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Tag: Tony Khan

  • Tony Khan Confirms AEW Will Come Back To Australia After Successful Grand Slam Events

    Tony Khan Confirms AEW Will Come Back To Australia After Successful Grand Slam Events

    Tony Khan says AEW will return to Australia, describing the company’s presence there as “something really special” and pointing to the growth of the fanbase across two Grand Slam events.

    Speaking to Wide World of Sports, Khan was direct about his intentions.

    “I absolutely want to come back to Australia. We’ve had incredible events with the fans in both Sydney and Brisbane. I think we’ve built a great audience, our wrestlers are so popular and some of the top stars in AEW are actually from Australia. Given what a great wrestling country it is and how many awesome stars we have in AEW from there, I think we’ve got something really special.”

    AEW has held two Grand Slam Australia events to date. The inaugural event took place in Brisbane on February 15, 2025, at the Brisbane Entertainment Centre, where Toni Storm defeated Mariah May to win her fourth AEW Women’s World Championship in the main event. The second event was held in Sydney at Qudos Bank Arena on February 14, 2026, drawing 7,029 attendees, with MJF retaining the AEW World Championship against Brody King in the main event and Kyle Fletcher winning a TNT Championship Ladder match.

    No specific date or city has been announced for a third Australian event.

  • Ronda Rousey Gives Unexpected Response To AEW Question

    Ronda Rousey Gives Unexpected Response To AEW Question

    Ronda Rousey is not interested in a wrestling return.

    The former WWE star surprised everyone with an appearance at the AEW Revolution PPV in March this year. With the former UFC Champion claiming that her appearance was a ‘fuck you’ to TKO and Tony Khan giving an open invitation to her for a return, the MMA veteran looked poised for a run with the promotion.

    So it’s no wonder that she was asked about a potential AEW run during her recent interview with the Up & Adams Show. Ronda Rousey, however, gave an unexpected answer, indicating that she has no interest in going back on the road:

    “No. That life of being on the road is probably more time-consuming than doing training camp at home. I had a great time but it just happened to be in town and my best friend was there, you know what I mean?”

    Ronda Rousey had appeared on Revolution to confront Toni Storm, who defeated her longtime friend Marina Shafir in a singles match at the PPV. With the Timeless One going on an extended hiatus right after the show, however, it’s possible that any preliminary talks for a match between the two fell apart.

    After the Gina Carano fight, the UFC legend had also indicated that she wanted to extend her family, which could be another reason for her hesitation towards going back on the road for a wrestling run.

  • AEW Star Injury Update After Scary Fall At Double or Nothing

    AEW Star Injury Update After Scary Fall At Double or Nothing

    AEW President Tony Khan recently provided an update on QT Marshall following a horrific incident at AEW Double or Nothing pay-per-view.

    Marshall suffered a fall during the pre-show and had to be assisted backstage, but Khan confirmed the wrestler is expected to recover.

    The incident occurred during the Double or Nothing pre-show when Marshall teamed with Big Boom AJ and The Conglomeration against Shane Taylor Promotions. Marshall slipped off the top rope during a tower of doom spot and landed awkwardly outside the ring.

    In the post-show media scrum, Khan addressed Marshall’s condition and discussed Mick Foley’s addition to the AEW roster.

    “It was great to have Mick Foley come into AEW and be a part of the show now hosting with Renee, somebody who’s a true icon of wrestling and certainly in Philadelphia, one of the great icons of wrestling. Thank you for asking. QT’s gonna be okay. Thanks for asking,” Khan stated.

    Mick Foley Joins AEW

    Khan also elaborated on Foley’s presence and his plans to pair the WWE Hall of Famer with Renee Paquette for hosting duties.

    “Well, let me tell you, Renee, something I take pride in is pairing up great pairs, whether it’s Sting and Darby (Allin) or so many other great ones along the way. And I think a great team is going to be you and Mick,” Khan said.

    Foley officially signed with AEW shortly before the pay-per-view. He confronted MJF and Darby Allin at the beginning of the event, hyping Allin ahead of his AEW World Championship match.

    Khan praised the collaboration between Foley and Paquette, expressing excitement about their long-term contributions to the company.

    “I’m really excited about it. You got off to a great start hosting the show tonight with Mick and I’m excited that you’re both going to be here doing it for a long time to come,” he added.

  • Tony Khan Gives Cheeky Response To Potential WrestleMania Week US Show in 2027

    Tony Khan Gives Cheeky Response To Potential WrestleMania Week US Show in 2027

    Tony Khan’s AEW could be filling the WrestleMania void.

    WWE has announced that WrestleMania will be emanating from Saudi Arabia in 2027, marking it the first time the Show of Shows will be taking place outside of North America. With WWE’s regular counterprogramming of AEW PPVs, many people have been wondering if the rival promotion will respond with a show of its own to fill the WrestleMania void in the States next year.

