During a media conference call on Thursday, to promote this Sunday’s Revolution pay-per-view, AEW CEO Tony Khan spoke about several AEW topics.
You can check out some highlights from the media call below:
- On AEW recently launching their new MyAEW Fast channel and if that could be used in the future domestically due to the uncertainty surrounding Paramount’s acquisition deal for Warner Bros Discovey: “The lifeblood of AEW is our relationship with Warner Brothers Discovery. Pay-per-view is a huge part of our business, TV and pay-per-view. The bulk of the revenue that allows us to run AEW and build the best wrestling roster in the world and put on great events is the TV and PPV contract with Warner Brothers Discovery, which is a fantastic relationship and I’m very excited about what is happening there. I have great relationships all around with everybody involved I’m very excited about the future landscape of media and Warner Brothers. I have a great relationship with Paramount through the National Football League. I think the world of David Ellison and feel I have a good relationship with him as well. I’m excited about the future of Warner Brothers.“
- On Paramount’s acquisition deal for WBD: “I think it will be huge for AEW because we know we’re going to be with TBS and TNT for a significant period of time already, and I expect to be with them for a long time to come. TBS, TNT, and HBO Max now have a very secure future and there are lots of other platforms coming under the corporate umbrella, which I’m very excited about. There are tons of sports that exist on these platforms. I would love to be on the same channel as the UFC. I have a great relationship with Dana White and Hunter Campbell. While their sister promotion is also in pro wrestling and is of a competitive nature there, on my behalf, I would love to be on the same channel as UFC. If it was up to me, and certainly these are all things that have to be worked out in the future with leadership, but I would love that. There has never been an opportunity to have AEW on a platform that carries the National Football League. Every AEW TV show has been, and I hope will continue to be, associated with Warner Brothers and through the partnership, but absolutely also bring in CBS and all the exciting things this could bring with the new sports division as well. I am thrilled AEW is going to have a chance to be part of the media company that carries so many great NFL games. The prospect of having AEW under the same sports umbrella as the NFL for the first time ever is something I am very excited about potentially happening.”
- On Samoa Joe suffering a non-contact injury this past January and his recovery progress, Khan stated that he is currently optimistic that Joe will return very soon. Khan also did not confirm if Joe has been in AEW’s concussion protocol nor if his injuries were concussion-related.
- On Brody King’s anti-ICE views: “Well, Brody King is one of our top stars. I’m very excited for the Brody King versus Swerve Strickland match at AEW Revolution this Sunday. Brody King has built a great reputation in the world of professional wrestling as a top star. He’s won championships here in AEW, been a multiple-time world champion here and has competed in other promotions and been associated with other media… He is a fantastic wrestler and also, as I’ve said before, he has strong personal views. The views that Brody expresses, that’s coming from him from the heart, and one of the things about AEW is you’ll hear people be and express their really authentic self and it comes across in the wrestling… Brody has absolutely gotten a lot of attention and he’s also a great wrestler, so, I think we’ve always put the focus on the sport because it’s a wrestling league and I think the individual views of the wrestlers, it’s good for people to be able to express themselves but also it’s great that Brody has great support from the fans all over the world everywhere we’ve gone… Whether it’s the U.S., Canada, Mexico, the U.K., Australia. So many places we’ve taken AEW and there’s great support for Brody everywhere we’ve been, and I’m sure there will continue to be because he’s a fantastic wrestler.”
Source: Fightful.com, F4WOnline.com
