[Chan Hung]

The concern is there is no visible growth. AEW is not adding buyers, yet the payroll keeps growing, the influx of talent keeps increasing, nobody can say that is a good thing, mathematically. If they trimmed their roster and payroll then perhaps not a big deal but they are doing the opposite.

Wrestling Observer Newsletter:

Revolution is down 22.5% from last year’s event.

Dave Meltzer reported the updated PPV buy rate for AEW Revolution.

The show will likely end up doing around 133,000 buys. It was noted that the traditional PPV buys are closer to what both Full Gear and All Out did last year.

However, overall buys are down 0.7% from the past two shows. This includes international numbers dropping and US numbers potentially closer to Full Gear.

Revolution is down 22.5% from last year’s event; with traditional buys, it’s almost the same as what last year’s Forbidden show and Double or Nothing drew.

 

[Dr. Middy]

They've stalled and the growth is gone now, but I think that this kinda adds a feather in Punk's cap given the story going into the Punk/MJF here was basically the main story of the entire show. Would bet that match was the biggest draw here and although I really liked the entire MJF/Danielson feud, it got nowhere near the same amount of attention.

But yeah, they got a lot of work to do now when it comes to their overall booking and consistency there, the amount of wrestlers they have, and so on and so forth. Remaining higher post Punk/Danielson coming in is a good thing with the overall PPV buys is good, but if they trend further south then it's clearly a major problem and red flag.

 

[3venflow]

At the same time, they're in a similar range to 2021 (135,000) and bigger than 2020 (90,000). Last year's show took place during a hot spell for AEW and had Punk vs. MJF, Hangman vs. Cole, Danielson vs. Moxley, Eddie vs. Jericho and Britt vs. Thunder Rosa.

Considering the build to Revolution 2023, I think the number is good even though technically it trends the wrong way. It wasn't an immensely strong lineup even though the show delivered and then some. They can do better and should aspire to, but these are good PPV numbers and even as TV ratings are down, they're blowing away 2019 and 2020 PPV buys. It suggests that they have grown their international fanbase from when the company started, even if the domestic fanbase is kind of static. TNA never touched this sort of buyrate.

 

[Garmonbozia]

 

[Chan Hung]

They've stalled and the growth is gone now, but I think that this kinda adds a feather in Punk's cap given the story going into the Punk/MJF here was basically the main story of the entire show. Would bet that match was the biggest draw here and although I really liked the entire MJF/Danielson feud, it got nowhere near the same amount of attention.

But yeah, they got a lot of work to do now when it comes to their overall booking and consistency there, the amount of wrestlers they have, and so on and so forth. Remaining higher post Punk/Danielson coming in is a good thing with the overall PPV buys is good, but if they trend further south then it's clearly a major problem and red flag.

Agreed 100 %

 

[thorwold]

The concern is there is no visible growth. AEW is not adding buyers, yet the payroll keeps growing, the influx of talent keeps increasing, nobody can say that is a good thing, mathematically. If they trimmed their roster and payroll then perhaps not a big deal but they are doing the opposite.

Your concern for their business is touching, for sure, and obviously they're not hot right now as a promotion, but not adding new buyers? New buyers of what? They announced a DAZN deal a couple of months ago, and an ESPN one since then. Don't make stuff up to further your half-assed argument about the financial state of this private company.

Also, wasn't the Revolution show literally the night after Jon Jones first fight in a couple of years? Unless last years show came 24 hours after a comparably large PPV event, I don't think it's that big a deal.

 

[Saintpat]

At the same time, they're in a similar range to 2021 (135,000) and bigger than 2020 (90,000). Last year's show took place during a hot spell for AEW and had Punk vs. MJF, Hangman vs. Cole, Danielson vs. Moxley, Eddie vs. Jericho and Britt vs. Thunder Rosa.

Considering the build to Revolution 2023, I think the number is good even though technically it trends the wrong way. It wasn't an immensely strong lineup even though the show delivered and then some. They can do better and should aspire to, but these are good PPV numbers and even as TV ratings are down, they're blowing away 2019 and 2020 PPV buys. It suggests that they have grown their international fanbase from when the company started, even if the domestic fanbase is kind of static. TNA never touched this sort of buyrate.

I don’t think it’s a disaster but as noted it is not trending in the right direction.

But the thing I don’t get is the ‘considering the build’ — I mean, that’s pretty much the whole point is that they’ve lost their mojo in creating excitement around the product because of poor storytelling and bad builds. It’s not like it’s something out of their control.

