Tony Khan tells SB Nation about the way forward for AEW

In simply over 5 years All Elite Wrestling has modified the panorama {of professional} wrestling all over the world. This isn’t a take that must be litigated or debated, as a result of it stands as goal reality. The most important challenger to WWE since WCW, the corporate has successfully ended WWE’s vice-like monopoly of the game, offering extra alternatives to expertise than ever earlier than, and having a knock-on impact that’s compelled everybody to enhance their product for the betterment of wrestlers and expertise.

On the middle of this revolution is AEW founder and CEO Tony Khan, who has change into a lightning rod for criticism — a few of which is deserved, some unfairly leveled on account of wrestling’s rampant model tribalism. I spoke with Khan in regards to the first 5 years of AEW, how the corporate has modified, and what looms on the horizon for followers.

The most important hurdle for any sports activities model isn’t getting its first TV deal, however touchdown its essential second. Networks are prepared to take a bet on new programming, however following that up is the place the rubber meets the highway. In early September AEW introduced a brand new multi-year contract with Warner Bros. Discovery, which is able to hold its weekly programming on TBS and TNT, whereas additionally increasing to incorporate the Max streaming service.

“It’s going to be a really thrilling time for AEW at the beginning of 2025,” Khan says. “We’ll make historical past as the primary ever simulcast professional wrestling present throughout TV and streaming.” The AEW CEO says that he at all times hoped a deal could be reached to maintain his program with Warner. Except for the cash, holding wrestling on TBS and TNT has numerous private significance for him as a die-hard wrestling far for almost all of his life.

“There’s this actually nice custom of professional wrestling on TBS and TNT that goes again 50 years,” Khan says, “and it’s actually particular that AEW is now a part of that custom.” By way of what’s modified for AEW from these first preliminary exhibits in 2019 to now, Khan sees it extra as a continuation of what he wished his firm to be.

“The objective we’ve at all times had in thoughts was this media rights renewal. We wish it to be successful. For the entire firm, for followers, and attain an settlement that may set AEW up for the long run. I feel that’s what we’ve finished with the settlement we made right here.”

When requested if it was tough to honor the custom of wrestling on TBS and TNT with out invoking WCW (which WWE owns the library and logos for), Khan acknowledged that it was at instances, however was fast to notice that he considers the legacy of wrestling on Turner Broadcasting to return earlier than WCW, to Georgia Championship Wrestling, and the years of success in the course of the territory system.

Now there are new “territories” in wrestling, so to talk. The game is extra world that at any level in historical past, with unparalleled cross-promotion between totally different wrestling firms worldwide. For AEW it’s two largest agreements are with CMLL in Mexico, and New Japan Professional Wrestling (NJPW). I requested whether or not these agreements may result in a multi-promotion title being established to really crown a unified “world champion” of wrestling.

“We’re getting into a brand new part of our partnership with New Japan Professional Wrestling on the verge of Wrestle Dynasty. So there’s likelihood there I feel to deepen the partnership between AEW and NJPW and strengthen it. We’ve received an awesome likelihood to construct on the success of Forbidden Door and develop a brand new three way partnership at Wrestle Dynasty that could be a nice praise to Wrestle Kingdom. It ought to make for a wonderful two nights of wrestling on the Tokyo Dome.”

Together with this massive worldwide enterprise comes a large shift to AEW’s pay-per-view slate in 2025, with its largest stadium present “All In” shifting from London’s Wembley Stadium to Globe Life Area in Arlington, Texas — residence of the Texas Rangers. It will likely be the primary AEW present to happen in a baseball stadium, and I requested Khan how that may change the character of the present.

“AEW All In is greater than a tentpole for us. I feel it’s a large wrestling establishment. We launched it to nice success in London, and I’m excited to carry that to Arlington, Texas on July 12, 2025. Tickets are on sale now, and it’s a large enterprise. It’s been a long time since any various wrestling promotion has tried to run a significant stadium present in a baseball or soccer stadium. That’s what we’re going to attempt right here, and I feel it’s a really daring play that can be rewarded.”

There are numerous issues to nonetheless work on for AEW. Even ardent followers have been crucial of the corporate’s storytelling proper now, and are ready to see how key skills are built-in again into the roster after struggling important accidents which have brought on them to overlook time.

The hope is that with the media rights deal now finished AEW can return to focus extra on the artistic aspect of their enterprise, and that may take their programming past unbelievable in-ring performances and make it a extra well-rounded firm.

One factor is for certain: AEW is on the verge of turning into the longest-running wrestling TV present that isn’t WWE. With 20 extra episodes AEW Dynamite will surpass WCW Monday Nitro for many episodes from a non-WWE present. There are challenges alongside the best way, however Tony Khan and AEW are prepared for no matter comes subsequent.