On April 16, 2024, All Elite Wrestling (AEW) will celebrate a significant achievement as its flagship show, “Dynamite,” airs its 289th episode. This milestone marks a historic moment in professional wrestling, as “Dynamite” will have officially aired more episodes than WCW’s renowned “Monday Nitro,” which totaled 288 episodes during its run on Turner Network Television (TNT) from 1995 to 2001.

The Legacy of WCW Nitro

AEW President and CEO, Tony Khan, reflects on the pivotal role “Nitro” played in shaping the wrestling landscape. “It had a major influence on anyone that was watching wrestling at that time,” Khan stated in an interview with Variety. He cited significant moments from “Nitro,” such as Randy Savage’s rivalry with Ric Flair and Lex Luger’s surprise debut, as critical events that transcended the iconic rise of the New World Order (NWO).

The Impact of Wrestling Styles

Khan highlights that while many associate the success of WCW with the advent of the NWO, key success factors were already in place. “A common misconception is that WCW really picked up and started getting really hot when the NWO started, but the company had already gotten really hot when the NWO came in,” he noted. The innovative wrestling styles showcased during “Nitro” introduced a blend of high-flying and fast-paced action that was rare for U.S. audiences at the time, influencing future generations of wrestlers.

“There were a lot of really great athletes, and some of the highest-flying, fastest-paced pro wrestling you could find of the era,” Khan added. He emphasized a shift in the wrestling paradigm, noting that today’s top wrestlers are not confined to the traditional heavyweight mold.

Draws from a Shared Legacy

Despite “Nitro” concluding nearly two decades before “Dynamite” debuted, both shows share a common legacy. “Sting is a huge part of AEW, and long before there ever was an AEW, Sting was wrestling on TBS and TNT for many, many years,” Khan remarked. He fondly recalled the magical moments he witnessed on those platforms involving legends like Ric Flair and Sting.

Celebrating with Spring BreakThru Episode

This week’s episode of “Dynamite” will be themed “Spring BreakThru” and aired live from Boston. Fans can expect an exciting lineup, including a match featuring the AEW Trios Champions, the Death Riders (Jon Moxley, PAC, and Claudio Castagnoli), taking on The Opps (Samoa Joe, Katsuyori Shibata, and HOOK). Additionally, several confrontations will take place as part of the Owen Hart Cup tournament, showcasing talent such as Hangman Page, Will Ospreay, Konosuke Takeshita, Athena, and Mercedes Moné.

Continued Growth with Warner Bros. Discovery

As AEW enters a new phase with its recent partnership with Warner Bros. Discovery, Khan expressed gratitude for the support received. “David Zaslav, head of WBD, personally emphasized his belief in AEW,” Khan said. He acknowledged the new opportunity to reach audiences through streaming on Max, marking a significant step forward for the promotion.

“He’s given us that opportunity to not only continue to hit this great milestone this week but also reach this new audience with Max, which I believe is a huge part of the future,” Khan concluded.