    The AEW President was asked the question to this effect during the Double or Nothing Media scrum. When the reporter mentioned that there will be no domestic wrestling weekend in America next April, Tony Khan interjected with a simple ‘yet.’ Though when asked directly about potentially running a show at the same time, Khan said that we will have to see what happens in the world between now and then:

    “I think it is potentially viable, And it’s a very interesting thought. We’ll have to see what happens in the world landscape between now and then, but it’s a very interesting possibility.”

    WWE has promised to bring WrestleMania to both Indianapolis, Indiana, and New Orleans, Louisiana in the future as well. If the ongoing Iran war forces the company to postpone the announced Saudi Mania, then it’s possible that the company will hold the show at either of the two US cities instead.

  • Tony Khan Comments On Rebel’s Terminal ALS Diagnosis

    Tony Khan Comments On Rebel’s Terminal ALS Diagnosis

    Tony Khan is sending his best wishes to Rebel.

    The AEW star had revealed a terminal ALS diagnosis earlier this month. The female star shared an emotional social media post, describing how her two-year journey to determine the cause of her health issues had revealed the unfortunate news. The wrestling promotion had then acknowledged the news on-air with commentator Tony Schiavone paying tribute to the wrestling star during an episode of Collision.

    The AEW President was also asked about Rebel’s condition during the Double or Nothing media scrum. Tony Khan noted that Rebel is always going to be a part of AEW:

    “First of all, I wanna send best wishes to Rebel. Rebel’s been with us since the beginning. She’s not here on the road with us now but Rebel’s still always gonna be a big part of AEW and we’re thinking about her. I really appreciate you asking about it and we’re keeping Rebel in our thoughts but also, there are things you can do to support her.”

    You Don’t Have To Wait: Tony Khan

    Tony Khan then revealed that former NFL player Steve Gleason, who was diagnosed with ALS in 2011 reached out to him just on Sunday. The wrestling executive revealed that Gleason reached out on behalf of the ALS foundation and said that it will give them a good chance to collaborate:

    “I’m thinking that it would be great to work with Steve Gleason and the ALS Foundation to put together Fight for the Fallen, and have Fight for the Fallen to benefit ALS and people dealing with ALS and the treatment and I think that would be something we could all do that would be a positive way to support.

    In the meantime, yes, there are ways the fans can support it which is giving to ALS research and supporting the charity now. You don’t have to wait for Fight for the Fallen, and that’ll be a great opportunity also for people to give to support ALS research and treatment.”

    You can learn more about ALS Foundation here.

  • Tony Khan Opens Door For Ronda Rousey’s AEW Return

    Tony Khan Opens Door For Ronda Rousey’s AEW Return

    Ronda Rousey in AEW

    Tony Khan says Ronda Rousey has a standing invitation to return to AEW whenever she wants it. The AEW president addressed the former UFC and WWE star’s future with the company on the Double or Nothing media call on Thursday, May 21.

    Asked whether Rousey could have a run in AEW now that her MMA commitments are finished, Khan kept the door wide open. “I’ve enjoyed working with her in Ring of Honor and having her at AEW Revolution. Anytime she wants to come back to AEW, she’s welcome,” Khan said, calling Rousey a tremendous fighter and a good person to have around the promotion.

    The catch is timing. Khan acknowledged that Rousey is focused on her family right now, which limits how involved she can be in wrestling. That lines up with what Rousey herself said after her MMA return on May 16, when she submitted Gina Carano in 17 seconds on Netflix and announced her retirement from the sport. “I want to have some more babies and I’ve got to get cooking,” Rousey told the crowd at the Intuit Dome.

    The Revolution Appearance Was Aimed At TKO

    Rousey is not signed to AEW. Her only appearance for the company came at March’s Revolution pay-per-view, when she emerged from the crowd to confront Toni Storm and back up her childhood friend Marina Shafir.

    In a YouTube vlog posted afterward, Rousey said the unannounced stop carried a message for her former employer.

    “It’s kind of a cool little bit of a f*ck you to the TKO Group. Which is kind of funny because WWE is on Netflix, but I kind of figured it’d be easier to ask for forgiveness instead of permission on this one,” Rousey said.

    She saw no issue with it, noting the appearance promoted the show without being advertised.

    No Clear Path Back Right Now

    The confrontation with Storm was never followed up. Storm has been off AEW television since March and is expected to miss the rest of 2026, which removed the most obvious opponent for any Rousey program.

    Fightful previously reported that Rousey was not signed and had no confirmed additional dates, though AEW remained open to bringing her back.

    For now, Khan’s comments amount to an open offer rather than a plan. The welcome mat is out, but Rousey’s next move appears to be at home rather than in the ring.

  • Tony Khan Denies Barring Talent From Indie Show

    Tony Khan Denies Barring Talent From Indie Show

    Tony Khan has responded.

    AAW wrestling in Chicago had originally booked Mance Warner for their Homecoming event on May 22. Hours before the show, however, the promotion revealed that the former TNA star will no longer be appearing at the event. Furthermore, the company claimed that Warner was being removed from the event due to a request from AEW.

