694,000 and $900,000 from gate receipts, with an additional $3 million from pay-per-view buys, $150,000 from merchandise sales, and $500,000 from TNT for Collision. Despite this, the weekend’s profitability was minimal, largely due to the absence of corporate sponsorships, which WWE and UFC utilize to boost revenue.
Expenses for the event were detailed as follows: $150,000 for talent airfare, $150,000 for broadcast production, $50,000 for catering, $14,000 for cleanup, $7,000 for communication packages, $70,000 for non-talent airfare, $2,000 for ground transportation, $250,000 for hotel expenses, $60,000 for security, $30,000 for LED screens, $75,000 for lighting and rigging, $100,000 for local management services, $10,000 for medical costs, $400,000 for operations and technical support crew, $15,000 for production consultants, $7,500 for miscellaneous show props, $110,000 for rent, $30,000 for rental cars, $66,000 for rigging and riggers, $700 for robocams and other tech, $40,000 for sound packages, $135,000 for stagehands, $10,000 for staging, $50,000 for transportation, and $2 million for talent fees.
Additionally, Pollstar reported audited numbers for Double or Nothing, indicating a paid attendance of 9,099, generating $582,204. AEW had previously claimed a paid attendance of 7,500, but the actual number of people in the building exceeded 9,000, with gate receipts just under $800,000.
