Tony Khan Criticized for Catering to AEW’s “Sickos” Rather Than Casual Fans

AEW President Tony Khan books all episodes of AEW programming in the way he wants to and that has not always panned out the way fans had hoped. That is likely why even Matt Hardy has criticized Tony Khan for catering to the hardcore online fan base.

AEW Full Gear will be taking place on November 23rd and one of the matches featured on the Zero Hour pre-show will see social media star Costco Guy AJ square off against QT Marshall in singles competition and this decision has led to a lot of backlash from the AEW audience.

While speaking on the Extreme Life of Matt Hardy podcast, Matt Hardy shared his opinion on Tony Khan’s approach to AEW’s audience, stating that he focuses too much on hardcore online fans and criticizing him for the same. Hardy explained that while some fans, called “sickos,” prefer fast, high-energy matches, not enjoying slower matches doesn’t mean a wrestler has “go-away heat.” He said heels who know how to create real heat are very important for pro wrestling, and AEW needs more of that.

Hardy also talked about the criticism of acts like the Costco Guys, stating some fans called them bad or boring. Hardy thinks Tony Khan has focused so much on pleasing hardcore fans that casual viewers might enjoy some acts, but those hardcore fans could reject them just because they appeal to a wider audience.

This puts Khan in a tough spot because he’s catering heavily to the die-hard fans he calls “sickos.” Hardy warned that relying too much on those fans could hurt AEW’s ability to attract more casual viewers. He suggested that Khan should find a balance between making the hardcore fans happy and bringing in new, casual audiences.

“There might be people, the ‘sickos,’ who want to watch a match that’s going to be a banger, and they might tune out if it’s not exciting or fast-paced enough for them. But that’s not ‘go-away heat.’ The heels who truly know how to generate heat are doing something essential for pro wrestling. That’s something AEW also needs more of.

As for the ‘Costco guys,’ I saw some people trashing them, saying it was terrible or not good. One tricky spot Tony Khan might find himself in is that he’s catered so much to the hardcore, SEO-driven audience. Casual fans might see something they like, but the hardcore fans might turn on it just because it’s a more casual act. Something like the ‘Costco guys,’ for example—if it’s not in their niche, they might reject it.

That’s a weird position for Tony. He caters heavily to the audience he’s called ‘the sickos’ over and over again. But you have to understand, the online audience isn’t everything. They’re the most die-hard of the die-hards, and it’s hard to gauge your product based only on them. Sometimes, Tony focuses too much on them instead of considering the casual fans.”

On the other hand, Tony Khan recently bragged about AEW licensing music the right way. Many fans will likely agree with what Matt Hardy had to say about Tony Khan catering to the AEW hardcore fan base online rather than casuals, as the company’s current state makes it clear they need a new direction.

Please credit Ringside News if you use the above transcript in your publication.