    The AEW President responded to this claim on X, noting that he had put no restrictions on Warner’s appearance. Tony Khan said that this was the first he was hearing of the matter:

    “That’s the first that I’ve heard of this, and it’s the first time anyone in AEW’s office has heard of it. He is welcome to do your show.”

    Mance Warner Explains

    Mance Warner further clarified things with a tweet of his own. He claimed that he pulled out of the show to avoid ruining ‘a big opportunity’ and that he had already sent the promoter the money paid for the flight:

    “I am sorry to any fans who were looking forward to seeing me at AAW. With transparency, I made a decision to withdraw from the show to avoid any % chance of travel issues or any fuck ups ruining a big opportunity. I hope y’all can understand.”

    The 37-year-old and his wife, Steph De Lander, departed TNA in March this year over a dispute about De Lander’s medical status. There is no word on what big opportunity Warner was referring to, but AEW is set to hold the Double or Nothing PPV this Sunday.

  • Tony Khan Comments On AEW’s Financial Status In 2026

    Tony Khan Comments On AEW’s Financial Status In 2026

    AEW is making more money than ever.

    The company president, Tony Khan held a media call on Thursday to promote this weekend’s Double or Nothing PPV. He answered questions regarding subjects such as Mick Foley being All Elite, the TBS Championship being relinquished, and more.

    During the session, Wrestlenomics’ Brandon Thurston asked if AEW is profitable in 2026. The wrestling executive did not answer the question directly, but Tony Khan mentioned that the promotion has made more money this year than any other year of its existence:

    “Well, it’s a fair question. Our revenue is the highest it’s ever been. I can’t comment on where we stand in terms of every expense year to year. Certainly, this is going to be the most revenue we’ve ever generated and the strongest financial outlook for the company ever. I’m reinvesting in a number of projects, including digital projects, to grow the company for the future.”

    Most Revenue We’ve Ever Brought In: Tony Khan

    Tony Khan explained that he does not have all the figures at hand, but he has been reinvesting a big part of the revenue to ensure future growth of the product. The 43-year-old claimed that they have a healthy outlook on the company’s future:

    “So, you know, as far as how it’s accounted, I don’t have all the figures in front of me, but I can say this is by far the most revenue we’ve ever brought in. And the future is the healthiest outlook because I’ll continue to reinvest in the business, developing new platforms and trying to open up new territories to grow the company in the future.”

    Double or Nothing this year will be taking place on May 24 from Louis Armstrong Stadium in Queens, New York. You can check out the updated card for the show here.

  • Mick Foley’s First AEW Appearance Announced

    Mick Foley’s First AEW Appearance Announced

    Mick Foley is heading to AEW, with Tony Khan announcing that Foley and Renee Paquette will co-host the Double Or Nothing Buy In show this Sunday.

    Khan made the announcement on social media.

    “Before AEW Double Or Nothing, watch The Buy In FREE before the PPV this Sunday! Your new co-hosts are Renee Paquette and Mick Foley! Foley’s coming back to TBS, where he ran wild as Cactus Jack! Don’t miss his first night in AEW on Sunday.”

    The Buy In airs for free on YouTube one hour before Double Or Nothing, which starts at 8 PM ET. Past Buy In hosts have included Paquette, RJ City, and Jeff Jarrett.

    Jon Alba of Sports Illustrated previously reported that AEW had expressed real interest in working with Foley. Foley’s WWE Legends deal expired this month, opening the door for outside appearances.

    Double or Nothing takes place on Sunday, May 24. The updated card for Double or Nothing includes:

    • AEW World Championship: Darby Allin (c) vs. MJF in title vs. hair
    • AEW Women’s World Championship: Thekla (c) vs. Jamie Hayter vs. Kris Statlander vs. Hikaru Shida
    • AEW World Tag Team Championship: FTR (c) vs. Adam Copeland & Christian Cage in I Quit (If C&C lose, they will retire the team)
    • AEW International Championship: Kazuchika Okada (c) vs. Konosuke Takeshita
    • Stadium Stampede: Chris Jericho, Bobby Lashley, Shelton Benjamin, Jack Perry, Kenny Omega, & Young Bucks vs. Ricochet, Bishop Kaun, Toa Liona, Mark Davis, Andrade, David Finlay, & Clark Connors
    • Owen Hart men’s tournament quarterfinal: Will Ospreay vs. Samoa Joe
    • Owen Hart men’s tournament quarterfinal: Swerve Strickland vs. Bandido
    • Owen Hart women’s tournament quarterfinal: Willow Nightingale vs Alex Windsor
  • AEW Sets First Postgame MLB Event at Target Field July 10

    AEW Sets First Postgame MLB Event at Target Field July 10

    All Elite Wrestling and the Minnesota Twins announced Tuesday that they will co-present Brawl in the Ballpark on Friday, July 10, marking what the companies are calling the first-ever postgame wrestling event held at a Major League Baseball venue. The roughly 75-minute show featuring AEW and Ring of Honor talent will run immediately after that night’s Twins vs. Los Angeles Angels game at Target Field in Minneapolis.

