Tony Khan Takes Aim At WWE Layoffs, Calls AEW A “Family Business”

AEW President Tony Khan took a jab at WWE’s recent firing spree, explaining why he’d never do the same to his employees.

Ahead of WWE’s merger with UFC becoming official on September 12th, employees were said to be “gritting their teeth” as mass layoffs were expected. Sure enough, on September 15th, more than 100 employees were fired from the company in an effort to reduce overhead costs, with reports that talent cuts were also expected.

On September 21st, multiple WWE talent were let go from their jobs, including former World Heavyweight Champion Dolph Ziggler, who had been with the company nearly 20 years. Dana Brooke, Maximum Male Models Mace and Mansoor, and Mustafa Ali were also among those released from their contracts.

“That’s Just How I Was Raised” – Tony Khan On Protecting AEW Employees’ Jobs

Speaking in a media call ahead of WrestleDream, AEW President Tony Khan took aim at the sports entertainment giant, saying there’s a difference between a family business and one traded publicly. He said:

“There’s not a lot of loyalty at times and there should be and this is a family business. We’re not a public company.

“Even if I get punched in the face with circumstances, it doesn’t mean I’m gonna take it out on the staff by cutting 100 staff or laying off 30 wrestlers, and I really care about the people here. I would do anything I can to protect the jobs and the livelihood of the people that work here, and that’s a family business, and that’s the difference between a family business and a public company in a lot of ways. And not every family business has those principles, but we do, and that’s just how I was raised.”

h/t Inside the Ropes