Tag: aew releases

Tony Khan AEW media call notes & audio: Releases, defending All In ticket sales, ROH TV, production meetings

Posted on by Josh Nason

Image: JJ Williams

Tony Khan is not afraid to back up his ticket sales numbers on 2023’s AEW All In from London’s Wembley Stadium.

That was just one of the many topics that came up during Thursday’s pre-Revolution media call which included insight on why he chose to release certain wrestlers now, the rumor of not having production meetings, an update of sorts on a TV deal for Ring of Honor, and more.

The full audio is available for free below.

Releases

Asked by our Dave Meltzer on what changed in the philosophy to release wrestlers like Miro, Malakai Black and Rey Fenix, Khan admitted it did feel like a change and that “everything is a case-by-case basis” and that “it felt like the right thing for the company and everyone involved.” He didn’t go into detail on the released wrestlers.

All In

Answering a question about the new Amazon PPV distribution deal for those in the UK, Khan took the opportunity to chide those questioned the validity of ticket sales from the first All In at Wembley Stadium, saying he set the world record for paid tickets and have paperwork and a plaque from Live Nation to prove it. He said it “it’s not lost on me what goes on out there” when it comes to the discourse around claiming he sold in the 70,000s.

He then said on ITV, they have had the biggest audience for pro wrestling in the UK and that Dynamite and Collision are both up 50% year over year.

Production meeting rumors

Answering a rumor about not having production meetings, Khan says he meets with several working groups and individuals at several points during event days (production people, producers, coaches, announcers, etc.) He is constantly looking to do better with communication, but that it’s a great process for them. He thought some of the things he read were completely untrue which is why he saw some backtracking about it. He doesn’t think about that anymore and wants to eliminate those kinds of distractions. He found some of the discourse “amusing. Consider the source.”

ROH TV

Asked about an ROH TV rights update, Khan said they have had great conversations domestically and internationally. He hasn’t been rushing it as he wants to make the best deal possible. No timeline was given, but he’s still interested and has been putting time into it.

Other notable quotes:

  • Khan says Max will still eventually be a home for AEW PPVs and is looking forward to when fans can buy PPVs there. No timeline for what that could happen was given.
  • He went down an interesting rabbit hole when talking about his recent run of shows, saying he made a promise to himself years ago at New Year’s Eve going into 2020 that he was going to make great TV shows and would not be nice anymore in turning down people’s creative ideas. He said the majority of what you’re seeing now is by him and he realized years ago, that’s what he should be doing. He said there’s been times in the past where he’s been too collaborative and that part of that process is saying “no.”
  • Asked about the absence of the Face of the Revolution ladder match, Khan said it was about putting the right people in the right situations at the right time. He’s happy what is going on with the TNT title scene right now and with the card, it wasn’t the right time.
  • Asked if he feels added creative pressure given the John Cena turn last weekend, Khan said they are happy with their shows right now and doesn’t want to change anything he’s doing just because another company did.

Click here for the full call which included answers to questions not listed above.

Tony Khan ROH media call: CM Punk, AEW releases, WBD TV rights update

Posted on by Josh Nason

On the most newsworthy week of the wrestling year, AEW & Ring of Honor head Tony Khan had a lot of questions to answer on a Thursday media call designed to promote Friday’s Supercard of Honor — the audio of which can be heard below.

At the jump, Khan was asked about CM Punk’s critical comments of Khan’s leadership and of his AEW experience as a whole, but declined to answer. It was the only related question he got in the near-hourlong call.

Khan was also asked about Tuesday’s AEW releases given he had previously stated a difference with his companies were that he would honor deals until the end. 

Khan said you have to make tough calls sometimes and that he plans to be very aggressive with going after top talent in an continued expansion effort. In order to do so, he said he needs “a war chest and to keep an eye on the budget.”

He then revealed that after thinking about the situation, Anthony Henry will return when he has healed up from a broken jaw. However, he also revealed that The Boys (Brandon & Brent Tate) were cut due to missing repeated shows — something that was known in the locker room.

