Earlier today, it was made official that AEW has sold out for their international debut on TNT. Cody Rhodes and The Young Bucks, Executive Vice Presidents of All Elite Wrestling, tweeted the news simultaneously. The debut show will take place on October 2nd from the Capital One Arena in Washington, D.C. It will air live on TNT at 8 PM EST.
SOLD OUT❗️
Thank you all so very much.
(Do not give up hope on being there live though, we should be lifting potential camera/production holds as we get closer to the event. Keep checking at https://t.co/tzvxkxvV0O ) pic.twitter.com/lScHFwc4cd
— Cody Rhodes (@CodyRhodes) August 2, 2019
Beyond the initial TV show on TNT, AEW has made many of their plans clear for the show moving forward. For example, they will not only air live on the network every Wednesday night, but they will air from different venues throughout the country.
As far as the initial episode is concerned, numerous announcements have been made. First, Cody will square off with Sammy Guevara in singles action. Second, The Young Bucks and Kenny Omega will team up to take on Chris Jericho and two mystery partners of his choosing. Third, Jon Moxley will be live at the Capital One Center; his specific role on the show remains a mystery. Fourth, and finally, it was recently announced that the inaugural AEW Women’s Champion will be crowned.
Tune in on Wednesday, October 2nd, on TNT to see AEW’s television debut.
Sold out.
— The Young Bucks® (@MattJackson13) August 2, 2019
Sutter’s Synopsis: When AEW Double or Nothing sold out in mere minutes, it became clear that there was a demand for professional wrestling alternative on TNT as well. Fyter Fest and Fight for the Fallen elicited excitement from fans as well, but it was easy to be skeptical of the promotion’s TV debut. After all, would the demand be as strong for a weekly program? Following the news AEW officials broke, it’s clear that the answer is a solid, “yes.”
With all the excitement in the air and AEW’s primetime debut in just a couple of months, the promotion has a lot to live up to. AEW cannot be content with simply putting on a show with solid matches; there must also be a hook. In other words, the company must pull off something to ensure that fans will be incentivized to tune in week after week. Whether the hook in question is a title change, surprise debut, or some other circumstance entirely, something big must occur.
Regardless of what unfolds, AEW’s debut on TNT is exciting. The fact that it sold out this quickly is proof.
