Charles Barkley is a prominent figure in sports media, celebrated for his role on TNT's "Inside the NBA" for over two decades. His commentary and personality have made the show a favorite among sports fans. However, with TNT losing its NBA broadcasting rights after the 2024-25 season, Barkley's future with the network is uncertain.
Barkley, who is in the third year of a 10-year deal reportedly worth over $200 million, initially suggested he might retire after the next season, regardless of the NBA's TV rights negotiations. Despite the uncertainty, Barkley has been adamant that he wouldn't work for another network.
While the news of "Inside the NBA's" potential end is disappointing for many fans, it opens up possibilities for Barkley. If Barkley stays with TNT despite the loss of the NBA, what could he do? One intriguing possibility involves Barkley's passion for professional wrestling.
Charles Barkley
Every Charles Barkley makes Shaq Laugh MOMENTS
Barkley's Love for Wrestling
Barkley has expressed his love for professional wrestling. In April, he appeared on The Pat McAfee Show to discuss The Rock's return to Wrestlemania. He also mentioned wanting to confront Chad Gable for his heel turn on Sami Zayn during Monday Night Raw. Barkley’s investment in wrestling is clear.
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On the Pat McAfee Show, Barkley humorously exclaimed, “You know what, I was going to fly up there, and whoop, Gable's a**,” Charles Barkley hilariously exclaimed on the Pat McAfee Show. “That man whooped [Sami's] a** in front of his wife and parents, man. I didn't like that at all. You can't kick a man's a** in front of his wife and parents, man, I didn't like the ending. You can't kick a man's a** at his house, man, that's bad karma.”
He also lauded The Rock's charisma, stating, “Has The Rock got the best personality, charisma on television? Roman, Cody, all those guys are fantastic, but The Rock has the best. He has that thing... When you see The Rock perform, you're like, ‘Man, he's good.' His personality, when he's talking, you're like, I have to watch him.”
Potential as a Wrestling Commentator
Given Barkley's enthusiasm for wrestling and TNT's need for new programming, Barkley could serve as a commentator for All Elite Wrestling (AEW). The Young Bucks even gifted Chuck and his "Inside the NBA" colleagues custom AEW championship belts in May, indicating a connection already exists.
AEW, along with sister network TBS, airs a variety of AEW programming, including Wednesday Night Dynamite, Friday Night Rampage, and Saturday Collision. Barkley could potentially thrive on these shows. Adding a well-known personality like Barkley could attract more viewers to AEW, which has become a significant competitor to WWE.
The Incident Between Chad Gable and Sami Zayn
The connection between Barkley and wrestling became even more apparent when Chad Gable turned heel on Sami Zayn. After Zayn successfully defended his Intercontinental Championship, Gable attacked him, drawing a strong reaction from Barkley.
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After losing a Gauntlet match last month, Gable was unable to compete for the title against GUNTHER. Instead, he shifted his focus to training Sami Zayn, who eventually managed to defeat GUNTHER. As a sign of appreciation, Zayn offered Gable a title match on Monday Night RAW. The match was intense and competitive, showcasing Gable’s impressive skill and determination. Nevertheless, Zayn managed to retain his championship with a last-minute Helluva Kick.
Initially, Gable showed good sportsmanship by raising Zayn’s hand in victory and leaving the ring. However, just as Zayn went to celebrate his win with his wife, Gable launched a surprise attack from behind. He continued his assault on Zayn outside the ring, eventually locking him in an ankle lock on the top turnbuckle. This unexpected betrayal left fans shocked and saddened as the close relationship between the two wrestlers seemed to unravel under these surprising circumstances.
Barkley, watching the match, was ready to step in. “You know what, I was going to fly up there and whoop Gable’s ass. That man whooped [Sami’s] ass in front of his wife and parents. I didn’t like that at all. You can’t kick a man’s ass in front of his wife and parents. I didn’t like the ending. You can’t kick a man’s ass at his house. That’s bad karma.”
Chad Gable attacking Sami Zayn
TNT's Future and Barkley's Role
With TNT losing NBA media rights to Amazon after the 2025 season, the network needs to explore new programming options. TNT Sports will lose their NBA media rights to Amazon after the 2025 season. The Young Bucks previously gifted the “Inside the NBA” team with AEW Titles. In April 2024, Barkley said that he was ready to beat up Chad Gable for attacking Sami Zayn.
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TNT may consider rebranding "Inside the NBA" as "Inside Sports." Another possibility is to keep the basketball format but focus on highlights and discussions without live game coverage. This approach would be a bold move, challenging the NBA's decision and leveraging the popularity of the "Inside the NBA" crew.
Other Potential Roles for Barkley on TNT
Besides wrestling commentary, Barkley could also take on various roles within TNT's existing programming. TNT has dozens of shows that Chuck could appear on. Just as TMC has author and film critic Ben Mankiewicz as its host to introduce each film with a bit of history and behind the scenes lore, TNT could have Barkley fill a similar role, albeit in a less serious, more Chuck-ified way.
Here are some hypothetical scenarios:
- Hosting Movies for Guys Who Like Movies: Reviving this TBS classic with Barkley as the host, sharing his humorous takes on action films.
- Guest Appearances on TNT Shows: Integrating Barkley into shows like "Rizzoli & Isles," "Franklin & Bash," or even rebooting older series like "Supernatural" or "Charmed."
Barkley's entertaining personality makes him a valuable asset, regardless of the subject matter. Give him a microphone and some good movies to talk about and he'd kill it.
| Show/Event | Potential Role for Barkley |
|---|---|
| AEW Dynamite/Rampage/Collision | Wrestling Commentator |
| Movies for Guys Who Like Movies | Host |
| TNT Dramas (e.g., Rizzoli & Isles) | Guest Star |
| Inside the NBA (Rebranded) | Analyst/Host |
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