Tony Khan Expresses Openness to Athena’s AEW Appearance and Beyond

In the world of professional wrestling, alliances and cross-promotions have become the norm, and it seems like Athena, the ROH Women’s World Champion, is eyeing some exciting opportunities outside of Ring of Honor. Tony Khan recently weighed in on the matter during an ROH Final Battle media conference call.

Athena made waves by clinching the ROH Women’s World Championship at ROH Final Battle 2022. Initially, she showcased her skills on AEW Dark and Dark: Elevation, but as of late, her title defenses have been exclusively within ROH, with rare appearances on AEW programming. However, Athena has voiced her desire to defend her championship in the ring with the likes of NJPW or STARDOM, and she’s also expressed interest in competing within AEW.

When questioned about the reasons behind Athena’s recent exclusive ROH appearances and the possibility of future cross-promotion, Tony Khan had this to say: “I’m certainly open to Athena appearing in AEW and other places. I think it’s really great to have somebody who is a great ambassador for the company like Athena.”

Khan acknowledged Athena’s strong presence and contributions to ROH, emphasizing her consistency and impact on the show. He went on to express his admiration for her dedication to both ROH and AEW, highlighting her as a pivotal figure in the wrestling landscape.

“One thing that has been consistent and great about ROH is that Athena has been very much a part of that show and focused on that show. Her work has been one of the strongest things about the show. If Athena is focused on ROH and AEW, that’s great too.“

With Athena’s commitment to ROH and her potential cross-promotional opportunities, including the strong challenger Billie Starkz, Khan sees a promising future. Both Athena and Billie bring unique qualities to the table that can benefit any wrestling promotion, making them valuable assets in the evolving world of professional wrestling.

“With Billie Starkz, you have a great challenger that would be a great champion for ROH, but also somebody people would be excited to see in AEW. Both Billie and Athena offer something to any wrestling company. In reflecting on the year in 2023, I believe Athena’s work on ROH was quite possibly, likely, the strongest and most consistent thing throughout the year and it’s been really nice having that anchor.”

In summary, Tony Khan’s open-minded approach to Athena’s appearances and the potential for her to defend her title in different promotions reflects the dynamic nature of today’s wrestling scene, where talent and opportunities can span multiple organizations. Athena’s journey in the wrestling world continues to be one to watch.

Where would you like to see Athena work next and who should here challenger be? Let us know in the comments.