    First pitch for the Twins-Angels matchup is 7:10 PM CT, with Brawl in the Ballpark beginning shortly after the final out. The wrestling action will take place inside a specially constructed ring set up in the Gate 34 area of the ballpark, the same plaza that houses the Twins’ Golden Glove statue and TC Bear’s Clubhouse.

    Any ticket purchased for the July 10 Twins game grants free admission to the postgame wrestling show. The two organizations have also rolled out three upgraded packages, including a co-branded Twins/AEW Lucha mask hat with the Theme Night bundle, VIP ringside access in the VIP Package, and a Truly On Deck patio reservation with $30 in loaded food and beverage credit.

    Khan Calls It a Showcase Opportunity

    “This collaboration is part of our ongoing efforts to create memorable, fan-first experiences that give people even more reasons to enjoy a visit to our ballpark,” Twins Executive Vice President and Chief Revenue Officer Sean Moore said in the announcement.

    Tony Khan, AEW’s CEO, GM and head of creative, framed the event as a chance to put the product in front of a non-wrestling audience. “The event will mark another unforgettable night of All Elite Wrestling action in an incredible location, and we look forward to showcasing AEW to all Minnesota Twins fans,” Khan said.

    The crossover lands in the middle of one of AEW’s biggest stretches of 2026. The promotion will tape Dynamite and Collision out of the OVO Hydro in Glasgow on August 26, then run All In London at Wembley Stadium on August 30, with the Target Field date sitting roughly seven weeks ahead of that international run.

    July 10 also doubles as one of the Twins’ regular $2 Happy Hour Friday nights, with discounted beer, hot dogs and snacks available from 5 to 7:10 PM CT before first pitch. Tickets for both the game and the upgraded Brawl packages are on sale now at twins.com/tickets and twins.com/brawl.

  • MJF Praises Tony Khan As ‘One Of The Best Minds In Wrestling’ And ‘Incredible Leader’

    MJF Praises Tony Khan As ‘One Of The Best Minds In Wrestling’ And ‘Incredible Leader’

    MJF says Tony Khan has evolved into one of the best minds in professional wrestling and an incredible leader, offering praise for the AEW founder ahead of Double Or Nothing this Sunday.

    Speaking on The Ariel Helwani Show to promote AEW Double Or Nothing 2026, MJF opened by addressing Khan’s November 2025 interview with Helwani, which marked a shift in how the AEW president engages with media that has historically been unfavorable to the company.

    “No interview is ever going to be as good when I’m not in the room. But for an interview that didn’t have me in it, it was a good watch. And I also think it showed the evolution, frankly, of my boss as an interviewee. I think he faces questions head-on. I think that he took all your questions on the chin and answered them in a very professional manner. I think he continues to be incredibly professional, even when bullsh*t is happening around him and lies are being spread. So, yeah, I’m happy for him.”

    MJF kept largely in character throughout the interview but stepped out of it to offer a more sincere assessment of Khan as a leader.

    “Do I love the guy? No. But I love money. And I also love seeing my company do well, and we’re white hot right now. Now, is that all because of me? There’s an argument to be made there. But I also am willing to say that Tony Khan — in case you’re unaware, he’s a billionaire — and for him to be a billionaire and to decide to, with his money and his time, when he could be sticking with the futbol thing or the other football thing, he decided to start a professional wrestling company because he’s so passionate about professional wrestling and he loves professional wrestling. And he’s become one of the best minds in wrestling, man. And he’s been a great leader. You can talk all of the sh*t you want about him. Why? I don’t know. Because he gave you an alternative so you wouldn’t only be eating one type of food. You have options now. I don’t know why anybody would be mad about options.”

    “I think he’s become an incredible leader too, man. He always was, but I just think he is really, really just — as we all do, we level up, we evolve as we age.”

    MJF challenges Darby Allin for the AEW World Championship at Double Or Nothing this Sunday in a hair vs. title match where MJF must shave his head if he loses. It would be his third world title reign if he wins.

  • Tony Khan On Kofi Kingston And Xavier Woods: ‘I Think They Are Great Wrestlers’

    Tony Khan On Kofi Kingston And Xavier Woods: ‘I Think They Are Great Wrestlers’

    Tony Khan says he cannot comment on Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods due to their contractual obligations, but made clear he regards them highly.

    Speaking at the ROH Supercard of Honor post-show, Khan was asked about the possibility of New Day joining AEW following their WWE departure.

    “I cannot comment, or I don’t think I should comment on wrestlers that still have a contractual obligation. As I understand it, I believe they are still obligated, and I don’t believe I’m allowed to talk to them. As such, I don’t feel it would be right to comment on them under the circumstances except to say that I think they are great wrestlers.”

    Kingston and Woods confirmed their WWE departure on May 4, two days after the news first broke. They will be going by Kofi and Austin Creed going forward. Multiple AEW names including MJF and FTR publicly referenced the duo when their departure was announced.

