AEW Dynamite Airing Friday, May 28 Due To NBA Playoffs; Possible Pre-Emption In June

AEW Dynamite Reportedly Airing Friday, May 28 Due To NBA Playoff Schedule; Possible Pre-Emption In June

AEW Dynamite will be switching things up temporarily next month due to NBA Playoff action.

According to this week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter, the normally scheduled episode of AEW Dynamite on May 26 will be moved to Friday, May 28 at 10 pm EST. The reported plan is for AEW to host four hours of programming, with the first two hours being AEW Dark matches from 8-10 pm, followed by a two-hour Dynamite broadcast at 10 pm.

It was also noted that the show will be pre-empted the following week on June 2, but the plan for that week’s show has not been determined yet. It’s “most likely” that Dynamite would air on Friday, June 4 that week, but June 5 was also discussed as a potential air date, depending on how the NBA schedule shakes out.

AEW will also be producing a Countdown show that airs May 29, which would promote the Double Or Nothing pay-per-view on Sunday, May 30.

AEW has not commented publicly on any plans for schedule changes due to the NBA Playoffs, but the move would not be unprecedented. AEW Dynamite was pre-empted last year due to basketball, including the special “Saturday Night Dynamite” broadcast on August 22, 2020.

AEW’s Tony Khan recently commented on Turner’s acquisition of the rights to NHL broadcasts, explaining to Busted Open Radio that Wednesday is Dynamite’s regular home but he’d consider a full-time move if it actually benefitted the promotion.

“I know Wednesday night’s our slot and our home, and we’re in a great situation,” said Khan. “I’m thrilled with our partnership with TNT. It’s a lifeblood of our company, it’s our primary revenue source, and it’s the way most fans get exposed to AEW and see the show. And tonight, and every Wednesday that we do Dynamite, I think for a lot of wrestling fans, it’s a really important night of the week. And so I want everyone to rest assured that they’re not gonna have to worry about these kinds of major changes. We have a contract, we have two-and-a-half years left on it, over two-and-a-half years left on it, for Wednesday nights in this slot.

“And if there was ever an opportunity to move or if there’s a deal to be had, I would consider it and if we did something, it would have to be a really good deal for AEW. It would have to make sense for us, but as it stands right now, that is the spot we’re in, tonight, 8-10 Wednesday nights on TNT. And if we move, I would certainly consider a deal if there was something in it for AEW.”