Tony Khan AEW media call notes: Darby Allin, being an on-screen character, Mark Henry contract

AEW head Tony Khan spoke to the media for an hour Thursday to promote this Sunday’s Double or Nothing and while the call wasn’t very newsworthy, there were a few interesting notes.

The full audio from the call can be found below.

Khan said that when it came to who should fill the spot vacated by the injured Eddie Kingston in the Anarchy in the Arena match, he actually called Darby Allin to first see how he was doing physically. Allin responded that he would fill in for Kingston without Khan even needing to ask him which Khan thought was a funny occurrence.

Asked about running the MGM Grand Garden Arena vs. T-Mobile Arena for Sunday’s show, Khan said the decision was about sentimentality as the MGM is where they launched five years ago.

Asked about being an on-screen character, Khan says he has really tried to limit his appearances on TV which is how it should be. He wants the focus of the shows to be on the wrestlers and wrestling, even with the current Elite storyline. He was the only one who could lift the Young Bucks’ ban on Allin last night, hence his very brief appearance.

Asked about the report on Mark Henry’s impending contract expiration, Khan says they have to look at that internally but really likes him as a media personality and has a lot of respect for him as a wrestler.

Asked about potential future residencies like they are doing with the Summer Series in Arlington, Texas, Khan said the city gave them a great deal in a great venue that was attractive. If other cities follow suit and this Summer Series goes really well, it could be a model for them in the future.

Asked about moving All Out a week later, Khan didn’t really give a direct answer but said he wanted to make it a better experience for fans coming off Wembley’s All In. He also said Labor Day now has more competition than it did when they started and felt it was win/win to stay in Chicago and run in September.

For the full call audio, click here.

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