Episode Details

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This week, Wrestling Tonight looks at what Paramount Skydance's $110 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery actually means for AEW. David Ellison's company now inherits WBD's minority ownership stake in AEW along with the television relationship that runs through 2027 with an option for 2028. Nothing changes overnight, but with roughly $80 billion in net debt, expected cost cutting and Paramount already working extensively with TKO through UFC and Zuffa Boxing, AEW suddenly has a completely different company evaluating its long term value.

And the timing could not be more interesting because Grand Slam France becomes AEW's first television show of the Skydance era, headlined by Will Ospreay defending the AEW World Championship against Kazuchika Okada. Mercedes Mone faces Queen Aminata, Darby Allin defends against Kyle Fletcher, Bandido puts the ROH World Championship on the line against Kofi and Samoa Joe faces Jack Perry for a spot in WrestleDream's Clockwork Carnage match. We get into why Okada needs to feel like a legitimate threat to Ospreay and why Paris could have major implications for WrestleDream.

That leads directly into Clockwork Carnage, a concept reportedly brought to AEW by Ospreay after being used by Pro Wrestling EVE. AEW had previously discussed creating a six person match similar to WWE's Elimination Chamber before shelving the idea over questions surrounding the physical structure. We break down why Clockwork Carnage may actually be the better alternative, how its elimination and scoring stages work and why AEW is already considering making it an annual WrestleDream tradition.

Ospreay is also heading back into his United Empire history at NJPW King of Pro Wrestling. Yuto-Ice and OSKAR are now two time IWGP Tag Team Champions and have recruited former United Empire member Jeff Cobb to challenge HENARE, Great-O-Khan and Ospreay for the NEVER Openweight Six-Man Tag Team titles. With Yuto and Ospreay already trading shots and an NJPW versus AEW element developing around the match, we look at how New Japan's new generation is being positioned opposite several major names from its recent past.

On the WWE side, John Cena is standing by Vince McMahon, saying he has "no guilt nor shame" about their friendship and that it is possible to love somebody who is not perfect. Those comments come as WWE prepares the inaugural John Cena Classic for December, bringing Cena's stated values of hustle, loyalty and respect into an uncomfortable conversation about his continued public support of McMahon and the way WWE is beginning to turn Cena's legacy into a permanent part of the company.

Seth Rollins is also starting to show us what the next phase of his career could look like. Rollins revealed that he has three years remaining on his WWE contract while also working under a separate ESPN deal for appearances across its programming. At 40 years old, Rollins is trying to build his sports media career while he is still wrestling, potentially giving him a completely different role waiting whenever his full time WWE career eventually winds down.

We also preview Money in the Bank in New Orleans, where Penta and Lash Legend enter as the current betting favorites for their respective ladder matches. Penta sits narrowly ahead of Bron Breakker while Lash is just ahead of Roxanne Perez, and we look at why either winner could use the briefcase to establish themselves at a completely different level. Roman Reigns defending the World Heavyweight Championship against LA Knight and Oba Femi facing Bronson Reed are also set for Saturday.

Elsewhere, Sheamus is officially a free agent, preparing to use the name S. Farrelly outside WWE with reported interest from AEW. Max