    Fightful Select has reported that every AEW source spoken to about Kingston and Creed is pushing for the company to sign them, including some notable names within the promotion.

  • AEW Trademarks ‘Royal Redemption’ With USPTO

    AEW Trademarks ‘Royal Redemption’ With USPTO

    All Elite Wrestling has filed a trademark application for the name “Royal Redemption” with the United States Patent and Trademark Office, adding another layer to a growing cluster of Redemption-related filings from the company.

    The application carries serial number 99785754 and was filed on April 24, 2026, where it is currently awaiting examination. The goods and services description covers professional wrestling events and programming, including entertainment in the nature of wrestling contests, live professional wrestling performances, production of professional wrestling programs and events, and production and distribution of ongoing television programs in the field of professional wrestling.

    The Royal Redemption filing comes roughly two weeks after AEW separately trademarked both “AEW Redemption” and “Redemption” on April 13, 2026. Per the Mat Men Pro Wrestling Podcast, insider Andrew Zarian reported that “AEW Redemption” is a planned new pay-per-view event coming at some point in 2026.

    Whether “Royal Redemption” refers to a distinct event, a specific match concept, or something else entirely has not been confirmed by AEW.

  • Jake Hager Wins Power Slap Debut, Screams “F**k Tony Khan”

    Jake Hager Wins Power Slap Debut, Screams “F**k Tony Khan”

    Jake Hager celebrating his Power Slap debut victory after knocking out Devin Jenkins in the third round at Power Slap 19 in Las Vegas

    Jake Hager made an emphatic entrance into Power Slap on Friday night, knocking out Devin “Big Jinx” Jenkins in the third round at Power Slap 19 in Las Vegas, then immediately sent a message to his former boss.

    After the finish, Hager stared directly into the camera and shouted, “F**k Tony Khan!” The moment drew instant attention online, given Hager’s well-documented frustrations with the president following his 2024 departure from the company.

    Hager, known to fans as Jack Swagger, also performed his signature “We the People” salute throughout the appearance, leaning into his pro wrestling roots while debuting in an entirely different combat sports arena.

    How the Fight Went

    The bout played out over three rounds at The Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas. Jenkins landed shots that visibly rocked Hager early, but the former World Heavyweight Champion absorbed the punishment and answered back each time. By round three, Jenkins could not recover from Hager’s counter, and the bout was stopped with Hager earning the TKO victory.

    The win was Hager’s first in Power Slap and comes as part of a six-appearance deal he signed with the Dana White-run promotion.

    Background

    Hager spent over a decade in before joining at its launch in 2019 as a member of Chris Jericho’s Inner Circle. His contract expired in May 2024, and he had been openly critical of Tony Khan in interviews since departing. He also went 3-0 (with one no-contest) in Bellator during his time with.

    Power Slap 19 streamed live and free on YouTube on Friday, April 17 — one night before WrestleMania 42 kicked off at Allegiant Stadium.

  • Tony Khan Confirms Gabe Kidd Status After Dynasty

    Tony Khan Confirms Gabe Kidd Status After Dynasty

    Tony Khan has confirmed Gabe Kidd’s injury.

    The War Dogs defended their AEW trios title against The Conglomeration on tonight’s Dynasty PPV. Kidd appeared to have suffered an injury during the bout as he was taken to the back halfway through the match and we didn’t see him again.

    The AEW President was asked about the former NJPW star while appearing on the Dynasty post-show. Tony Khan confirmed that Gabe Kidd is out indefinitely with a shoulder injury:

    “Gabe is out indefinitely. He is injured. It’s a shoulder injury. We’ll be evaluating him. I can’t say for sure what the injury is. The doctors are evaluating Gabe for injury.”

    The Conglomeration went on to win the trios title after the returning Kyle O’Reilly made Clark Connors tap out with an ankle lock.

    The Dogs had only won the championship on Collision the day before the PPV, so many have been wondering if the title change was an audible called due to Kidd’s injury. You can check out the latest backstage update on the matter here.

  • Tony Khan Asked About Ricochet’s MS Tweet

    Tony Khan Asked About Ricochet’s MS Tweet

    Tony Khan spoke to Ricochet.

    The AEW star had received a lot of criticism after telling a fan ‘I’m glad you got MS’ during a Twitter exchange last month. The former National Champion had later apologized for the remark, saying that he took his hatred for IWC out on the fan.

    While appearing on the post-Dynasty press conference, Tony Khan was asked if he spoke to The One and Only over the issue and if AEW has a social media policy. The AEW President confirmed that he had a frank talk informing Ricochet that his behaviour was not acceptable and that the promotion does have a policy in place for such things:

    “I did, and I had a conversation with him. I have a good conversation and a frank talk. That was not acceptable and I think that was communicated.

    We have a policy and continues to be a policy in place for such things, and that violated it. There is no place for that in wrestling or anywhere. I do appreciate you asking, and we’ve tried to move past that, but thank you for asking,”

    Tonight’s PPV also featured a surprise trios title change after Gabe Kidd suffered a potential shoulder injury. You can check out a backstage update on the original plans for the bout here.

