this post was submitted on 26 Sep 2023
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This is the backup community for SquaredCircle on Lemmy.zip! Come discuss pro wrestling! Any company or era is welcome. (Our main community on Lemmy.zip) **Please direct conversations towards our main community as it is more active and this spot is intended for 'emergency' purposes.**

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  • Tony is asked about Jade Cargill, and his thoughts about her moving on to WWE. Tony said it was great having her in AEW and she is always welcome here. Says she had a great run with them, and says she has a great future.
  • Tony Khan says Antonio Inoki's family will be in attendance at the PPV Sunday.
  • Khan said he's never said they will move to one PPV a month, but if there's ever a time to add a show like WrestleDream, it's now. He feels their last three PPVs is best run of three consecutive PPVs they have ever done. Tony has that he is open to putting AEW events on a streaming platform. Says that they are close to the end of their current media deal, and says that it would be part of a new media rights package and it would be something that he would like to do.
  • Tony says that they will continue to add more events but again says he never said he would do them every month... 8, 9, or 10, he doesn't know. But says that the top choice or a streaming service would be MAX. Talks about their relationship with Warner. Says that they have built AEW to the point that that is a big fanbase for their events.
  • Tony is asked about the injury to Adam Cole at Grand Slam, and the upcoming match at WrestleDream against The Righteous. Tony says that the match is still currently slated for the event. He says that they will address Adam Cole's status tomorrow on Dynamite.
  • SRS asks Tony about the rumors that he is purchasing NJPW. Tony says that it is good that WrestleDream has created a lot of speculation. But he says he is surprised when he heard the rumor, and says that overall he is pleased with working with NJPW and their partnership. Talks about all the times they have worked together over the past couple years, and says that he wants to continue their partnership. and says that he was surprised by the speculation.
  • Tony Khan says he had 3 shirts in rotation when he was 13 years old. Taz, Darth Vader, Wrestling Peace Festival shirt. Says he's really excited to honor Antonio Inoki at WrestleDream. Even as the wrestling world has changed, there are still some of the same players in the game that were there 25 years ago. October 1st is the one year anniversary of his passing, and he really wants to make this special. When he heard of his passing, he immediately filed the date away as a future show specifically to honor him.
  • Tony is asked about the "end of an era" comment, and is again asked about potentially buying a promotion. Tony says that he isn't going to clarify the comments, that the speculation is great. Talks about the rumor of buying a promotion and asks where that first started. Tony then pivots to hyping up the accomplishments of AEW this year. Says that this is their most adventurous year, says he wants to keep doing adventurous things. Says that this year they have built their reputation in a strong way. Talks about the credibility of their shows, saying they're doing great things. Talks about criticism of their program, by talking about how great the shows they are they've put on. Talks injuries, and how you have to gameplan for how some of our players get knocked out of the game. Says he is happy for what they are doing right now. He said that without spilling the beans, Sunday will start a new era.
  • Tony is asked about the match between Kingston and Shibata. Says it's a dream match. He continues to hype the match, talking about the championships they both hold, and their history together teaming together recently. Talks about Eddie's love for wrestling and intensity. Talks about how Shibata projects the same just in a different way. Continues to hype the match this weekend.
  • Tony Khan says he owns 100% of the voting stock in AEW, as well as 100% of the business making in the company. Says they have a great deal with WBD. Would like to have an even longer agreement of course, but that's something between them. Says, them having a piece or bigger piece is something he's open to, but he wants to maintain him having the voting stake, as well as the super majority of the stock for AEW. Says he's open to discussion from WBD, but while he's open to additional investment, he's not interested in a change of control in AEW.
  • Tony Khan says Wardlow is a great star for AEW, and is one of the best TNT champions they've had. He says Wardlow will surely be back on AEW TV when the time is right, that he's still very much a part of what they're doing with AEW.
