Cody talks relationship with TNT.
TNT was at the center of the Monday Night Wars as they were home to World Championship Wrestling from 1995 to 2001. The last episode of Nitro aired in March 2001 and it has been 18 years since TNT aired professional wrestling. That all changes on Oct. 2 when All Elite Wrestling premieres on the Network. The TNT social media accounts haven't been shy about linking the AEW premiere to the peak days of WCW, but as Cody Rhodes explained it, those at the helm of TNT have no ties to WCW.
"There is no one in the Turner group, who was there during the WCW time," Cody told Busted Open Radio. "That, to us, is a massive blessing. There is no pre-existing grudge or thought on what wrestling is going to be. Kevin Reilly, who is the President of the network, his relationship with Tony Khan helped propel us to the platform and the spot. Kevin has been the Ted Turner, how Ted was to WCW, [Kevin] has been that to AEW. He's listened and talked to us about what's important, what we're passionate about, what makes us different from any other wrestling on TV. He likes the mission. There can be this alternative."
AEW is already off to a good start as the premiere on TNT has officially sold out. In terms of the audience they are trying to draw for its debut, Cody discussed wanting to please the core fanbase first. You can read his comments by clicking here.