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Is Tony Khan AEW's worst enemy?
AEW President Tony Khan. Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images

Is Tony Khan AEW's worst enemy?

AEW has endured a difficult year. A waning audience, falling ticket sales and storylines that have failed to pop have all contributed to the company's struggles as viewership has consistently fallen month-on-month.

According to Eric Bischoff, who is consistently outspoken against the AEW product, Tony Khan could be to blame for AEW's recent malaise. Bischoff accused Khan of booking matches for his own fandom rather than for what the fanbase wants to see.

“There’s so much inherently wrong, and it starts with Tony Khan," Bischoff said. "It starts with the lack of vision, absolute lack of understanding, and zero comprehension of what the wrestling audience (wants)...Everything that’s done in AEW is done from the perspective of Tony Khan’s fandom. And unfortunately, Tony Khan’s fandom doesn’t represent the other 98.8% of people that enjoy professional wrestling. Tony is booking for himself in his own fantasy. There’s nothing resembling a thought process, creative or otherwise.”

Bischoff's disdain for AEW is well documented. He seemingly takes a shot at the company every week. However, unlike most of his arguments, this one has some merit. Khan's booking has been head-scratching, especially at the start of the year. 

Too often, matches occur for no reason. They aren't part of a storyline, and they don't create one, either. Instead, two people are pitted against each other for no reason other than Khan believes it could be a good match. What seems to be getting lost is that the average wrestling fan needs to feel invested, one way or another. 

Furthermore, AEW's roster is too big. Wrestlers fade into obscurity only to randomly reappear months later with a significant spot on a show, leaving new fans wondering who they're watching. 

In recent weeks, AEW appears to have turned a corner. It has two or three major stories running, each with multiple avenues, allowing fans to become invested in the long-term goals of the on-screen talent. Bischoff's stance will lose traction if that continues. 

However, if AEW reverts to what we saw earlier this year, fans will continue to tune out of the product, leaving it with a limited hardcore fanbase and little room for growth. Hopefully, the recent struggles have helped the company see the error in its ways, and the current changes are here to stay. 

Adam Taylor

Adam Taylor is a sports journalist based out of the UK. Adam has been covering the NBA for nearly a decade with a core focus on the Boston Celtics. He currently holds bylines with Yardbarker, SB Nation and USA Today

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