Here’s what matters today in wrestling👇
Image Credit: AEW
Warner Bros. Discovery consists of various media properties that have constantly been on sale & merging with each other for as long as I can remember. The latest bidding war seemingly has concluded with Paramount making an offer that Netflix wasn’t willing to equal. The merger between Paramount & WBD is expected to close in the third quarter of 2026 barring disapproval from stockholders & the government. The continuing merger of media companies into immense behemoths owned & controlled by the richest billionaires is a story that has a lot of consequences that will be felt for the next several decades. Here, we look at the wrestling aspect of things.
Many AEW fans were concerned over a Paramount purchase because WBD owns a part of AEW, and Paramount is in business with UFC, airing their major events on Paramount+. UFC, of course is owned by TKO alongside WWE, so one could imagine AEW getting squeezed out of their current TV deal once it expires. That could very well happen, but in today’s media environment it’s tough to find a place that TKO doesn’t have its claws in. AEW is said to be un-worried about this and is looking forward to working with Paramount, and at this point that’s all they can be. They have to put on the best shows they can, draw in as many viewers as they can, and hope to be a viable property the next time they need that TV rights money. They can’t worry about what happens with TKO…TKO will try to bring them down since they’re competition, but whenever you’re running a business you’ll have that.
WRESTLING HEADLINES 👊🏽
•More Backstage Details on Danhausen Signing With WWE, Plans For Him
Image Credit: WWE
The debut of Danhausen got a lot of online heat (not in the good way) and the live crowd didn’t go crazy for him, so people already want to write him off. I thought his appearance on Raw went a lot better, with Dominik Mysterio getting cursed just before he lost the Intercontinental Championship to Penta. Hey, if you want people to take the Danhausen Curse seriously, he needs to get over on some guys. Danhausen’s a strange character and his humor isn’t for everyone, but I think WWE will find enough fans that get a kick out of him to make him a worthwhile roster member. I still think it’s kinda crazy that AEW kept him on the shelf as long as they did since they had nothing for him to do, but those merchandise numbers must have been insane.
Image Credit: WWE
Rhea & Jade got things going on social media right after Rhea won the Elimination Chamber match on Saturday night. Other SmackDown women have been getting involved, with everybody I’ve seen taking Rhea’s side regardless of face/heel affiliation. I don’t think social media feuds need to be a thing on a regular basis, but in cases like this one where you need a lot of sizzle to sell the match, it makes sense. I have to say that I like it better so far than Roman Reigns calling CM Punk “Phil” & Punk talking about Roman’s dead father like he’s Christian Cage or something.
MORE MUST-READ LINKS FROM 411MANIA
→Brody King: The Use of Art as Protest
→The Great Eight: Top 8 NXT Black & Gold Era Tag Teams
→Hall's WWE Raw Review 3.2.26
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– Steve Cook