Why WWE Plans To Keep Messing With AEW’s Tony Khan
A recent move made by AEW’s Tony Khan could lead to WWE playing more mind games with the competition.
When AEW announced that the All Out PPV would take place on September 20th in Toronto, the plan was to run that show at 8 p.m. ET on a Saturday night just like they do most years. That announcement was made in May.
On that same September 20th date, WWE will be running the Wrestlepalooza PLE from Indianapolis, which will also be the start of WWE PLE’s airing on the ESPN streaming service. That monster deal is worth a staggering $1.6 billion across five years and will only impact fans in the United States.
The Wrestlepalooza card will feature huge matches like Brock Lesnar facing John Cena for perhaps the final time, while a returning AJ Lee will team up with her husband, CM Punk, against Becky Lynch and her husband, the World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins.
It was announced on September 3rd that AEW and company owner Tony Khan are moving the All Out PPV to a 3 p.m. ET start time. In the press release, it mentions that HBO Max subscribers with supported devices will be able to purchase the event for the exclusive price of $39.99.
That same AEW press release doesn’t mention the presence of WWE Wrestlepalooza, but wrestling fans know that is the main reason for the change.
WWE Plans To “Screw With” AEW’s Tony Khan
Since AEW’s Tony Khan blinked, so to speak, by changing the start time of All Out to avoid going head to head with Wrestlepalooza, that tells WWE that AEW is willing to make changes that are forced upon them.
While speaking on Wrestling Observer Live, Bryan Alvarez reported that since Tony Khan moved AEW All Out to an earlier time, it will likely lead to WWE trying more tactics to counter AEW programming in the future.
“I’ve pretty much been told this from people in WWE – it’s like, that’s it, they’re gonna go after them and they’re gonna keep it up.
“The day is gonna come where WWE counterprograms, AEW moves a show, and then WWE moves their show. It’s gonna happen at some point.
“They’re gonna screw with the guy (Tony Khan) because now they know this guy’s gonna blink, he’s gonna move his show.”
AEW has yet to announce a World Title match for All Out, but one of the big matches at the show will see hometown heroes Adam Copeland & Christian Cage team up against FTR in a huge grudge match.