Before AEW takes to the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada on Sunday night, Tony Khan appeared in a media call to answer questions that the press has surrounding the promotion’s past few weeks.
During the hour-long conversation, Khan touched on All Out 2024 being moved, their plans with multi-week residencies for events in the future, Mark Henry’s AEW contract, Khan’s own recent appearances on TV, and much more.
Here are the notes:
- Khan was asked about a report that stated Mark Henry’s contract as an on-screen personality for AEW was expiring soon. He expressed enthusiasm for Henry as a media character for the promotion and said that they need to look at his contract.
- Khan was asked about the recent deal that AEW struck with Arlington, Texas to hold a five-week stretch of Collision TV tapings at the city’s “Esport Stadium” venue. He called the residency deal with Arlington “unique,” although he is open to similar opportunities opening up in different locations who are interested in a similar agreement.
- He praised Serena Deeb’s comeback and said that the Willow Nightingale and Mercedes Moné match on Sunday will be a big part of the duo’s rivalry.
- When asked about his on-screen appearances as part of The Elite’s recent takeover of AEW, Khan further insisted that he should not receive too much TV time so as to not take the spotlight away from other talent.
- Khan shut down the idea of heading to the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas instead of the MGM Grand Garden Arena, weighing the significance of returning to the same venue that AEW’s first show was. “I think T-Mobile is a great arena, great venue. I think MGM Grand represents the very beginning of AEW. It’s where we launched and where this whole thing began,” he said.
- Khan said that Darby Allin requested to replace Eddie Kingston in the Anarchy in the Arena match before he was able to even ask him. “Before I asked the question he answered it,” Khan said, laughing. He reiterated that Allin wasn’t going to be given the spot unless he was medically cleared to participate.
- When asked about the recent decision to delay All Out 2024 by a week, preventing it from being just one weekend removed from All In 2024 at Wembley Stadium, Khan cited a more competitive Labor Day market. He mentioned that the show was moved from a Sunday to a Saturday also to avoid competing with NFL’s opening week.
- The discussion of TV rights came up, allowing Khan to give credit to Warner-Bros Discovery’s David Zaslav. He said that the addition of Collision on Saturdays has been a positive and that the company will still have a strong sports offering even if NBA departs their lineup, as has been reported as of late.
- Khan thanked media for covering AEW as the call wrapped up.
