AEW pays tribute to Ted Turner with a 10-bell salute after his passing at 87

AEW Honors Ted Turner with Special Salute

All Elite Wrestling (AEW) began a unique double episode of “Dynamite” and “Collision” on Wednesday, paying respect to Ted Turner with a poignant 10-bell salute.

Turner, a pivotal figure in the launch of TNT and TBS and the acquisition of World Championship Wrestling (WCW), passed away on Tuesday at the age of 87.

Tony Khan, co-founder of AEW, expressed his condolences to Turner before the show. “It’s a very sad day for the world of television and, of course, the world of professional wrestling,” he shared during a livestream on X. “The man who gave us this platform and created TBS and TNT has left us.”

AEW commentator Tony Schiavone opened the episode with heartfelt remarks about Turner, emphasizing his belief in professional wrestling. “He believed in you, the fans, and he believed that pro wrestling belonged on national television,” Schiavone noted. Reflecting on his experience, he added, “I started working at the TBS studio in 1985. Because of the foundation Ted Turner laid, we’re still thriving today under Tony Khan’s guidance.”

Schiavone named Sting as the face of “what pro wrestling means to TBS.” Sting, a legendary figure in wrestling, made a grand entrance and reminisced about Turner’s dedication. “Can you imagine a billionaire who loved professional wrestling this much?” he asked the audience. “Turner’s commitment to us was unmatched. Even when people questioned the profitability of pro wrestling, he stuck by us.”

He emphasized that without Turner, aspects like the TNT title and even his own presence would not exist, saying, “Thank you again, Ted.”

Schiavone’s journey continued through the “Monday Night Wars” between WCW and WWE, and he later returned to broadcasts with AEW when it launched in 2019. Sting, a central figure in the wars, helped WCW dominate WWE for 83 weeks in the 1990s.

AEW was notable for being the first wrestling promotion to return to TNT and TBS following WWE’s acquisition of WCW. Today, they host “Dynamite” and “Collision” each week on the networks.