WBD has denied reports that it blocked Brody King from appearing on AEW Dynamite this week.
The heavyweight star was notably absent from the February 11, 2026 episode of the Wednesday Night show despite being set for a World title match against MJF at the Grand Slam Australia event on February 14. This came a week after the segment involving the two names went viral for anti-ICE chants from fans, gaining the attention of mainstream media.
On the latest Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer suggested that these two stories are connected. According to the wrestling journalist, WBD blocked King's appearance on AEW's flagship show this week in fear of more chants against the current US administration:
"This is again not a Tony call. This is from above. You know what it is, nobody wants to get on Trump's bad side. If it wasn't for that, nobody would care, it's just a chant, but unfortunately, they've got a company they're trying to sell and get regulatory approval from a guy who is gonna take that stuff personal. That's just how it is."
This is referencing the pending deal in which Netflix has agreed to acquire Warner Bros. and HBO Max from WBD for $82.7 Billion. The merger is yet to be approved by the government.
WBD has since denied this report, with a statement issued to Fightful: "Warner Bros. Discovery did not have any involvement in Brody King's upcoming AEW schedule. Any speculation to the contrary is categorically false. Brody is scheduled to appear during the next AEW event, which will air this Saturday on TNT and HBO Max"
