WWE Hall Of Famer Questions Tony Khan’s Way Of Thinking
A legendary WWE Hall of Famer has criticized AEW’s Tony Khan for a booking decision.
It was announced in October last year that Tony Khan’s AEW had signed a new media rights deal with Warner Bros Discovery for over $550 million over three years, which includes an option for a fourth year.
According to recent comments from Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer, Tony Khan believes that airing footage of what happened between CM Punk and Jack Perry at All In 2023 on April 10th is what led to AEW getting their new media rights deal. Meltzer claims that Khan has spoken about it multiple times.
“I have discussed this with him. You have no idea how much… it’s always the same thing that he believes that was a key to getting that deal. So I will tell you, I mean, in every discussion, there is not even a thought in his mind that he made a mistake there.”
“But I, you know, certainly didn’t think long term it was the right thing, even though, yes, it did help make Jack Perry a star. I just didn’t think it was positive for the company in the big picture.”
The decision to air the CM Punk-Jack Perry backstage incident was criticized heavily because Punk was fired because of it and Punk works for WWE, so the idea of showing a clip featuring somebody in the other company seemed like a strange move. However, Khan thinks it was the right move.
Booker T Thinks Tony Khan’s Decision Overshadowed AEW’s Product
While speaking on his Hall of Fame podcast, two-time WWE Hall of Famer Booker T reacted to this news story by thinking that Khan’s decision hurt the current AEW product.
“[Tony Khan said] The reason why he put out the video was, you know, really, really good reason was to get a TV deal out of it. I’m like, ‘Man, that’s a crazy concept, that’s a crazy thought.’
To put that video out, you know, to get … I see it in certain ways because I think when they put that video out, I think they had over 800,000 people watch the show that night.”
As Booker continued, he said it was smart because it drew a bigger audience for AEW, but that it might have hurt the company’s current stars.
“I guess that was kind of smart, but I just question Tony Khan’s thinking sometimes, as far as, you know, doing something like that and if he did it for that reason. I don’t know, it’s kind of odd.
It was something that totally overshadowed what they had did which was a huge show, if I’m not mistaken. It just seemed like it’s just watering down the product.”
The AEW roster is set to get even stronger in 2025 since it has been reported that Tony Khan has signed former TNA X-Division Champion Mike Bailey and he’s expected to debut very soon.