Tony Khan Reacts to Vince McMahon’s Decision to Downplay Christian’s WWE Return in 2009

AEW President Tony Khan recently chimed in on a surprising revelation regarding Christian’s 2009 return to WWE.

Former WWE announcer Todd Grisham shared an insider story about how Vince McMahon instructed him to deliberately downplay Christian’s re-debut on WWE programming, sparking conversation across the wrestling community.

The topic came up when Jason Solomon, host of the Solomonster Sounds Off podcast, highlighted the underwhelming reaction to Christian’s return. Grisham then revealed that his subdued call wasn’t an accident, but rather a direct order from Vince McMahon. Grisham recalled:

“Right before I walked out of the Gorilla position before the show, Vince McMahon called me over and said, ‘When Christian walks out… don’t get excited at all. Simply say ‘it’s Christian,’ and that’s it. Understand me?’ Me: ‘Yes sir.’”

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The revelation quickly caught the attention of Tony Khan, who responded with disbelief on social media, praising Christian’s value as a wrestler and performer:

“This is insane. Christian Cage is the man.”

Khan’s reaction echoed the thoughts of many wrestling fans who have long regarded Christian Cage as one of the most talented and underrated performers in the industry. Christian’s time away from WWE, during which he became a top star in TNA Wrestling, only further proved his abilities.

When a fan suggested that McMahon may have been trying to sabotage Christian’s return, Grisham subtly agreed, replying that it “seemed so.”

Despite McMahon’s attempt to downplay his reintroduction, Christian would go on to achieve success in WWE, winning the ECW World Championship and eventually becoming World Heavyweight Champion. His current run in AEW, where he’s been embraced as a top star, further solidifies his legacy in professional wrestling.