The fallout from AEW Worlds Finish continues—and this time, it’s Tony Khan addressing the elephant within the room.
AEW followers have been already alarmed after a harmful second throughout the Continental Traditional semi-final between Jon Moxley and Kyle Fletcher, the place Fletcher landed straight on his neck after a brutal avalanche sleeper suplex. The spot triggered widespread concern on-line and even caught the eye of William Regal, who unloaded on trendy wrestling’s obsession with high-risk strikes in a strongly-worded social media publish. Now, Tony Khan has weighed in.
Throughout his look on The Mark Hoke Present Professional Wrestling Radio Present / Podcast, Khan was straight requested about Regal’s viral feedback, which criticized right this moment’s wrestlers for copying harmful spots with out correct method—and warned of lifelong penalties like persistent ache, damaged necks, and even loss of life. Khan didn’t shrink back from the dialogue. As a substitute, he provided a measured protection of AEW’s security tradition whereas acknowledging the fixed dangers concerned.
“Professional wrestlers are all the time taking hard-hitting and high-risk probabilities. That’s one of many issues that makes professional wrestling so thrilling. In AEW, we’ve been in a position to have all of those nice occasions, and we’ve by no means had a career-ending damage like that from our wrestling.”
“I don’t suppose that AEW is any completely different than another wrestling promotion on the planet. The wrestlers need to do their easiest, and generally a promotion will step in. AEW and I’ve at occasions stepped in and mentioned, ‘I can’t try this. I don’t suppose that’s a good suggestion.’ I don’t need to try this every single day or each match, however there are occasions the place it comes up, and that’s okay.”
“Every part you speak about, these are stuff you continually steadiness in sports activities. Not simply AEW, however all sports activities. Taking good care of your athletes and doing issues to guard the well being and security of the athletes to make the game work.”
When requested particularly in regards to the Moxley vs. Fletcher match, Khan made it clear that, regardless of the backlash, he stands by what unfolded at Worlds Finish.
“I assumed Worlds Finish was nice, and I assumed the whole lot about it was great. And if anyone was speaking about Kyle Fletcher vs. Jon Moxley, that’s one in all my favourite matches of all time.”
“It’s all subjective. Finest match is all the time within the eye of the beholder. And I do suppose it’s one thing to be actually happy with AEW to hold our hats on. How implausible a 12 months that was. All our wrestlers are doing properly, and what AEW achieved in 2025, going into 2026.”
Regal, who didn’t identify names, had criticized the neck-first touchdown as harmful and avoidable. He referenced his personal damaged necks and every day persistent ache, and known as on wrestlers to suppose long-term relatively than chase short-term fame.
Neither Moxley nor Fletcher have responded publicly to Regal’s publish—however Khan’s feedback counsel AEW sees no have to course-correct. Whereas security stays a priority, it’s clear AEW believes its roster is aware of the dangers—and that Worlds Finish delivered, even with controversy.
Ought to AEW take William Regal’s warning extra significantly? Please share your ideas and suggestions within the remark part under.