Tony Khan Delighted With AEW Coverage After Harvey Weinstein Comments
Tony Khan is not shy about courting publicity for AEW and now he’s responded to controversial comments he made about WWE.
Just hours before Day 2 of the NFL Draft, Tony Khan – wearing a neckbrace – spoke to Mike Garafolo and Steve Wyche of the NFL Network. While Khan plugged AEW programming, he also took some shots at WWE as well:
AEW, we’ve been doing this for five years, we are the most successful sports start up since the AFL, pre-merger. There has not been a challenger brand that has gained as much market share as AEW in many many years. We are like the Pepsi of pro wrestling. We’re up against an evil juggernaut. WWE is our competitor, that’s who we’re facing.”
AEW, like the Pepsi of pro wrestling. WWE is like the Harvey Weinstein of pro wrestling. I’m really proud of what we do down here.
The line about convicted rapist and former Hollywood executive Harvey Weinstein received a lot of attention with many in WWE and AEW said to be unhappy about it.
Tony Khan Happy Controversy Got AEW Coverage
Speaking to former WWE star Mojo Rawley on TMZ Sports, Tony Khan was asked about wearing a neckbrace during the NFL Draft and indicated it was all to raise the profile of AEW:
I’m glad that it was so much attention for AEW. It’s a really exciting time for the company. A lot of people have been introduced to AEW this week and I know that we had a great audience for our show on Saturday.
Khan was then asked about his hugely controversial comments as he likened WWE to convicted rapist Harvey Weinstein. But the AEW boss seemed to be happy that it brought lots of attention to his company:
We got tons of coverage for AEW, and I think it is important to say that I think AEW is the best wrestling company in the world in many ways. I think that we have the best wrestlers, the best matches, we’ve been putting on the best shows. I think the best pay-per-view events this year have been the two AEW events.
There are so many great things that have happened in AEW this year, and I’ll hold our track record up on anything, whether it’s the quality of the shows, the safety, the travel, the hotels. Everything we do, in and out of the ring, I think AEW is the very best.
Tony Khan has agreed to auction off the neckbrace that he has been forced to wear since being hit with a TK Driver by The Young Bucks in a shocking moment on Dynamite.