    Check out the full Dynasty post-show below:

  • Tony Khan Breaks Silence On TNA Controversy

    Tony Khan Breaks Silence On TNA Controversy

    Tony Khan hopes the TNA matches could still happen down the line.

    The Anthem-owned promotion has received a lot of criticism for pulling their talents from already announced matches against AEW stars, and causing distress to indie promoters. This included the cancellation of the dream match between Nic Nemeth and MJF announced for a Create A Pro show in May, a promotion run by TNA’s own Brian Myers.

    The AEW President was asked about the whole thing during his recent interview with Ringer Wrestling. Tony Khan said that he was just as surprised as fans because he was told that TNA talents had gotten approval from the management:

    “I was surprised because with MJF and Ricochet, they both talked to me about the matches. I said it was okay and they both told me everybody had gotten it approved. I guess somebody on the other side must’ve changed their mind, which is fine, they are entitled to do that.”

    Something Might’ve Changed: Tony Khan

    Like MJF, Ricochet was scheduled for a bout against the current X-Division Champion Leon Slater. Tony Khan noted that both the AEW talents were looking forward to these bouts and hoped that the TNA stars are able to figure out a way to get the approval somewhere down the line:

    “It doesn’t really change what we’re doing in AEW, but I know Max and Ricochet were both looking forward to their respective matches. I guess something might’ve changed. It sounds like it did. Hopefully, those guys are able to figure it out and put those together because the fans want to see those matches,”

    MJF has been vocal about the cancellation of his bout with Nic Nemeth. He has publicly called out TNA President Carlos Silva after reports revealed that the executive was unhappy with an AEW move last week. You can check out more about it here.

  • Tony Khan Confirms WWE Bid, Hints Process Wasn’t Fair

    Tony Khan Confirms WWE Bid, Hints Process Wasn’t Fair

    Tony Khan has publicly confirmed for the first time that he submitted a bid to purchase WWE during the 2023 sale process, and has strongly implied that the competition was not conducted on a level playing field. Khan addressed the topic during an interview on The Coach and Bro Show with Jonathan Coachman and Vince Russo.

    “I was very interested in the process, and I think that if there was going to be a sale, I would at least want to have a chance to be involved,” Khan said. “If it had gone for any less than that, I would have really kicked myself.”

    When pressed on whether the bidding represented a legitimate open competition, Khan stopped short of a direct accusation.

    “While respecting the confidentiality of that, I would say I don’t have any complaints about that process from my side right now that I’d want to talk about,” he said. “I do think there was some stuff to that… at the time that seemed like to me — just reiterating — if it had gone for any less I would have really beat myself up. Like, why wouldn’t you put in a bid? I thought that was a very reasonable number that I put in.”

    Court documents previously revealed that Khan’s bid through his company Base 10 came in at approximately $6.9 billion, the lowest of four formal offers submitted during the process. KKR and Liberty Media both submitted higher all-cash bids.

    Endeavor ultimately won through an all-stock deal that created TKO Group Holdings and preserved Vince McMahon’s position as executive chairman.

    An ongoing WWE shareholder lawsuit alleges the sale was engineered to ensure that outcome, with plaintiffs arguing that competing bids were not allowed to fully develop into a genuine competition. Khan framed the years since the bid as a deliberate decision to focus inward on the wrestling product rather than engage publicly in any broader conflict with WWE.

    “I’ve tried to focus on the wrestling show,” he said. “And those have been really good years for AEW.”

  • Tony Khan Calls 2022 Punk Incident His ‘Welcome to Wrestling’ Moment

    Tony Khan Calls 2022 Punk Incident His ‘Welcome to Wrestling’ Moment

    Tony Khan has addressed the fallout from the August 2022 CM Punk press conference, describing it as a defining and unexpected moment. He has since used the experience as an education rather than a source of ongoing bitterness.

    Khan addressed the topic during an interview on The Coach and Bro Show with Jonathan Coachman and Vince Russo.

    “I came out of that wanting AEW to succeed and for AEW to continue more than anything,” Khan said. “In a perfect world, I wanted everybody to be able to get together and work together. I don’t think that was possible. But I think we’ve been able in the past few years to really keep AEW strong. To me, that was the most important thing.”

    Khan acknowledged that he was not prepared for what unfolded and framed the experience as a crash course in the realities of the wrestling business.

    “I probably would do things differently, say things differently, but it wasn’t something I was expecting,” he said. “That was very much a ‘welcome to wrestling’ moment in some aspects, because that was — for me, I’d been in wrestling for almost four years at that point, but that was certainly a first for me, and as with all firsts, you’re going to learn from them, and hope not to ever have a repeat.”

    Vince Russo, who watched the infamous post-All Out press conference unfold in real time, told Khan he felt bad for him in the moment. He described him as someone who clearly did not see the situation coming. Khan did not push back on that characterization.

