AEW TV home set, AEW's streaming future, Interviews with Cesaro/Ali/Cody+JR, Paige on team name controversey, SDL live event set, new WWE mobile game, AEW website expands, new AEW referees, another AEW personnel addition, Lars speaks to roster, SDL audience, more Thunder coming, Becky endorsed by Conor coach, new Hidden Gems, NJPW show sells out, Raw live event note, and Questions on WWE not advertising matches or live events, why Lio gets heat, the point of Creative, and wrestling as an art

AEW will air weekly on TNT at some point in 2019, a pretty major undertaking that changes the wrestling landscape. From the press release:
- WarnerMedia indicated plans to build AEW globally.

- Bleacher Report Live will also stream matches. It's unknown what level of delay there will be (if any) from when the matches air on TNT.

- They emphasized athleticism and competition over "scripted, soapy drama." This will include a focus on statistics like win/loss records. I'm split on that approach, but it clearly stands out from WWE. If that part of things doesn't work, they can adapt.

- Double or Nothing's pre-show will stream on AEW social media as well as B/R Live. That's a good move to draw fans in.

Cesaro promoted WWE's European tour:
- I don't think I'd mind Cesaro winning MITB and becoming champion that way if he was in the match this year. I'm not as high on him as others are, but he definitely puts in hard work.

- In some ways, Vince not getting a talent's appeal does bolster that talent's standing with hardcore fans.

- The Bar have definitely delivered, and both men have singles potential.

Paige responded to criticism of her new team's name. There's something to be said about putting Kairi and Asuka together despite them not having any previous history. Kabuki Girls and Kabuki Warriors aren't amazing names, but I'm glad it wasn't a case of someone throwing darts at a board of Japanese things.

Smackdown Live will run a live event in New York on July 15.

WWE is launching a new mobile game, WWE Universe.

AEW was featured at WarnerMedia's upfront presentation, with Tony Khan, Kenny Omega, Cody, the Young Bucks, Hangman Page, and Britt Baker all present.

- Chris Jericho claimed he wasn't at the presentation because he's training for Double or Nothing. I'm already pretty tired of his current character.

AEW has relaunched its website following its TV announcement.

AEW has signed Earl Hebner and Aubrey Edwards as referees.

Conrad Thompson is listed as part of AEW's broadcast team.

AEW's TNT deal has TNT covering production costs. AEW is not being rights fees, but ad revenue being shared between AEW and TNT. So the TV deal as a whole isn't a big revenue-maker by itself, but it obviously opens doors to promote live events and merchandise.

TNT's "Claws" promoted AEW. Yeah, TNT is really getting behind this.

Lars Sullivan apologized to the WWE roster for his past remarks. I respect that. I hope he can continue to grow as a person.

Smackdown Live drew 1.83 million viewers Tuesday night, a new low mark for the series. That's not unsurprising for an episode that wasn't live. WWE has their work cut out for them rebuilding audience numbers.

WCW Thunder will add more episodes to WWE Network on May 20. It's currently unknown how many episodes and which ones will be uploaded.

Becky Lynch was endorsed by Conor McGregor's coach. Becky's breaking out at just the right time in her career, as fan support has built up over her run.

Ali discussed losing his first name and more. It's sad if "Mustafa" is too tough for WWE fans. I get the idea of giving fans one name to chant, though.

WWE Network's latest Hidden Gems are:
- Andre the Giant vs. Jerry Blackwell in a Bodyslam Challenge from AWA in 1980
- Andre the Giant and Hulk Hogan vs. Nick Bockwinkel, Ken Patera, Bobby Heenan, and Bobby Duncum from AWA in 1982
- Andre the Giant vs. Big John Studd from WWF in 1984

Cody and Jim Ross discussed AEW's TV deal with Variety:
- There's no doubt AEW has potential to be the biggest alternative to WWE since WCW went out of business.

- I don't see a reason to directly challenge WWE in the sense of running their TV show against Raw, etc. Give fans the option to support both if they want to.

- Yes, just being "the WWE alternative" is a limited strategy compared to having their own vision.

- WWE has definitely been a departure from what wrestling was generations ago, for better or worse.

NJPW Dominion has officially sold out. This is one of their most important shows of the year.

WALTER defeated Pete Dunne to retain the WWE UK Championship at Raw's May 15 live event in England.

For my take on yesterday's PWInsider.com questions:
1. The obvious answer is because so much changes last minute! They do advertise some things on social media in advance, although I see the argument they need to advertise what's on the next week's episodes during the current week's episodes.

2. They could definitely do a better job of that, although of course declining live event attendance and declining TV ratings are linked.

3. I don't think it's a stretch to say Lio feels the need to prove and protect himself as a young, small, person of color, and that leads to him rubbing others the wrong way.

4. Vince obviously changes a lot of things, but I don't expect he wants to come up with and plan out every detail himself! He decides the direction and they make it happen.

5. I'd say it's a pretty common mindset, especially among younger/newer wrestlers. It can definitely help AEW if they're seen as less restrictive of talents' vision and more friendly with the workload than WWE's schedule.

More wrestling coming up.