  • Tony is asked about ROH titles appearing on AEW TV, and if there is going to be a brand separation or if we will continue to see wrestlers going back and forth. Tony talks about the added star power with The Hung Bucks holding the six-man titles. Says that ROH is the strongest it has ever been and is night and day better than it was 4 years ago. He says that we will see more of the top stars appearing on the ROH show now that they have the titles. Hypes Shibata's appearances on ROH. Talks about Athena and the work she is doing with Billie Starkz. He talks about the great champions that have held ROH titles. Puts over Claudio and his title reign. Puts over Gates of Agony and the Mogul Embassy and how they have come from the first show. Says he made the switch to Nana because Tully didn't come to the event (Death Before Dishonor 2022), so that was the end of their run together. Continues to put over Cage and the Gates of Agony.
  • Tony Khan on Julia Hart: "Julia is someone who's been with us since Daily's Place. It's crazy to think of how young she is, she was a teenager when she came to us in AEW. There are a lot of great stars who came out of that Daily's Place era. It really showed that we could have a great developmental place with Daily's, we've seen this with top stars like The Acclaimed, Powerhouse Hobbs, and Julia Hart. These are all people who were with us wrestling on Dark, Elevation, through the different shows in the pandemic, and they all came out better than when they came in. Julia Hart is a pleasure to work with. She's a gifted athlete, she has a lot of great ideas, and she always shows up. The cheerleader gimmick was initially her idea, and she was great with it. But when the opportunity came up for her to join House of Black, she really ran with it. She's gone a year and half undefeated (26 match winning streak!), and has a big match on Dynamite tomorrow (with Willow Nightingale). Kris Statlander is the last person to beat Julia Hart (in April 2022). Julia was in the middle of a major transition in her persona at the time. She was still a cheerleader, but was wearing the eye patch, and beginning the next phase of her career. Now, she's become a top star. I really love working with Julia, and now she's facing Kris Statlander for the TBS Championship."
  • Tony Khan on MJF's heel/face dynamic: "MJF is, as it stands right now, is one of the true fan favorites. It hasn't changed who he is at his core necessarily, as he says, he may be a scumbag, but he's OUR scumbag. He's the MJF we've always known, and we've loved to hate. We don't have to hate him now, because he's our scumbag. Better Than You Bay Bay have sold an ungodly amount of merchandise, and has done great numbers for them. They're absolutely top stars, and a fan favorite."
  • Khan said they would love to have Rob Van Dam back anytime he is available and when it makes sense.
  • Asked about whether Fox could be a player for AEW rights, Khan said it wasn't the right time to talk about that. He reiterates how much he loves WBD and hopes they will be there for a long time. He also mentions they are not a public company but a family one, mentioning recent staff layoffs and talent cuts without directly saying WWE, and how that's a big difference between the two types of companies. He said that's not how he was raised and taught to operate.
  • Tony Khan on WBD and the AEW roster: "In my opinion, we have the best wrestling roster in the world. Not every "great wrestler in the world" is here, but overall, I think we do have the best cumulative roster of greats. It's hard to showcase both the top stars, and those you're developing with three hours of TV. I was getting frustrated with trying to do it all in 3 hours, but Mr. Zaslov coming up with Collision and bringing his ideas to me was a great way to do just that. Licensing Elton John, developing great programming, I think we've really shown that we not only take this seriously, but that we're excited to put on different and exciting programming under the AEW/WBD relationship. With 5 hours of television, this has allowed us to put more great matches on TV, to tell more stories, and to have the best year that we've had in AEW."
  • Tony Khan on The Righteous going against MJF and Adam Cole: "I have been really impressed with them since they came into ROH. That's why I've really tried to feature them more in AEW. They have experience and history in ROH, and they've done so well on the ROH events, it's led to us utilizing them at times in AEW. We've been featuring them more in recent weeks with Rampage and Collision. In addition to their wrestling, they have a lot of charisma. Their videos and interviews have been really captivating. People really respond to them, and having them as a part of WrestleDream makes a lot of sense. The Righteous have exactly what we're looking for in new stars. They have a unique quality that differentiates them from other stars in AEW. I can see a place for them on the roster because of their charisma, wrestling ability, and their history. The Righteous vs MJF and Adam Cole is a great fit in a strong card, and I'm excited to have them as a part of the show."
  • The WrestleDream media call has concluded.

