Tony Khan says he made a giant transfer behind the scenes in 2025 — he took full management of AEW inventive. However whereas Khan sees it as a turning level, critics and followers are pointing to the product’s freefalling rankings, reckless stunts, and id disaster as proof that the corporate is headed within the fallacious route.
Throughout an interview on Unlikely with Adrian Hernandez, Khan overtly admitted that he made a private decision to cease counting on collaborative reserving and begin working AEW’s weekly route solo.
“Sure. Uh, it was across the holidays and it was the 5-year anniversary of the final time and it was a type of issues the place I had instructed myself, uh, on the finish of 2019, uh, only a New Yr’s decision: I need to be extra centered.”
Khan mentioned he had already been closely concerned, however realized issues wanted to alter — quick. He believes that shift kicked in immediately.
“I have been attempting actually onerous, however I do know I can do higher. And in addition, such as you mentioned, possibly as a substitute of getting tons of various individuals collaborate to place a top level view collectively, I am simply going to do the define myself — and I will are available with a route each single week of what I need to do on the present.”
“And I made some actual modifications in the beginning of the yr. And in January, uh, I believed we made an actual flip and it stored momentum that went all year long.”
However not everybody agrees. AEW’s viewership has declined throughout the board. Scores for Dynamite and Collision have slipped in comparison with the earlier yr, and regardless of AEW successful a handful of media awards, there’s rising criticism that the corporate is chasing shock worth as a substitute of storytelling.
Exhibit A? Jon Moxley being stabbed the again with a spike on stay TV — a second that left followers shocked. Then got here the WrestleDream spot the place Moxley appeared to drown Darby Allin in a fish tank, prompting widespread backlash and concern from former AEW employees and viewers alike.
Former WWE author Vince Russo tore into the corporate on his podcast Prepared with Russo, calling the phase reckless and branding Tony Khan’s strategy as outright irresponsible.
“You possibly can’t have Moxley matches with cheese graters, ripping ears, drowning individuals in a fish tank, and spikes within the head… Bro, you possibly can’t have such a programming after which have Tony Khan exit and say, ‘Oh, we’re attempting to maintain our ticket costs family-friendly.’ That proper there, Tony, they are going to bury you.”
Russo doubled down by warning that one fallacious transfer may jeopardize AEW’s greatest relationships, particularly with Warner Bros. Discovery and HBO Max:
“All it’s going to take is one dad or mum or one group to level that out — ‘The proprietor of the corporate, Tony Khan, a billionaire, son to Shad Khan, made this assertion… and have a look at his present.’ That’s an absence of duty.”
“You’re on the mercy of your companions as nicely. If Max pulls out due to stuff like this, you’re actually in a foul place. You possibly can’t sit right here and fake you don’t have parameters.”
Khan, nevertheless, has remained steadfast in his public messaging — even doubling down on AEW being a product meant for households.
“AEW’s ticket pricing is designed to be very family-friendly and it has been that approach for the reason that very starting. All people who’s been concerned in AEW from the beginning will inform you that we at all times wished to keep up reasonably priced ticket costs for the followers, and notably to convey households and younger followers to the present, and make it accessible for followers of all backgrounds, of all ages.”
However when the identical product options visible drownings, actual glass spots, and spike assaults within the backbone, the disconnect turns into onerous to disregard. Russo wrapped up his rant with a grim prediction about the place this content material escalation leads:
“That is what we’re seeing. You have turned this right into a recreation of ‘are you able to prime this?’ And that is the place we’re, bro. Subsequent it’s going to be a noticed on flesh.”
So whereas Tony Khan is out entrance celebrating AEW’s route in 2025 — claiming focus and imaginative and prescient — a rising variety of followers and critics see one thing fully completely different: a product bleeding viewers, shedding id, and placing its future in danger.
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