I guess someone can spin it and say ‘even when they don’t try very hard there are a lot of loyal people who will buy it,’ just like there’s 850k loyalists who will watch on TV … but keep up with doing things the same way and I think they’ll see that base erode too.

 

[One Shed]

Wait, so having an actual star on the roster did mean something for revenue and buyrates? Crazy, right!

Nah, book more trios! That will bring the money!

 

[Chan Hung]

Your concern for their business is touching, for sure, and obviously they're not hot right now as a promotion, but not adding new buyers? New buyers of what? They announced a DAZN deal a couple of months ago, and an ESPN one since then. Don't make stuff up to further your half-assed argument about the financial state of this private company.

Also, wasn't the Revolution show literally the night after Jon Jones first fight in a couple of years? Unless last years show came 24 hours after a comparably large PPV event, I don't think it's that big a deal.

Strange how the goal posts always move. I get that AEW having deals with other companies may look good, but it sadly doesn't change the fact that they are losing viewership. Less viewership is not a good thing.

As for the answer to the question: New buyers of their ppv. New audience that tunes in to watch Dynamite weekly on TNT. The company is adding employees left and right and you can call that a plus, but they are struggling to grow. If you ignore the growth and are happy with the status quo and the current base, then you must not want the company to maximize their success.

 

[Prized Fighter]

Wait, so having an actual star on the roster did mean something for revenue and buyrates? Crazy, right!

Nah, book more trios! That will bring the money!

The Revolution 2022 main event was a world title match between Hangman and Adam Cole. Good to know that you think Hanger is an actual star.

 

[Chan Hung]

The Revolution 2022 main event was a world title match between Hangman and Adam Cole. Good to know that you think Hanger is an actual star.

I dont think he's calling either a star to be fair. Also i think Hanger would be a bigger deal if he didn't abide by the death by association thing with Dork Order

 

[thorwold]

Strange how the goal posts always move. I get that AEW having deals with other companies may look good, but it sadly doesn't change the fact that they are losing viewership. Less viewership is not a good thing.

As for the answer to the question: New buyers of their ppv. New audience that tunes in to watch Dynamite weekly on TNT. The company is adding employees left and right and you can call that a plus, but they are struggling to grow. If you ignore the growth and are happy with the status quo and the current base, then you must not want the company to maximize their success.

I'm not moving anything. You literally said they don't have any new buyers. Surely you are the one who has moved the goalposts?

If all you meant is that their PPV audience is not growing, fair enough, but if you're bringing Dynamite viewership into it, what does that have to do with their employing new people? Do they get a couple hundred thousand bucks per viewer?

They get money from deals with other companies. If they've literally signed two different international TV deals in the past couple of months then it's safe to assume they have funds coming in that enable them to pretty reasonably hire new employees...

 

[One Shed]

The Revolution 2022 main event was a world title match between Hangman and Adam Cole. Good to know that you think Hanger is an actual star.

Was that the main story going into the PPV? No? Does anyone remember anything about Micro Brawler vs Page? No? OK then. I legit forgot that match had happened on a PPV.

 

[FITZ]

I don't know if that big of a difference says more about Revolution 2022 or Revolution 2023.

2022 was an amazing card, possibly the best card AEW has ever put out. Revolution's 2023 was as good, it was still a good card but not nearly as good as the 2022's.

 

[bdon]

I mean, this is what happens when Punk decides to go in a scrum and cry like a fucking bitch to anyone that will listen, thinking that is going to help the company or fix whatever problem he PERCEIVES to exist.

Facts are he was handed the company on a silver platter when all of these supposed non-stars, “plumbers, “geeks”, etc had built up a whirlwind of momentum from 2020 and into 2021.

Sorry, but Punk at the top resulted in AEW losing all of that momentum and handing it back to WWE.

 

[Blonde]

Sorry, but Punk at the top resulted in AEW losing all of that momentum and handing it back to WWE.

 

[shandcraig]

Matches Matches Matches!

 

[Municipal Waste]

They’re a year away from a contract negotiation that’s going to multiply their revenue. The PPV revenue isn’t the big factor on their overall expenses.

 

[arch.unleash]

Good, hopefully next year we will get the fall and fall of AEW. There was no rise.

 

[Chan Hung]

I'm not moving anything. You literally said they don't have any new buyers. Surely you are the one who has moved the goalposts?

If all you meant is that their PPV audience is not growing, fair enough, but if you're bringing Dynamite viewership into it, what does that have to do with their employing new people? Do they get a couple hundred thousand bucks per viewer?

PPV and weekly TNT Dynamite audience is not growing. But trending downward.