Here’s some other notes:

  • When asked about when the exclusive domestic TV rights negotiating window with Warner Bros Discovery is up, Khan declined to provide the date saying it was soon but that he didn’t want to get anyone in trouble by answering.
  • Khan said some AEW/ROH talents are on tiered deals and some are on per appearance deals.
  • A few more matches for the Zero Hour for Supercard of Honor have yet to be announced.
  • He said it’s been “a lot easier” to work with Stardom now that Rossy Ogawa is gone, and is very happy about the changes Bushiroad made.

Click Here to Listen (no sub needed)

Eddie Kingston more concerned for released AEW talent than CM Punk comments

Posted on by Josh Nason

Ring of Honor World Champion & men’s NJPW Strong Openweight Champion Eddie Kingston addressed this week’s AEW releases in addition to the critical comments former in-ring rival CM Punk made about AEW.

In an interview with Adrian Hernandez, Kingston said he is more concerned and worried for those who were released this week by AEW than anything that Punk said during his now-infamous comments on Monday’s MMA Hour with Ariel Helwani.

“My heart goes out to them. That’s what I’m more concerned about than what (Punk) said because the people that got let go did work for us and now they have to find another way to make ends meet and that’s what concerns me more. Whether I knew them — because some I knew very well, some I didn’t — my heart goes out to them. I’m not saying it’s right, I’m not saying it’s wrong. What I am saying, it’s the business. People get hired and fired daily,” he said.

Kingston mentioned that he is heartbroken that he won’t see released ring announcer Dasha Kuret as he loved seeing her every week and always put a smile on his face.

Regarding the Punk comments, Kingston said he “don’t give a f**k” about Punk’s comments because the current WWE roster member doesn’t work for the company anymore.

“…No, I don’t care. I know other people do, but I really don’t give a f**k because he doesn’t work for AEW. That’s the way I look at it. If he worked for AEW and did that, then I might feel a certain way for a little bit and then I would just let it go and go, ‘Well, that’s Phil being Phil. Can’t control him. That’s his thing.’ He ain’t me and I ain’t him, so, but he doesn’t so I don’t care what he does,” Kingston stated.

Kingston will defend the ROH title against Mark Briscoe on this Friday’s Supercard of Honor.

Anthony Henry not sure if he’ll continue wrestling after AEW release

Posted on by Josh Nason

Anthony Henry said he was devastated by the news of getting his AEW release and may be done with wrestling altogether.

Henry was part of a small round of cuts by AEW on Monday, ending his run with the company.

The 40-year-old took to X Tuesday in his first public statement since the news, saying he was appreciative of the support and was unsure about his future.

Henry is currently on the shelf after suffering a broken jaw during a March indie match that resulted in himself and JD Drake being pulled from the AEW Tag Team title tournament.

The former Asher Hale in WWE NXT last wrestled for AEW in mid-January and had been appearing more frequently with Drake on Ring of Honor TV. Drake was not part of Monday’s cuts that included Henry, ring announcer Dasha Kuret, Stu Grayson, Jose the Assistant, Jora Johl, Gravity, Slim J, Parker Boudreaux, and The Boys (Brandon & Brent Tate).

AEW & ROH head Tony Khan has yet to comment publicly on the reason for the cuts, but will be on a media call this Thursday to promote Friday’s ROH Supercard of Honor event.

Henry has been a wrestler since 2003.

Big Swole, AEW mutually decide to part ways

Posted on by Bryan Rose

Big Swole has announced that she and AEW have mutually decided not to renew her contract with the company.

On Twitter, Swole wrote that after speaking with AEW President Tony Khan and other higher-ups in the company, they have decided not to renew her contract with AEW. She wrote the following:

Over the past couple of months my life has taken on the mantra grow, learn, change. Dealing with shadow work took strength I didn’t know I had. I think God for my loving family because they got me through some of the roughest months of my life. But I realized the real test is application. So I took my leap and after speaking with [Tony Khan] and AEW higher officials we’ve decided not to renew my contract with All Elite Wrestling.

This was a hard decision but a needed one. I am grateful for their understanding and that we could mutually come to this agreement. I’ve enjoyed my time with AEW and wish them all the best. I appreciate their love and welcoming me into the family. Today is my last day and as bittersweet as it is, I am proud to say that I’ve lived my dreams while making a difference. That is Swole Mentality.

Swole had been part of the company since All Out 2019, where she competed in a 21-woman Casino Battle Royal. Her last match took place on the episode of AEW Dark that aired on September 11, where she defeated Allie Katch.