Steve Carrier on September 26, 2023
Tony Khan, the President of AEW, participated in a media briefing to discuss the upcoming AEW WrestleDream PPV happening this Sunday. Here are the key takeaways from the discussion:
Khan expressed his excitement about honoring Antonio Inoki and mentioned that Inoki’s family would be in attendance at the event in Seattle to be a part of the celebration.
Khan described the event as marking the end of one chapter in AEW’s journey and the start of a new one.
When asked about Jade Cargill signing with WWE, Tony Khan shared his support and positive sentiments toward her, emphasizing that she is always welcome in AEW. He extended his best wishes for her future endeavors.
Regarding the potential for monthly PPV events and streaming, Khan clarified that he has never explicitly stated an expectation of monthly PPVs. However, he noted that AEW has successfully hosted multiple events, including significant ones like All In, demonstrating their capacity to expand their event schedule. Khan highlighted the recent success of their last three PPVs and mentioned that AEW acknowledged the positive viewership results for Grandslam. He expressed openness to the idea of a streaming platform, suggesting it could potentially be part of a new media rights agreement, as it falls outside the scope of their current deal.
There is significant potential for all their events to be available on a streaming service, with MAX being Tony Khan’s preferred choice. Implementing this would require careful planning and consideration of logistics. Khan is not interested in conducting a trial run for it, as he believes they have already demonstrated their capability.
While AEW WrestleDream doesn’t necessarily mark the beginning of monthly PPVs, Khan expressed his happiness and pride in paying tribute to Antonio Inoki.
Regarding Adam Cole’s status for the upcoming weekend, his match is still scheduled for the event. Cole has a minor issue with his leg, and they plan to address it on Dynamite tomorrow.
Addressing rumors about his potential purchase of New Japan, Khan noted that while it’s good that speculation has arisen around the PPV, he was surprised to see such rumors circulating. He emphasized his enjoyment of working with New Japan and their successful Forbidden Door PPV shows. Khan expressed a desire to continue the partnership for a long time but did not confirm or deny the purchase rumors, leaving room for speculation.
When asked about the possibility of holding the show in Japan, Khan saw it as an excellent opportunity for American fans to pay tribute to Inoki.
Khan is excited about the match between Bryan Danielson and Zack Sabre Jr., noting that they had wanted to feature it during the first Forbidden Door event. He highlighted the growth both wrestlers have experienced since their last encounter 15 years ago.
Regarding clarifying his comment about buying the PPV, Khan stated that he prefers not to provide further details, as he wants people to be intrigued and purchase the PPV. He expressed curiosity about where the speculation about purchasing New Japan originated and mentioned that 2023 has been a year of adventurous endeavors for AEW. Khan asserted that they have built credibility through their shows, and he emphasized their ability to adapt and deliver strong quality even in the face of unexpected challenges, likening it to adapting to injuries in sports. He expressed great satisfaction with their current direction and encouraged viewers to watch the shows to see the storytelling they offer.
Regarding the Eddie Kingston vs. Katsuyori Shibata matchup, Tony Khan expressed that this is a bout he has been eager to arrange for quite some time. He saw it as an opportunity to bring together two distinct personalities who share a deep passion for professional wrestling. Kingston’s unwavering love for pro wrestling and his intense approach are unquestionable. On the other hand, Shibata’s commitment to wrestling is akin to a way of life, and he has played a significant role in the group this year. Khan believes that fans worldwide who have a profound appreciation for pro wrestling will cherish this match. He also mentioned that Shibata has the potential to establish a new Triple Crown for international wrestling.
Regarding rumors about WBD having ownership in the company, Khan clarified that details related to the financial and structural aspects of the company have been kept confidential. While he would consider the possibility of them having “a piece or a bigger piece” in a future deal, he stressed that he maintains 100% voting control, which is crucial to him. Khan holds a super majority of stock and emphasized that he is not actively seeking a change in control, as has been seen in other situations. Additional investment would not be seen as negative, but maintaining his voting control remains a priority for him.
Regarding Wardlow, Tony Khan spoke highly of him and recognized him as a standout star for the company. He expressed his admiration for Wardlow and assured that he would return to AEW television when the timing is right.
Reflecting on their recent accomplishments, Khan acknowledged that while running a wrestling company may appear straightforward on paper, it involves continuous, around-the-clock work. He shared that working in the world of professional wrestling has been a lifelong dream for him. AEW has undergone significant changes in the past year or two, and Khan commended the hard work of everyone involved. He highlighted the strength of their audience and demographic, especially considering the decrease in cable viewership compared to the previous year. Khan emphasized the importance of focusing primarily on the wrestling product and making the best use of their talent roster, even though they can’t sign or retain every wrestler. He stressed that there are no breaks in this endeavor, and he expressed deep appreciation for every fan who supports the company, recognizing that it’s a year-round commitment for both fans and those in the industry.
When asked about the new ROH Champions appearing on Ring of Honor TV, Khan confirmed that viewers would indeed see them on ROH programming. He mentioned the exciting content that ROH has been producing on a weekly basis on WatchROH.com and praised Athena (presumably a reference to the wrestler) for delivering some of the best work in wrestling today.
Regarding Julia Hart, Khan commended her work and highlighted how many talents joined AEW during the Daily’s Place era, a challenging period in the midst of the pandemic.
When asked about his use of ECW talents and the possibility of running The Hammerstein Ballroom, Tony Khan mentioned that he saw Rob Van Dam (RVD) as a great choice to serve as both a foil and a partner to Hook. Khan expressed their appreciation for having RVD on board and indicated that he is open to using him again in the future. However, he did not comment on the idea of running The Hammerstein Ballroom, suggesting that the venue might be too small for their operations.
Regarding the positioning of MJF as a babyface, Tony Khan explained that while it hasn’t fundamentally changed who MJF is as a character—he’s still a scoundrel—it has allowed fans to embrace him in a different way. The idea is that fans don’t have to hate him as much anymore, and this shift has been positively received by the audience. Khan noted that they have seen significant merchandise sales for the team of Cole and MJF, describing it as “Ungodly.”
On the question of whether he sees FOX as a potential bidder for AEW, Khan stated that it wouldn’t be appropriate for him to comment on that. He emphasized his loyalty to WBD as a partner in the family business. Khan expressed his commitment to protecting the staff and wrestlers working for him, and he considers this a fundamental principle of a family-run business. While AEW’s media deal will be up for renewal in 2024, he expressed a desire to stay with WBD indefinitely, even if it means taking slightly less financially. Khan appreciates everything WBD has done for AEW and finds it disrespectful to discuss other media companies as potential bidders.
Regarding the addition of Collision, Khan revealed that the decision stemmed from frustrations with trying to tell their desired stories within a three-hour timeframe. When WBD offered an additional two hours, they aimed to make the most of the opportunity and create a show that was distinct from Dynamite but equally compelling. This expansion allows them to have two flagship 2-hour shows to license and provides five hours to develop storylines. Khan believes that AEW has been at its best since the introduction of Collision.
On The Righteous, Khan expressed his admiration for the group since their time in ROH and mentioned that they have been featured more frequently in AEW. He highlighted their history in ROH as a reason to showcase them and noted that the audience has responded positively to their promos and matches. Including them in Wrestledream makes sense, as the event aims to bring talent from various companies around the world.
Tony Khan wrapped up the call by promoting all the upcoming TV shows and, of course, the highly anticipated AEW WrestleDream event scheduled for this Sunday. With that, he concluded the media call.
September 26, 2023 2:12 pm
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