AEW: Tony Khan on Not Wanting to Disappoint Fans with AEW Big Business, Kevin Kelly Firing Update, Will Ospreay on Signing with AEW Over WWE

Mar 13, 2024

Tony Khan Comments on Not Wanting to Disappoint Fans with AEW’s Big Business Show

TV Insider held a recent interview with AEW CEO Tony Khan to promote tonight’s AEW Dynamite Big Business show. One of the topics discussed included Khan’s thoughts about not wanting to disappoint the fans with tonight’s Big Business special.

“Of course. I promise I will not disappoint the fans tonight. There has been an influx of huge names, and tonight is the biggest show yet.
When we launched AEW, it was the first time in many years that so many resources and such a strong roster of wrestlers have come together to form a new challenger promotion. After five years, AEW is now stronger than ever before. Our roster continues to get deeper and better. This has become a popular destination that top stars seek out. This is the perfect time to continue expanding and growing. That is what tonight is all about. AEW Big Business. With such a strong group of wrestlers in AEW today, we’ve come so far from the beginning of 2019.
Now we have what I believe is the best roster in pro wrestling today. There are still so many great stars out there we are always looking to add and strengthen the group. I think we will continue to try to strengthen whenever we can add someone’s skills to make AEW better. I think that constant innovation and the perpetual strides toward always wanting to get better are a big part of the spirit of AEW. I think tonight’s Big Business show on TBS will showcase that innovation and fighting spirit.”

Kevin Kelly’s Firing from AEW Update

As noted before, Kevin Kelly was recently fired from AEW over issues related to a recent online incident involving Kelly accusing AEW and ROH commentator Ian Riccaboni committing libel against him. Besides the online incident, AEW officials had also not been happy with Kelly’s quality of work as a commentator for the company.

TV Insider held a recent interview with AEW CEO Tony Khan. One of the topics discussed included Khan’s thoughts about Kelly’s status with the company and the reports about him being fired.

“I prefer not to comment on that, but I appreciate you asking.”

Will Ospreay on His Decision to Sign with AEW Over WWE

A recent episode of the Talk Is Jericho podcast featured Will Ospreay as the guest. One of the topics discussed included Ospreay’s thoughts about his reasons for signing with AEW over WWE.

“Main thing was cause I wanted to be in the UK. I know I’m not going to be exactly comfortable moving to another country. I moved to Japan back in 2019, and as much as I loved it, it just wasn’t home.
We have a stepson now, or she has a son, I have a stepson now, and he just started school.
If you know (Windsor’s) story and anything that she’s been through…the UK scene kind of knows it but she lost her husband. And having to pick herself up from that and having to be a mom, a single mom, to losing her husband, it’s going to have some tolls on you. So, (we) need to be around her family, need to be around her friends and her social circle.
I couldn’t bare the thought of moving her away from all that and having her on her own again. So for me the main priortity was to stay in the UK but to also… I want to up the wrestling now because I’d done everything in New Japan, like I completed it.
The viable option was where was I happy and what was I doing and every time I came here Tony has given me nothing but trust and respect the moment I came in here. It was the right decision for me like at this time. So, I’m happy here and I’m looking forward to the challenges. It’s the right decision.
For example, if (there is) a PPV, there’s no point in me going home. So, Dynamite Wednesday I’ll stay, maybe there’s a Collision on the Saturday, I’ll stay for that, then PPV Sunday and I’ll stay for the next Dynamite and then I’ll go home then.
I have no problems staying in hotels, that’s what I’d do when I was over in Japan. Worst case scenario, I can go over to Kyle and Skye’s. They owe me, they lived at my house back in 2021 so I’ll just stay with them.”

Ospreay also gave his thoughts about if he had any talks with WWE prior to his signing with AEW.

“It was night and day even in differences of what they were offering and what AEW was offering, AEW was way better, like the scheduling, like everything about AEW was completely the right option for me.
It was almost kind of like, you can go be a superstar in WWE and famous but it’s not as good of pay and it’s not as kind of a schedule. I respect everyone there doing it but it’s just not for me.”

Ospreay also gave his thoughts about what he had learned from his time with New Japan Pro Wrestling.

“Walking into Japan and barely knowing English, bruv. Going to Japan and not knowing a single bit of the language, it’s daunting and it’s scary but I found my footing in there very soon. Up and down, made a bunch of mistakes over there, but what a place to just grow up in and just to learn about who I am as a man and learning etiquette and manners and how to be part of a team. I couldn’t ask for a better introduction into the pro-wrestling business. They were so nice to me.”

Transcript h/t: F4WOnline.com