AEW Surprises Shaquille O’Neal and Charles Barkley with Exclusive Belts

With ongoing talks about media rights contracts between AEW and Warner Bros. Discovery, the focus on corporate synergy remains strong this week. One notable instance was when AEW gifted the Inside the NBA crew with custom championship replica title belts, including ones for Shaquille ONeal and Charles Barkley. This gesture took place live on TNT, with Kenny Smith jokingly expressing his love for anything free, while Barkley playfully threatened to bop Shaq upside the head like Chris Jericho. The crew seemed thrilled with the gifts, with Chuck commenting on the weight of the belts and Shaq humorously planning to rock his belt at a hookah bar later that night.

Looking ahead, AEW's corporate synergy efforts extend to Dynamite, where a tie-in is set to promote season two of HBOs House of the Dragon. During an upcoming episode, fans can expect to see Swerve Strickland face off against Killswitch, also known as Luchasaurus. While this match isn't specified as a world title bout or an eliminator, it promises to be an exciting showdown. Swerve recently defended the AEW World Championship against Christian Cage at Double or Nothing, and now the dinosaur wrestler aims to seek payback for the Patriarch.

Prior to this, AEW had already showcased a tie-in with House of the Dragon in 2022, featuring a match between Dragon and Dragonslayer, where Bryan Danielson emerged victorious. As fans anticipate the upcoming corporate synergy initiatives, share your thoughts on these collaborations and how they enhance the overall viewing experience.