Tag: Shad Khan

The Rock named to Forbes ‘Greatest Self-Made Americans’ list

Posted on by Joseph Currier

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson was recognized by Forbes this week as the outlet put out its list of the 250 greatest currently living self-made Americans.

The list was made in celebration of this year being the 250th birthday of the United States. Johnson ranked at number 70, placing between musician Stevie Wonder and businessman Norm Asbjornson (founder of the HVAC company AAON). In explaining his inclusion on the list, Forbes referenced the now-famous story where the son of Rocky Johnson once only had seven dollars to his name before finding success in WWE:

The Rock named his production company Seven Bucks as a reminder of a bleak time: cut from the Canadian Football League, he arrived broke in Tampa with ‘a five, a one and change.‘

Forbes’ criteria for the list included financial success, obstacles overcome, and enduring impact, with a particular focus on where each candidate started in their life and how far they’ve risen. Talk show host and billionaire Oprah Winfrey topped the list, and NBA star LeBron James, musician Dolly Parton, former President Bill Clinton, and Vice President JD Vance were some of the other names in the top 10.

A member of the Khan family was also recognized by Forbes. Shahid Khan, an investor in AEW and the father of Tony Khan, ranked at number 21:

The Pakistani immigrant arrived with $500 in his pocket and worked nights as a dishwasher while studying at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He later designed a one-piece truck bumper, the basis of his $15 billion fortune.

Johnson, who most recently competed in the ring at WWE WrestleMania 40, is a member of the TKO board of directors. In his acting career, he was nominated at the 2026 Golden Globes for his performance in “The Smashing Machine.” Johnson’s upcoming projects include new movies in the “Moana” and “Jumanji” franchises, along with teaming up with director Martin Scorsese for a Hawaiian crime drama that is in development.

The Elite attack Tony Khan, Shad Khan makes AEW debut on Dynamite

Posted on by Ethan Renner

The Elite laid out Tony Khan in Jack Perry’s return to AEW Dynamite Wednesday, plus Shad Khan made his on-screen debut in the show-closing angle. 

After returning to AEW at Dynasty from an indefinite suspension stemming from a backstage altercation with CM Punk at All In last August, Perry was part of a show-long storyline on Dynamite where The Elite’s Matthew Jackson, Nicholas Jackson, and Kazuchika Okada brokered a meeting between Perry and Tony Khan in the ring. 

Perry entered for the final segment on Dynamite and called out Khan, then cut a babyface promo promising to work together with Khan to continue changing the wrestling world. 

After raising Khan’s arm in celebration, Perry punched Khan in the stomach. The rest of The Elite then entered, and The Young Bucks hit their Tony Khan Driver on Tony Khan, laying out the company’s owner, GM, and head of creative. 

Referees, wrestlers, and medical personnel attended to Khan as The Elite retreated to the stage, then Tony’s father Shad Khan came to the ring looking concerned for his fallen son. 

The full segment from Dynamite is embedded below.

Tony & Shad Khan reportedly showed interest in buying Bellator MMA

Posted on by Josh Nason

The Khan family was reportedly interested in adding a new combat sports player to their growing sports portfolio.

On Wednesday’s MMA Hour, Ariel Helwani said that Shad and Tony Khan were one of several groups that have shown interest in purchasing Bellator MMA from Paramount Global who purchased majority ownership in December 2011 when they were called Viacom.

Helwani said he was unclear to what degree the Khans were, or still are, interested. The family owns AEW, the NFL’s Jacksonville Jaguars, and the Fulham soccer club among other companies.

While not formally announced, it has been known in the MMA industry that Bellator MMA is for sale with the Professional Fighters League (PFL) as the group most interested. Helwani noted PFL initially backed out and then got back into the mix several weeks ago, possibly tied into new investment money that will be revealed over the next few weeks or months.

Bellator head Scott Coker and PFL head Rey Sefo acknowledged the talks this past weekend.

Helwani said Liberty Media, an investment group that also was interested in buying WWE, has also shown interest.

Reports: Stephanie McMahon & Triple H opposed WWE sale, Khans noted as potential buyers

Posted on by Ethan Renner

Stephanie McMahon and Triple H opposed a potential WWE sale, while AEW’s Tony Khan and Shad Khan are potential buyers for the company, reports say.

Axios reports that former WWE co-CEO Stephanie McMahon and current chief content officer Paul “Triple H” Levesque opposed plans to sell the company, according to its sources. 

Stephanie resigned from the company on Tuesday, four days after Vince McMahon returned to the company as executive chairman of the board of directors.