  • Tony Khan Confirms Chris Jericho Was Free Agent Before AEW Return

    Tony Khan Confirms Chris Jericho Was Free Agent Before AEW Return

    Tony Khan has confirmed for the first time that Chris Jericho was operating as a free agent heading into his return to AEW, revealing that the veteran had a choice about where to go and chose to stay with the promotion. Khan addressed the topic during an interview on The Coach and Bro Show.

    “He always will be part of AEW. I can’t say with any certainty — I do know Chris had a choice, and he wanted to be in AEW,” Khan said. “He definitely told me he wanted to be at AEW, and very specifically in Winnipeg on that date.”

    Khan said the Winnipeg date had been a target well before it was publicly known, with plans circling around it going back to the prior year.

    “We’ve had that circled for a long time going back to last year,” he said. “It was a choice that Chris made that he’d rather be in AEW than wrestling anywhere else. He was a free agent there.”

    A Fightful Select report earlier this year suggested Jericho’s deal had been frozen during his hiatus, with the belief that he remained under contract while inactive. Khan’s comments now indicate that, prior to his return, Jericho had no binding deal in place and could’ve discussed a potential return with WWE.

    Khan declined to confirm or deny whether WWE had any contact with Jericho during that window, leaving the question open when hosts pressed him. He also refused to address Jericho’s contract status in a January 2026 media scrum.

  • Tony Khan Details Shane McMahon Meeting, Questions Photo Leak

    Tony Khan Details Shane McMahon Meeting, Questions Photo Leak

    Tony Khan has publicly confirmed that he met with Shane McMahon for several hours at a Dallas airport and has raised questions about how a photo from that meeting ended up circulating publicly. Khan addressed the meeting during an interview on The Coach and Bro Show, taped the night before tonight’s AEW Dynamite. 

    “I had one really pleasant conversation with Shane,” Khan said. “Shane reached out to me and said, ‘I’d love to get together.’ I was going to be in Dallas. We had a nice conversation. We talked for a few hours in the airport.”

    The photo that came out from the meeting drew attention at the time, and Khan was direct about his view of how it got out. “I know I had nothing to do with it — it’s very unusual,” he said.

    “I’m in a lot of rooms with a lot of people. I only had that happen to me one time. In the photo, I’m very surprised when the person walked into the room. I noticed he wasn’t as surprised in the photo as I was. So maybe there was something there.”

    Shane McMahon had previously confirmed on the record that he met with AEW, while making clear the interest was not in an on-screen wrestling role with WWE.

    Khan’s comments suggest the meeting was at least partly unplanned on his part and that the leaked photo was sent by someone other than him. When the hosts raised the idea of Khan taking on an authority figure role in AEW programming, he used the NFL as his frame of reference.

    “Commissioner Roger Goodell is a huge part of the game, instrumental to the NFL, but it’s not like every time I watch NFL football the commissioner needs to be all over the show,” Khan said. “I think people generally kind of know that I’m the commissioner of AEW, but I also don’t think that’s necessarily a role that you want to see on TV.” 

  • Vince Russo Pitches Tony Khan on Creative Collab After Praise

    Vince Russo Pitches Tony Khan on Creative Collab After Praise

    Vince Russo is making his move. After Tony Khan publicly praised Russo’s creative work on JCW Lunacy, the former WWE head writer took to X to turn that goodwill into a full-blown pitch for a creative partnership.

    The exchange started when Jonathan Coachman, Russo’s co-host on the Coach & Bro podcast, extended an open invitation for Khan to appear on the show. Khan accepted, and in doing so offered unsolicited praise for Russo’s current booking in JCW, calling it “tremendous” and saying he enjoys it “very much.”

    That was all Russo needed. In a post on X on March 30, he addressed Khan directly, asking for a follow back and suggesting the two talk creative, with a lofty goal in mind: “Let’s do something that will blow the WWE INTO OBLIVION!!!”

    Russo closed by noting that while Khan has heard about him over the years, the two have never actually had the chance to get to know each other personally: “LET’s GIVE THEM SOMETHING TO TALK ABOUT!!!”

    Whether Tony Khan takes him up on the offer remains to be seen, but it’s a notable moment given Russo’s historically critical stance toward modern wrestling booking, including AEW’s product.

  • Details on Tony Khan’s 2023 Bid to Buy WWE

    Details on Tony Khan’s 2023 Bid to Buy WWE

    Tony Khan submitted a formal bid to acquire WWE during the company’s 2023 sale process, according to newly unredacted court filings first reported by Brandon Thurston of Wrestlenomics and POST Wrestling.

    Khan’s bid came through Base 10, the entity he uses to operate All Elite Wrestling. The complaint — originally filed in the Delaware Chancery Court shareholder lawsuit in November 2023 and recently unredacted — confirms Base 10 was among four companies that submitted formal offers to acquire WWE following Vince McMahon’s return to the company in January 2023.

