All Elite Wrestling (AEW) opened its Wednesday night broadcast with a poignant tribute to media mogul Ted Turner, who passed away at the age of 87. The man who revolutionized cable television and changed the face of professional wrestling was honored with a traditional 10-bell salute, a gesture that resonated deeply with fans and wrestlers alike.

"Ted Turner believed in pro wrestling," said AEW commentator Tony Schiavone, his voice filled with emotion as he addressed the audience. "He believed in you, the fans, and he believed that pro wrestling belonged on national television."

Turner's impact on the sport cannot be overstated. After purchasing World Championship Wrestling (WCW) in the late 1980s, he gave it a primetime slot on his TBS and TNT networks—a move that sparked the legendary "Monday Night Wars" between WCW and WWE (then WWF). This rivalry pushed both promotions to new creative heights, ushering in wrestling's most celebrated era.

"Because of his passion, because of his vision, it found a home on TBS and then later in the '90s, on TNT," continued Schiavone, who himself began his broadcasting career at TBS in 1985. "Generations of fans around the world knew that we were destination viewing."

Schiavone reflected on Turner's enduring legacy: "I began in the studio at TBS in 1985. Decades later, because of the foundation that was laid by Ted Turner, we still survive today—through the leadership of Tony Khan in AEW, through the leadership of Warner Discovery. Wrestling still survives."

AEW President Tony Khan shared his own tribute ahead of the show. "It's a very sad day in the world of television and certainly in the world of professional wrestling," Khan said. "The man who gave us this platform, the man who created TBS and TNT and so many great television channels and concepts—the late, great Mr. Ted Turner has passed."

Following Schiavone's heartfelt speech, the crowd in Charleston, South Carolina, rose to their feet as wrestling icon Sting entered the ring. A legend who defined WCW's golden era and later finished his career in AEW, Sting paid homage to the man who made it all possible.

"Can you imagine having an all-in billionaire who absolutely loved pro wrestling?" Sting asked the hushed arena. "I can't believe what he did for us. He was completely committed to us, devoted to us in every conceivable way."

As the final bell tolled, it was clear that Ted Turner's vision—and his love for the sport—will echo through wrestling history for generations to come.