Tony Khan AEW Dynasty notes: TNA blocks, Kyle Fletcher injury, Chris Jericho, WWE purchase interest
During a media call on Thursday, AEW head Tony Khan openly discussed his 2023 bid to buy WWE in addition to his thoughts on the recent blocks of talent by TNA Wrestling in addition to the re-signing of Chris Jericho and Kyle Fletcher’s injury.
We will have audio available later on today.
TNA
Asked for a comment about TNA pulling talent from matches with MJF and Ricochet, Khan said he approved both the matches they were involved in, and put over his partnerships with NJPW and CMLL as he loves collaboration. He said he “was surprised to see those matches were changed as a result of the other company not wanting them involved” as they were previously agreed upon.
Kyle Fletcher’s injury
Khan said Fletcher’s recent injury affected plans for several shows including Dynasty in addition to other TNT title defenses he had planned. Khan said he has taken a half-full approach to the injury as there is also a lot of positivity. Fletcher is expected out months and not a year or anything like that, according to Khan who hopes he’ll be back for All In London.
“That’s a goal and realistic based on the timeline,” Khan said.
Chris Jericho’s return
Khan was asked about any details with Jericho’s new contract to which he simply said it was a multi-year deal, that he wanted Jericho back in AEW, and that Jericho had a lot of options from around the world of wrestling.
Asked about whether Jericho wanted to return to the ring at Dynasty a year after he left, Khan said 100%. He said they had talked and Jericho wanted to return on TV at Winnipeg and back in the ring at the PPV.
Potentially buying WWE in 2023
Asked for a follow-up to his comments about not being able to live with himself if he didn’t bid for WWE, Khan said he felt it was an interesting opportunity in the market but that he was flying blind compared to others given the restrictions like not getting access to the data room, but understands why they left him out.
But, he said that made it challenging for him to do more than anyone else would and his bid was based on the stock market rather than the same info other bidders were getting.
Later asked about any other insight on what his plan would have been if he had acquired WWE, Khan said there was a lot of intriguing things happening at the time (2023) and there was a lot of free agent pursuits like Okada, Mone and Ospreay. He was focused on AEW, but cognizant of the process. He would have kicked himself if he didn’t get involved, but all he could do was bid with the stock market as that’s all the information he was provided (no data room, etc).
“Given our position and the opportunity and partners we work with, he thought it was an opportunity worth exploring,” he said.
Other Notes:
- Khan says that Spring BreakThru editions of Dynamite and Collision will be returning next week after all.
- He stopped short of saying there was interest in a potential collaboration with JCW, only saying that some wrestlers have worked in both companies and that they are a cool company.
- Asked if more Joshi talent will be used in Toni Storm’s absence, Khan said Yuka Sakazaki will be in an ROH Survival of the Fittest qualifying match and that Hikaru Shida will team with Kris Statlander this Saturday on Collision. He said they will work with Stardom this summer on events including Forbidden Door.
- Asked if he is considering the Camping World Stadium in Orlando for an event since the Jacksonville Jaguars will be playing there in 2027 due to renovations, Khan said it’s a great thought but one he had never considered it until getting that question.
Since 2011, Josh has been a contributing editor to Wrestling Observer/F4WOnline.com and also hosts the Punch-Out podcast. He has also written for Fight Magazine, Bloody Elbow, Bleacher Report, and other websites. He's a 2000 graduate of the University of Maine, worked in pro sports, and once was an indie ring announcer.