As part of the build to Sunday's Double or Nothing, AEW & ROH head Tony Khan spoke to the media nearly an hour Thursday
Here are some of the more interesting quotes and aspects of the call with the full audio available at the bottom of this post.
- Double or Nothing has done $1.1 million in ticket sales.
- He didn't specifically commit to September's All Out for the NOW Arena in Hoffman Estates, Illinois, but said he wants to keep the tradition of the pay-per-view staying in/around the Chicago area.
- There's no update on ROH returning to weekly TV, but Khan said he continues to have good talks with Warner Bros. Discovery about that and how to expand AEW. He would like to get weekly TV and a return to PPV going soon.
- He was asked about MJF including his contract status in promos and in his Wardlow feud. He said wrestling is more interesting when real life is included on-screen and talked about free agency was such a big thing in the 90s. He didn't address anything specific about their negotiations, etc.
- He was asked about his relationship with Warner Bros. Discovery post-merger and assurances about the future, Khan says he has got great feedback from the company and was "honored and blessed" that they are throwing AEW a party next week in LA post-Dynamite. He called it "a big deal", "incredibly reassuring" and that some of top executives in all WB Discover will be there.
- Khan thought it made sense for CM Punk to face top wrestlers when he started and not be rushed into the AEW World title scene so he could work his way up .He said Hangman Page's road to the title was very similar.
- He made it sound like the Owen Hart Foundation tournament will be a yearly event. Fans will learn on Sunday what each tournament winner will receive.
- Khan talked about the importance of streaming as a new revenue stream and has been talking with Warner Bros. Discovery as a partner on doing that.
- He said he bought ROH was bought by him personally and not under AEW due to circumstance (price and opportunity) and that he wants them to be their own stand-alone brand.
- He is looking forward to AEW touring Canada, but didn't give any timeframe as they are still servicing U.S. markets following the pandemic touring shutdown.
Khan also talked about the Owen Hart Tournament, single night tournaments, women potentially main eventing a PPV, and more.
More must-reads: