AEW: Tony Khan Gives Update on New Media Rights Deal Talks, Bryan Danielson on His Men’s Owen Hart Cup Victory, Chris Jericho on His Wrestling Career Future

Jul 11, 2024

Tony Khan Provides Update on Status of AEW’s Talks for New Media Rights Deal

SportsGrid held a recent interview with AEW CEO Tony Khan. One of the topics discussed included Khan providing an update on the current status of AEW’s talks for a new media rights contract.

“It’s going to be a huge thing. It will mean that all the investment into AEW has more than paid off. It will mean a very secure future for AEW for a very long time to come. We’re going to get a great media rights deal, we’re having great conversations here, and we have a great home at Warner Brothers Discovery. I was really pleased they want us to stay and they made us great offers and we’re having great conversations now. With five hours of wrestling every week and streaming, there are all kinds of things to talk about. It’s really exciting for the future of AEW.”

Khan also gave his thoughts about the possibility of AEW Rampage or Collision being moved to a different night depending on what happens with the NBA on TNT.

“We’d have to look at that. These are all kinds of interesting things we can talk about. Some things we are talking about. There is a lot to be figured out there. The last thing I can do is speculate on what the future of the NBA is. I’m in no position to say what their future is. It’s something everybody is going to be watching very closely. Warner Brothers Discovery has been great to us and have also been very savvy about acquiring sports media rights. It was really brilliant to sublicense the college football playoff games. That’s going to add even more viewers to TNT and it brings in events that are going to do some of the biggest audiences outside of the NFL.”

Transcript h/t: Fightful.com

Bryan Danielson Comments on His Men’s Owen Hart Cup Tournament Victory

Wednesday’s AEW Dynamite show in Calgary, Alberta, Canada featured Bryan Danielson defeating Hangman Adam Page in the Finals of the Men’s Owen Hart Foundation Cup to become the winner of this year’s tournament.

Following the match, AEW held a digital exclusive backstage interview with Danielson about his thoughts about his victory to win this year’s Men’s Owen Hart Cup tournament.

“It’s incredible. The emotion you get with something like that, it’s unlike anything else. What it means, what it means to me as a person, what it means…fuck, fuck. Sorry, the pain down my arm is just a little too intense right now. Fuck. Breathe, breathe, breathe. That’s what I meditate. I’ve got these shooting pains down my arms, and sometimes it gets a little uncomfortable, but you learn to do hard things when you’re uncomfortable. When I think of that, of winning the Owen Hart Memorial Tournament and what it means, going to the main event of Wembley at All In, I’m proud of what I did out there. A lot of this, I’m proud of winning the Owen because Owen Hart meant so much to professional wrestling. He meant so much, as far as what it means to be a father in professional wrestling, what it means to put your family first. That’s what Owen Hart means. But then also as Martha [Hart] was shaking my hand and giving me the trophy, we call this the Owen Hart Memorial Foundation Tournament, but I’m just as proud to shake her hand because what she’s done as a mother, all on her own, and raised those kids and started the Owen Hart Memorial Foundation and all the good things that she’s done, getting her doctorate, the people that her children have become, that’s inspiring to me. That, not because I can’t handle it anymore, not because I’m not good enough, that, because I want to be the type of parent that Martha Hart is. That’s why I’m stopping full-time wrestling. But one of the things that I wanna do before I go, this is important to me. This why I’m doing this. Everybody needs a fucking why, and this is my fucking why. I’m not going out because I can’t do this anymore. I wants to show my kids and my family that I can be the best in the motherfucking world, and I’m not stopping because I can’t hang anymore. I’m stopping because I love my family so much. We talk about Owen Hart. Tonight, I’m talking about Martha Hart. That’s the kind of parent I want to be, and that’s what this represents.”

Transcript h/t: Fightful.com

Chris Jericho on Future of His Wrestling Career & Not Thinking About Retirement Plans

A recent episode of the McGuire on Wrestling podcast featured Chris Jericho as the guest. One of the topics discussed included Jericho’s thoughts about the future of his wrestling career and not currently having any retirement plans.

“I’ll know when it’s time, you know? I’m really enjoying what I’m doing, I’m still contributing at a high level. I can still have the best match on the show on any given night. Not every night, but any given night. And I just really love what we’re doing with AEW right now, so there’s really no rush on that. When I know, I’ll know. I think that’s kind of the best way to put it. And for right now, I’m having too much fun and enjoying it and really enjoying building AEW. Just five years in, we’re already gone so far and have so much further to go on the highest of levels. So from that standpoint, we’ll see. And as of right now, as long as I’m having fun and enjoying myself and feeling good in the ring and out, there’s no reason to stop.”

Transcript h/t: PostWrestling.com