    Tony Khan’s WWE Bid Was the Lowest of Four Offers

    Base 10’s offer of $76.83 per share valued WWE at approximately $6.9 billion. It was the lowest bid by a considerable margin. KKR offered between $90 and $97.50 per share ($8.0B–$8.7B valuation), while Liberty Media bid between $95 and $100 per share ($8.5B–$8.9B). Endeavor ultimately won with an all-stock deal valued at $95.66 per share before synergies, which led to the creation of TKO Group Holdings.

    Per Thurston’s reporting, the SEC filing noted that Base 10 indicated it would need equity and debt financing partners to complete a transaction, suggesting the bid lacked the financial backing of the other three offers. Base 10’s bid did not advance to the data room stage, where the remaining three bidders were granted access to nonpublic WWE financial information.

    How Tony Khan Was Identified as the Bidder

    WWE’s post-merger SEC filing had anonymized all bidders under pseudonyms. KKR was listed as “Financial Sponsor 1,” Liberty Media as “Strategic Party 1,” and Base 10 as “Strategic Party 2.” While the bid prices were disclosed, the identities behind the pseudonyms were not — until now.

    Florida business records independently confirm Khan’s connection to Base 10. The company was incorporated in 2014 with Khan listed as sole officer, with its address at the stadium for the Jacksonville Jaguars, the NFL team his family owns. Khan declined to comment when reached by Thurston.

    Shareholder Lawsuit Alleges Sale Was Rigged

    The bid details emerged from the ongoing WWE shareholder lawsuit, in which plaintiffs allege the entire 2023 sale process was engineered by McMahon to ensure Endeavor won. Plaintiffs claim that because the competing all-cash bids — including Khan’s — would have resulted in a full buyout of shareholders, they would have effectively removed McMahon from the wrestling industry entirely. Endeavor’s structure preserved McMahon’s role as executive chairman post-merger.

    The lawsuit also alleges that McMahon, Nick Khan, and Paul Levesque destroyed evidence relevant to the merger, including auto-deleted Signal messages and handwritten notes. All defendants have denied the allegations.

    For context, TKO shares currently trade at approximately $200, roughly doubling the per-share bid prices from 2023. The case is scheduled to go to trial in June 2026.

  • Tony Khan Explains Allowing Political Statements On AEW TV

    Tony Khan Explains Allowing Political Statements On AEW TV

    Tony Khan sees AEW as a sports league.

    The company has received mainstream media attention in recent times for political statements made by talent on their programming against the current US administration. During his appearance on the Revolution post-show, the AEW President was asked about these statements and if he fears turning fans off the product because of it.

    The wrestling promoter first explained that the views expressed by people such as Hangman Page and Brody King are their individual opinions rather than a stand made by the company:

    “Well, I have said that the wrestlers, when they come out and express their opinions and their personal viewpoints, that’s the wrestlers. That’s who they are. AEW has people that express their authentic selves. That’s what great about the wrestling show. These are real people and when you have Hangman Page or Brody King expressing their views, that’s their individual views.”

    Tony Khan then said that he sees AEW as a sports league which does not have a political opinion one way or the other, and its job is to put out the best product possible:

    “The wrestling company is a sport. I don’t have any views other than the sport itself. So that’s where it’s great for the wrestlers to be able to express their own individual viewpoints, and then the league just puts out the best wrestlers, puts out the best wrestling product. A wrestling organization is not a political league.

    So I do think that it’s been awesome to be able to see how many fans have gotten behind AEW and all the momentum we have as a wrestling league, but also the individual wrestlers have their own individual fans. And I think it’s one of the really great things about AEW is the wrestlers have the ability to express themselves.”

    During the talk, Khan also discussed Ronda Rousey’s AEW status after her appearance at the PPV. You can check out his comments here.

  • Tony Khan Comments On Ronda Rousey’s AEW Status After Revolution

    Tony Khan Comments On Ronda Rousey’s AEW Status After Revolution

    Tony Khan says Ronda Rousey is always welcome in AEW.

    The UFC legend made a surprise appearance at tonight’s Revolution PPV. She showed up after Toni Storm beat Rousey’s friend Marina Shafir in a singles match, and the distraction allowed Shafir to deliver a cheap shot to the former AEW Women’s Champion after the bell.

    During the PPV post-show, Tony Khan was asked about Ronda Rousey’s status with the company. While the AEW President did not give a clear answer, he referenced Rousey’s ROH match from 2023 and claimed that she is always welcome in his company:

    “Ronda Rousey is a huge star, so we have a great relationship with her. She’s wrestled for me before in ROH, and she’s always welcome here in AEW anytime. She’s got a big fight coming up against Gina Carano. I don’t know Gina Carano at all. Ronda’s always been very good to me. I wish her the best.”

    The former WWE Women’s Champion is set to make her MMA return this May for a fight against Gina Carano. The match hosted by Jake Paul’s MVP promotions will be airing on Netflix. It’s unlikely that Rousey would be competing in a pro wrestling match before that.

    Though AEW has also announced a No Holds Barred rematch between Storm and Shafir for this Wednesday’s Dynamite, so another appearance from the former UFC star is always possible.