Tony Khan isn't going to stand by and listen to fan criticism of AEW, especially if the 'criticism' is entirely "disingenuous." Sitting down with Iridian Fierro for WGN Radio, Khan said that while fans often give good feedback on his shows, there are plenty of examples when that isn't the case.
"Sometimes, if it’s disingenuous, there’s nothing you can do. Sometimes it’s fans of a different promotion that don’t really have anything positive to say.
One such example Khan brought up was AEW's two All In: London events, as the attendance figure for the 2023 show came under scrutiny. Whether it was the initially announced 81,035 or the 73,000 figure many now believe, Khan finds it "insane" that some 'fans' see this as anything but a roaring success for his brand.
That’s more people than were at the Mike Tyson/Jake Paul fight, and people were trying to say that, like, it was a bad number for AEW.
Tony Khan Talks AEW’s Max Streaming Deal, Media Landscape
Other Interview Highlights
Khan broached many topics on AEW during the interview, including:
- Khan is excited to use the song November Rain to recap stories heading into Full Gear. He pointed out that while ECW used the song, AEW is the first wrestling promotion to have the rights to the song and does things "by the book."
- Fans can expect an exciting time when AEW comes to the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York. The legendary arena, which hosted ECW events, will also host ROH Final Battle 2024.
- Khan spoke highly of Chicago and spoke of AEW's connection to the city. He said it's "very fitting that we keep coming back here to this great city."
