AEW adjusts schedule as it announces first women's Blood Guts match

All Elite Wrestling president Tony Khan said the company is enjoying a strong year and adapting its scheduling in response to rival programming, even as the promotion rolls into October with the first-ever women's Blood Guts match announced on this week's AEW Collision. Khan framed the developments as evidence that AEW has been able to "stick and move" in the face of competition, while the promotion advances a high-stakes match format that will involve two teams of five competitors.

Khan told an interviewer that AEW has seen growth across its television and streaming platforms, saying, "We've been having a great year. We've been able to stick and move and make it work really well for us." He credited the gains to stronger ratings for Dynamite and Collision compared with last year, expanded streaming distribution, and continued cable viewership. He also said AEW pay-per-views have been among the company's best, estimating that several of this year's shows would rank among the top events in AEW history.

The comments came amid repeated instances of direct scheduling by a rival promotion, which has placed NXT and other major events opposite AEW's pay-per-views and regularly booked...