AEW fans need to look no further than HBO Max for the promotion’s PLE programming. The company has formally announced that the streaming platform will be the place to livestream all of AEW’s pay-per-views. It all starts with this year’s All Out, slated to air on September 20th, 2025.
Having a Max subscription won’t be enough to net customers this type of access, though. Subscribers will still have to preorder or buy PLEs for $40 through the platform, which means they’re not automatically included in the service’s monthly costs. They will be ad-free and will remain viewable for six months after the event airs. Those who prefer purchasing PLEs via Amazon Prime can still do so, but they’ll be paying $50 a pop for them.
The $40 price tag seems to be popular in wrestling given it’s the same number attached to WWE’s PLE deal with ESPN and its streaming service. That said, this is where the similarities end. AEW fans only need access to Max, or TBS and TNT to get their content. WWE fans that watch every single show need multiple streaming subscriptions plus cable. AEW seems to be leaning on the ‘less is more’ side of the equation with their HBO arrangement, and they would do well to remain committed to that decision.
It does look like the days of the all-inclusive monthly subscription deal that also included wrestling content is now in the dust. The wound is still fresh for those who enjoyed getting all their WWE PLEs via Peacock for no extra charge. The costs of convenience, sadly, rarely get the upper hand whenever the chance for higher profits is on the table.
Fans who religiously follow both wrestling companies are being asked to cough up a lot of dough for their wrestling fix. They’ll be $80 in the whole a month on PLEs alone. Add the monthly payments for Netflix to watch RAW and HBO Max for the Collision and Dynamite simulcasts and it really starts adding up. It’ll easily cost fans upwards of $100 a month to be able to enjoy both wrestling worlds.
AEW audiences do edge out a financial win in this scenario. HBO is all you need to keep up with it and the PLEs are an optional buy. This essentially marks AEW’s HBO Max era, which is characterized by a push to keep things simple and accessible when it comes to the services needed to enjoy their product.
The days of Monday night wars are over. Wrestling is now fully in the trenches of the streaming wars. Money determines winners and losers more than ratings this time around. It’s all about who pulls in more subscribers into the platforms they’re on. It’s a great time to be a wrestling fan, that’s for sure. Unfortunately, it’s also the most expensive time to be a wrestling fan, too.
