Tony Khan disagrees with those who criticise AEW.
Throughout the year AEW has experienced difficulties in filling arenas. For example, All In 2024 recorded a turnstile count of 46,476 attendees, marking a significant 36% decrease from the previous year’s attendance.
The following PPV All Out 2024 held at the Now Arena near Chicago, sold 6,512 tickets, failing to achieve a sell-out. This was the first AEW pay-per-view in Chicago not to approach full capacity.
The promotion also faced a decline in television ratings across all its flagship programs, which critics have used as proof of Khan’s lack of creative direction, something he vehemently disagrees with.
Tony Khan was asked about the criticism at the Worlds End post-show media scrum, to which he responded:
“Last year, we made a lot of history going to Wembley Stadium; we sold 81,035 tickets. Over 81,000 tickets sold — we set the world record for tickets sold — and even then people tried to poke holes in what we did last year…allegedly people said 73,000, but we sold 81,000. But the fact that people would even try to hold up 73,000, even if it was that, like it would be a bad thing. That’s amazing, what an amazing achievement,” Khan said. “Then this year to make a historic media rights deal which really sets the stage for…all the great things that are going to be coming.” h/t Wrestling Inc.
In recent news, an NJPW star was highly critical of Tony Khan and AEW.
Tony Khan Has No Regrets About Airing CM Punk AEW All In Footage
At All In 2023, the historic show was overshadowed by the backstage altercation between CM Punk and Jack Perry. The incident led to Punk getting fired and Perry being suspended.
Months later, Tony Khan decided to broadcast CCTV footage of the All In incident during an episode of Dynamite. The decision sparked division within the wrestling community, with many viewing it as counterproductive. However, according to Dave Meltzer, Khan believes airing the All In footage played a key role in getting the $150 million WBD deal over the line.