Tony Khan Explains Why Now Is The Most Important Time For AEW
Tony Khan believes AEW is on the verge of the most important deal in its short history.
Over the past five years, AEW’s footprint with Warner Brothers Discovery has grown from only having its flagship show, Dynamite, on TNT to having three shows across both TNT and TBS.
In recent months, the company has been negotiating a new rights deal with WBD, and Tony Khan is well aware of the importance of what happens next.
During a recent interview with Case the Producer from Q101’s Brian & Kenzie Morning Show, the AEW President explained his belief that the relationship between the companies is getting “stronger and stronger.”
“Right now is the most important time ever in AEW. We’re on the verge of the most important deal we’ll ever make, this upcoming media rights, and it’s been great working with Warner Brothers Discovery on the future.
“For all these years, we’ve had so much great experience with Warner Brothers Discovery, and now, under the leadership of David Zaslav, the company, for us, the connection, the things we’ve been able to do, I think it’s getting stronger and stronger.”
Khan is confident that whatever happens, the new rights deal will take AEW into profitability and believes that it has already lived up to all of the expectations he had for it.
“I think now, over five years, it’s really been building to this point where AEW’s going to jump into the media rights and be a very profitable, successful company that has lived up to every expectation we ever could have had because we’ve done so many amazing things in this years.
“We’ve had all these amazing pay-per-view records. We’ve really come in and we’ve done pay-per-view numbers, whether adjusted or straight-up, head-to-head, very strong compared to the last few years of WCW, and I think that’s really a success story.
“I think pay-per-views are really fun, but it’s a really interesting business point that our business on pay-per-view has continued to get stronger. This year’s been great for us, we’ve had some huge events, including Revolution, which was one of our biggest pay-per-views ever.”
Tony Khan Addresses Shane McMahon Meeting
Tony Khan has opened up on his surprising meeting with Shane McMahon. Khan explained that the two happened to be in Dallas at the same time and that a mutual friend set up the meeting. The AEW President came away with a good impression of McMahon, and said he did;t know what would come of it, although teased that “it’s an exciting time in AEW.”
H/T to Fightful for the above transcription.