AEW Worlds End Post-Show Media Scrum: WB Games Partnership, Chris Jericho Sexual Harassment Allegations, Attendance & PPV Buys, Andrade El Idolo, MJF

AEW held a post-show media scrum following Saturday’s AEW Worlds End event in Uniondale, New York.

Some of the notable highlights included:

• During his portion of the media call, Samoa Joe stated that he considers holding the AEW World Championship as an accolade and is just getting starting. Joe also stated that he is excited about what is to come for his title reign and called out Swerve Strickland as a potential future opponent.
• On the topic of the AEW World Championship, Joe stated that he already had talks with AEW CEO Tony Khan to get a new belt design made since the “Triple B” one is going into the trash, Joe stated “This [Triple B AEW World Title] is going in the garbage, don’t worry about that. This trash right here, this little knockoff, BS Gucci stuff that he has going on, this is going away. We’re getting the good belt, the right belt, something that is designed well. I’ve spoken with Tony intensively about it and we’re very much looking forward to it. We have a whole new era we’re starting.“
• Joe also announced that AEW and WB Games have signed a partnership for WB Games’ upcoming new Suicide Squad game. Joe stated “I’m here to announce we’re starting our partnership with WB Games. Suicide Squad: Kill The Justice League, starring myself, we are definitely in some cross-promotion with them, game coming out at the end of January. We have some big things coming up with that. Warner Brothers is crazy, they finally have a champion they can show to the world with pride and respect. Everything is really fantastic right now. I cannot wait for all the wonderful promotional opportunities and the tons of money I’m going to make, y’all get to watch. It’s going to be fantastic. I’m going to make a lot of money. I’m not going to share with any of y’all, but it’s going to be fun to watch me spend.“
• During her portion of the media call, Toni Storm mostly acted in character and mentioned Wendi Richter when asked who she would want to face for her AEW Women’s World Championship. Tony Khan responded stating that he will be very active in signing women in 2024 and has “many cards up his sleeve.”
• During her portion of the media call, Julia Hart was asked about people’s opinions of her. Hart stated that the only opinions she cares about is what Khan and herself think. Hart stated that if Khan says she is doing a good job then that is all that matters in her mind.
• During Hart’s portion of the media call, Khan was asked for his response regarding his concerns over sexual harassment in the pro wrestling industry and what Khan was doing to combat it. This question was in reference to the recent statements made by Haus of Wrestling’s Nick Hausman who claimed that Chris Jericho committed past sexual harassment towards former AEW talent Kylie Rae during Rae’s time in the company and compared Jericho to infamous film producer Harvey Weinstein. Khan stated “I think it applies to everyone in the company, women and men, and it’s something we’re very serious about and we’ve had a policy in place and certainly, anytime there is anything like that, we would make sure we do everything we can to prevent it. AEW has the best safety record, I believe, of any pro wrestling company in the world. I believe we have the most safe environment. I believe we have the best safety record of any pro wrestling company, and I would hold the record of AEW on safety against any wrestling company in the world and I think AEW is the safest place for pro wrestling. If any of our wrestlers ever have a concern, they always have an open line to talk to me and I believe anybody would sit here and tell you, they always can talk to me anytime they are concerned about anything. If there was anything that came to light to me, I would take it to the disciplinary committee and that’s how we’ve been doing it. Our disciplinary committee has been doing a great job and everybody knows they have an open line to me or anybody on that committee.“
• During his portion of the media scrum, Swerve Strickland gave his thoughts about his long awaited singles match with Keith Lee being pulled from Worlds End due to Lee’s injury situation. Strickland stated that while it was quite unfortunate, he is tired of waiting and now wants some gold in AEW.
• On the topic of his choice for a potential opponent at AEW All In 2 next year, Strickland mentioned Bryan Danielson as someone he would like to face in a match for the event.
• During his portion of the media scrum, Daniel Garcia gave his thoughts about his contract expiring at the end of next year. Garcia stated that he wants to prove that he can be an asset in AEW and someone that the company can build around for its future.
• During this same portion, Khan was asked about why people like Garcia and Strickland are current not among the playable roster for AEW’s Fight Forever video game. Khan stated that they will continue to add more playable stars via future DLC packs and the game will continue to receive support for the foreseeable future.
• During his portion of the media call, Khan stated that the attendance for Worlds End was somewhere between 9,500 to 10,000 but closer towards the 10,000 number.
• On the topic of early numbers for the pay-per-view buys for Worlds End, Khan stated that Worlds End is currently estimated to finish around what last month’s Full Gear 2023 event did for buys. Khan also stated that this was the biggest year AEW has ever done with PPV buys which he attributes to them running more PPV events going from five last year to eight this year.
• On the topic of the recent high level executive departures from AEW, Khan stated “What a way to finish your five-year run in AEW with a sell out, Rafael Morffi, who has been our head of live events for five years. He left on the highest of high notes with a home town sell out in New York. He’s been a huge part of AEW too. Whether it was New York or all across the world, Raf has been a huge part of the growth of AEW from day one and for five years I’ve been lucky to work beside Rafael and he’s taken on a new position outside of pro wrestling as another great venue, and they’ll be very fortunate to have him. I’ll miss him very much, we all will.” Khan also praised both QT Marshall for his work helping put together shows and Dana Maisse for her work and being one of the first people who helped make AEW become a reality.
• On the topic of the reports of Andrade El Idolo’s departing from AEW after Worlds End, Khan stated “Somebody who has not been with us the entire five years, but they’ve been with us about half the time, and they’ve been outstanding and somebody I really respect, and I don’t expect to see necessarily, as it stands right now, renewing the contract, but somebody that I have a great amount of respect for and would be parting on good terms and was tremendous and was here and did wrestle tonight was Andrade El Idolo. Andrade El Idolo’s contract is up at the end of the year, we’ve had great talks. I have a ton of respect for Andrade El Idolo, he’s been a huge performer in the Continental Classic. I wanted to keep him involved at the top, and if had been able to reach an agreement, certainly he would be somebody we would slot in in a prominent position. I think we did everything we could to show Andrade El Idolo that we do value him, and this last run he’s had in recent months has been tremendous. If this is the way he’s going to leave AEW, talk about leaving on a high note.“
• During this portion of the media scrum, Khan was asked again regarding issues of sexual harassment within the wrestling industry and Chris Jericho’s name being specifically brought up. Khan stated “I can’t speak to internet and unsourced rumors. I spoke earlier to Kevin and mentioned the policy we have in place and the disciplinary process. We’ve always followed that and I believe is the safest wrestling company in the world and we have the best track record for safety, and I would hold it up to anybody and anytime anybody has any kind of a complaint, they have an open door to say it to me or anyone in the office and we would look into it, anytime.” Khan was asked a third time later during his portion of the media scrum stating “I can’t speak to that. We have a disciplinary policy, we have a disciplinary committee that things are referred to. Everybody at AEW, anybody who has ever wrestled in AEW has an open line to talk to me or this group, and always has. That’s how we’ve always acted and that’s why I believe AEW has the safest environment and is the safest place in pro wrestling and it’s why AEW has the best safety record in wrestling. I believe we maintain that.“
• On the topic of MJF’s future with AEW and if he has signed a new deal, Khan stated that is something he can not talk about but is grateful for everything MJF has done for the company.
• On the topic of AEW potentially expanding their PPV schedule in the future, Khan gave mostly a non-answer and stated that AEW’s next PPV event will be Revolution 2024 this March.

Full AEW Worlds End post-show media scrum video:

Source: F4WOnline.com, Fightful.com 1, 2, 3, & 4