Sources: Cassidy Haynes, Sean Ross Sapp, Wrestling Observer, Amy Nemmity. Courtesies to /u/DKBetiza on Reddit for their effort in compiling and transcribing.

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[–] Javish 4 points 1 year ago

Anyone else think MERCEDES may show up at this event and finally declare her intentions?

[–] [email protected] 4 points 1 year ago

Tony says that they will continue to add more events but again says he never said he would do them every month... 8, 9, or 10, he doesn't know. But says that the top choice or a streaming service would be MAX. Talks about their relationship with Warner. Says that they have built AEW to the point that that is a big fanbase for their events.

No, no, no... The problem is spacing the last couple of months, they were back to back to back with no rest or story time between them it felt like. I'd be much more happy with 4-6 a year with equal distance between them so that stories can breathe and form, unfortunately, Tony appears to like spaghetti noodle booking where you throw things at the wall and see what sticks. But, that's just my opinion. Also, 10 shows a year at $50, it's a no from me dog.

SRS asks Tony about the rumors that he is purchasing NJPW.

Sweet baby Jesus, no. I'm glad it's just some crackpot internet rumor... hopefully.

Tony Khan says he owns 100% of the voting stock in AEW, as well as 100% of the business making in the company. Says they have a great deal with WBD. Would like to have an even longer agreement of course, but that's something between them. Says, them having a piece or bigger piece is something he's open to, but he wants to maintain him having the voting stake, as well as the super majority of the stock for AEW. Says he's open to discussion from WBD, but while he's open to additional investment, he's not interested in a change of control in AEW.

Boy oh boy would it be a mistake to let WBD have a part of the company. WCW and TNA should be big flashing neon signs why that isn't a good idea.

Tony Khan says Wardlow is a great star for AEW, and is one of the best TNT champions they've had. He says Wardlow will surely be back on AEW TV when the time is right, that he's still very much a part of what they're doing with AEW.

Instead of Where's Waldo, we should start a game called Where's Wardlow... Tony's booking style is jarring to me in that people disappear without even a beatdown to write them off.

Says that ROH is the strongest it has ever been and is night and day better than it was 4 years ago.

lol, 4 years ago it was on TV, sure in syndication, but on TV.

Asked about whether Fox could be a player for AEW rights, Khan said it wasn't the right time to talk about that. He reiterates how much he loves WBD and hopes they will be there for a long time.

Corporate speak for... hell yeah we'd entertain a truck full of more money, but we love these guys who already gave us their truck.

He also mentions they are not a public company but a family one, mentioning recent staff layoffs and talent cuts without directly saying WWE, and how that's a big difference between the two types of companies. He said that's not how he was raised and taught to operate.

I think WWE changed for the worse when they went public because of how they had to watch what they said and did for the market and sponsors, it gave Vince a major opportunity to go back to his view of wrestling... so in terms of not going public, I love it. The other half though, Tony may not be firing people 10-20 at a time, but he's certainly the type to smoke their weed, then ghost them, only to end up calling them bad wrestlers because he ghosted them... sadly that ghosting thing is from multiple people... the weed part only one.

Mr. Zaslov coming up with Collision and bringing his ideas to me was a great way to do just that.

Man's out here buttering that WBD biscuit good.

but that we're excited to put on different and exciting programming under the AEW/WBD relationship

But... how is that different and exciting programming, I mean it's still a wrestling show, and now without CM Punk, some of the show is more Dynamitey than before.

The WrestleDream media call has concluded.

I'm still not a big fan of the name.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago (1 children)

Thanks for putting this together, Geek, ya neeeeerd.

[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago
[–] [email protected] 3 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago)

SRS asks Tony about the rumors that he is purchasing NJPW.

Is there legit speculation there? This is the first I've heard this. Mind you I've been a little distracted lately.

And thanks for this, @GeekFTW. You're the MVP, hands down.