Tony Khan on AEW-WCW Comparisons, Cody Rhodes’ Departure, Paige VanZant, Trying to Keep AEW’s Roster Happy, More

A recent episode of Fightful’s Grapsody podcast had AEW CEO Tony Khan as the guest. One of the topics discussed included Khan’s thoughts on fans online comparing AEW to WCW.

“I think the reason people want to compare the two companies most of all is we’re the only two wrestling companies there’s been on TBS and TNT and we both aired on TBS and TNT. There are some people that have worked in both companies. I think Sting is an important face of both companies. Tony Schiavone and Jim Ross have been voices to both of those companies.

But [AEW and WCW] are very different and a lot of the reasons that one, WCW, would go away or go out of business aren’t really realistic business concerns for AEW because it’s not a company owned by a network or even really a media property. It’s a family business owned and operated and run by me and I love wrestling. I’m not going anywhere.”

Khan also gave his thoughts on the relaunch of Ring of Honor’s HonorClub streaming service. Khan also stated that the service has already reached a new all-time high in subscribers since its relaunch.

“Honor Club, with really just the historical library relaunch, without putting new content going up every week yet, based on people watching the archive library, we’ve already hit the all-time high in subscribers to the Honor Club in just weeks. And once the TV launches and once Final Battle goes up on that 90 day archive, t’s been a few weeks since Final Battle so now, what is it maybe 10 or 11 weeks until it goes up on the service and I’ll be announcing the start of the weekly Ring of Honor series.”

On the topic of Chris Jericho’s recent reign as ROH World Champion, Khan stated:

“People really dug the Ocho and it did great ratings for us multiple times. Claudio and Chris kicked off Grand Slam and that was the first of the Ocho reign. Chris had eight matches in that and he won the Ring of Honor World title from Claudio and Claudio won it back in the eight match of Chris’ eighth World title reign.

I think [Jericho’s match with] Ishii was not only a classic match, in my opinion a five-star match and one of the best main events in the history of AEW. Also, it was a big ratings success for us.

Chris versus Bryan [Danielson] in Toronto, a huge success for us.”

On the topic of Cody Rhodes’ departure from AEW earlier this year, Khan stated:

“Whenever you lose a star the caliber of Cody Rhodes, it’s going to be a major impact on your company and it’s going to affect a number of different departments and a number of different things in terms of the presentation and the backstage. Personally, I really like Cody and I know Cody really well and I think that in the time he was here, he was so involved in so many different facets of the start of AEW and what we were.

When he left it was a major challenge. Going into Revolution, we had so many great stories I think it really helped us and helped keep us strong that people were so invested in what was happening in AEW at the time.

Around the time of when Cody did leave Jon Moxley came back and that was a big help to us.”

Khan also gave his thoughts on Paige VanZant’s current status with AEW and his interest for her potential return in the future.

“Paige VanZant makes a lot of money and commands a big dollar-figure but I’m also very interested in that.

We would love to have her back. [She] has a great attitude, did great in the match. With the right fight and the right opponent, yes, I would love that.”

On the topic of trying to make everyone on AEW’s roster happy in the company, Khan stated:

“You’re never going to keep everybody happy and you have to focus on that.

There are dozens of wrestlers featured throughout Dynamite and Rampage every week and throughout those three hours you see lots of names but there’s also dozens of names in AEW you aren’t seeing every week and sometimes they are silent about that. And there’s a reason, sometimes there’s a reason, somebody’s hurt, working on another project, somebody’s being repackaged or, you know, frankly there’s just not enough slots in three hours.

On other sports teams you don’t see it as much. It’s not really common in the NFL for the backup quarterback to slate the coach because he’s not playing. It’s not really common in the NBA for the backup point guard to slate the coach because he’s not getting minutes.

It’s okay, I understand everybody wants to wrestle and everybody wants to do things.”

On the topic of the upcoming visual changes to AEW’s weekly Dynamite shows starting this January, Khan stated:

“The wrestling is going to be the same great wrestlers and the same great fans, but it’s in a new city, Seattle, and the look, the changes to the set, and the presentation are going to be changes that we’re going to keep. I’m really looking forward to the new look for the show. I find, in wrestling, when you overpromise, you can disappoint people. It’s a set and a presentation. At the end of the day, the most important thing is what the fans bring, what the wrestlers and the staff of AEW and the crew bring every week, but the look of the show is important too and it’s going to look really cool.”

Khan also gave his thoughts about Jonathan Gresham’s current status in AEW and ROH.

“I think Jonathan Gresham signed with IMPACT recently …

I would be remiss if I didn’t say that I like Jonathan Gresham and I like IMPACT, and I think that’s great. And it’s good for him to have a good opportunity there, and it’s good for them to have a great wrestler there.”

Full interview video:

Transcript h/t: F4WOnline.com, Fightful.com, WrestlingInc.com