Elsewhere, both Barron’s and CNBC reported Thursday that AEW’s Tony Khan and Shad Khan have been linked to WWE’s “strategic alternatives” process as potential buyers for the company.

Barron’s states that AEW is a potential buyer, but “…the Khans will likely look for a financial partner to acquire the asset.”

CNBC couches a potential AEW and WWE merger as a longshot, but notes that the Khans would be open to discussing a continued role for executive chairman McMahon should AEW and WWE merge:

The Khans are open to discussing a potential role for McMahon, 77, after a sale but haven’t yet had those talks

WWE announced on January 6 that it would explore “strategic alternatives to maximize shareholder value,” widely believed to mean pursuing a sale of the company, while noting “There is no assurance that this process will result in a transaction.” 

CNBC reported on January 7 that WWE had hired JPMorgan to advise the company on a potential sale. 

On Thursday, WWE announced in a press release that they had retained the services of three outside groups in connection with pursuing strategic alternatives.

In the release, WWE said that The Raine Group would serve as financial advisor, Kirkland & Ellis would serve as legal advisor, and August would serve as communications advisor in the strategic alternatives initiative. 

WWE went on to say that they would not provide a strategic initiatives timetable:

There can be no assurances given regarding the outcome or timing of the strategic alternatives review process. WWE does not intend to comment further until the process has concluded or the Company has otherwise determined that further disclosure is appropriate or required.

Shad Khan confirmed as lead investor in All Elite Wrestling

Posted on by Josh Nason

In a release Tuesday morning with some quotes ahead of their kickoff rally in Jacksonville, FL, Jacksonville Jaguars (NFL) owner Shad Khan confirmed he is the lead investor in All Elite Wrestling, the fledgling promotion involving the Young Bucks, Cody, and more.

From the release:

“I am the lead investor, a supporter and a backer of All Elite Wrestling, and I anticipate great things today and into the future for AEW and everyone who has worked passionately on this week’s launch. I know AEW will be welcomed by wrestling fans here in the U.S. and throughout the world who are ready for something new and authentic. AEW will work hard to deliver on that promise.”

Khan also clarified his son Tony’s involvement and that AEW will run independently from his other businesses:

“As important, I am the father – the proud father – of Tony Khan, who will serve in a leadership role at AEW during the 2019 launch and in the years ahead. Tony will assemble a great team to take AEW over the top, for the benefit of everyone who loves the wrestling industry, while continuing to serve in his current capacities with the Jaguars and Fulham.

AEW will operate as an organization completely independently from my other interests. It will not deter attention or divert resources from any of my businesses, teams, projects or investments. At the same time, AEW will enjoy the same full commitment I given to everything and everyone in my life – my family and friends, my business and, in recent years, to sports, hospitality and now entertainment.”

Tony then gave a statement about AEW:

“Wrestling fans are a community unlike most others. I’ve been a part of this community since I was 7 years old, and I can tell you that wresting fans see the world every day through a special lens. We see wrestling in Hollywood films and tv shows, we see elements of wrestling in the presentation of sports and in the marketing of grandiose star athletes, and we certainly see wrestling in politics.

The wrestling community is a constant; its members are diverse, we are physically located on all corners of the planet, yet we are constantly connected. Recently, a new family has formed, bonded by love and respect for wresting but armed with a vision and resources that have never before been available to the wrestling community.  Our objective is to connect our community closer than ever before through All Elite Wrestling, or AEW.

AEW does not mean any less of a continued commitment to existing obligations and duties that I have, or my family has, to our business and sports interests. That will never be the case. What’s important is that every individual decision we make as family, whether it’s ownership or investment in a team or property, is 100 percent beneficial to those specific interests. I will always welcome that accountability and responsibility, as nothing is more important than serving our supporters and friends.

AEW will launch with a roster of the top wrestlers in the world. While they’ll clash in what will be some of the most intense and fast-paced contests ever sanctioned in the squared circle, they’ll also share a common goal: to make this the true golden age, to make this the greatest time ever to be a wrestling fan. Likewise, as a business, by treating our wrestlers with respect and warmth, we also seek to make this the golden age for the performers themselves.

I urge everyone who believes in what we’re doing, or wants to believe in dreams coming true, to support AEW by spreading the word and passing the wrestling bug onto someone else.  My message: Get in on the ground floor with AEW today and help lead our movement to grow the wrestling community and ensure that the voices of the wrestling fans, their creative minds and their remarkable ideas, will always be heard.”