Tony Khan has a new role in AEW. The longtime fan owns All Elite Wrestling and Ring of Honor, while wearing many hats behind-the-scenes. Khan just revealed how he really sees himself, how this relates to his newly-created role, and how he’s adamant about one gig he will not be doing.
Khan has been a professional wrestling promoter for more than six years and five months. The 42-year-old has been billed as AEW’s President, CEO, General Manager, Executive Producer, and Head of Creative, as well as co-owner with father Shahid Khan. Tony, who holds executive roles in both of his father’s sports leagues, is also ROH President & CEO.
Khan has made a handful of storyline-related appearances since 2019, but years back he publicly indicated he was not thrilled with the idea of becoming a character, and likely would not. Most notably, Khan got physical for the first time during AEW Dynamite on April 24, 2024 as he was destroyed by The Elite.
Tony Khan Sees Himself As The AEW Commissioner
Tony Khan is currently in Mexico City with his AEW and ROH rosters for the Grand Slam: Mexico edition of Dynamite, and ROH x CMLL: Global Wars. Earlier this week, the lifelong wrestling fan was in Cannes, France at the 72nd annual Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity.
Khan is not interested in having a regular on-screen role with AEW and ROH as he sees himself as something like a commissioner, similar to controversial NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. Speaking to Brian Sozzi of Yahoo Finance in Cannes, Khan confirmed that he no longer wants to get physical in the ring. He was asked if he’s the kind of wrestling promoter that will take a chair or guitar to the head.
“Yeah, I really don’t want to get into the ring, and I like to think of myself as The Commissioner, as more of a device. You know when you watch NFL football, we have a great Commissioner. He’s done so many great things for the league, and the way the NFL features Roger, I think, is fantastic. It’s great to have the Commissioner involved in the games, he makes the rulings from on high, but when you watch an NFL football game, it’s not 47 minutes of Roger, and you don’t need to see 47 minutes of me on Dynamite, nor do you ever really see me on the show. As the match-maker and the promoter, I’m a device on the show,” Tony Khan said. [From 20:00 to 20:32]
Khan joked about how he almost didn’t survive the spike piledriver he took on Dynamite during the build to Double or Nothing 2024. Khan said the beating from Jack Perry, Kazuchika Okada, and The Young Bucks was enough to keep him away from the ring for life.
“One time I was attacked, and I’m very lucky to be sitting here with you right now, Brian. One year ago I survived the deadliest move in pro wrestling, the spike piledriver. [Brian: they’re still doing that?] The spike piledriver… yeah, it’s banned in several states, it’s illegal in the state of Tennessee, it’s illegal in Mexico. [Khan plugs Grand Slam: Mexico] I don’t want to necessarily get into the ring. My one time I got tricked and attacked in the ring, is enough to keep me out for life,” Tony Khan said. [From 20:33 to 21:18]
Khan will be directing tonight’s action from backstage at the legendary Arena Mexico for AEW’s debut in the country. Grand Slam will open with CMLL World Women’s Champion Zeuxis defend against AEW TBS Champion Mercedes Moné. The special is set to air for 150 minutes.