Skip to main content
Inside The Ropes
  • News

    WWE News

    AEW logo for their Dynamite TV show

    AEW News

    IMPACT Wrestling logo

    IMPACT News

    New Japan Pro Wrestling

    NJPW News

  • Features
    Poster for WWE Royal Rumble ft Roman Reigns

    WWE Royal Rumble 2023 Predictions

    NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 17

    NJPW Wrestle Kingdom 17 Predictions

    WWE Superstars With The Most Wins In 2022

    WWE Superstars With The Most Wins In 2022

    Breakout WWE Superstars In 2022

    Top 10 Breakout WWE Superstars In 2022

  • Interviews
    20 Questions Deonna Purrazzo FI

    20 Questions With Deonna Purrazzo

    Rick Boogs

    Interview With Rick Boogs

    JONAH

    Interview With JONAH

    Rosemary Interview

    Interview With Rosemary

  • Podcasts
    What’s Going Down #99 – Austin Theory, Bray Wyatt & Tyrus

    Listen
    What’s Going Down #98 – SmackDown Main Event, Crown Jewel & More

    Listen
    Jeff Jarrett stands in-ring on AEW Dynamite 2022

    Listen
    Power Slam Podcast #264 – Steve Austin Comeback, Full Gear Preview & More

    Listen
  • Quizzes
    Play Word Rumble

    Play Word Rumble

    WWE logo

    Can You Name Every WWE Pay-per-view?

    WWE Survivor Series sole survivors quiz

    Can You Name All The WWE Survivor Series Sole Survivors?

    WWE Smackdown logo

    Can You Name Every Wrestler That Competed On The First SmackDown?

  • Live Tours
  • Shop
    Magazine
    Clothing
    Accessories
    Collectibles
  • Trending
  • Follow us:
    • Facebook Facebook
    • Twitter Twitter
    • Instagram Instagram
  • Watch us on YouTube:
    • YouTube YouTube
  • Subscribe to the Magazine
  • Play Word Rumble
AEW News

Tony Khan Reveals Which AEW Gimmick He “Wasn’t Into”

By Lyle Kilbane. Published 24th June 2021.
Tony Khan AEW Roster

AEW President Tony Khan has discussed which gimmick in the company he wasn’t a huge fan of and how the company pivots from their mistakes rather “doubling-down.”

Khan is the final word on what airs on AEW television and just as crucially, what doesn’t. A few gimmicks have fallen by the wayside in the company’s short tenure, most notably Brandi Rhodes’ Nightmare Collective but Khan accepts that mistakes will be made and the key is how to deal with them.

Speaking to Brandon F. Walker on his Rasslin’ podcast, Tony Khan explained his views on how the company deals with its missteps.

Khan said:

“If we make a mistake, I like to think we do a good job pivoting off it. There has been stuff that was not perfect and you don’t always get stuff right. But the key is to not double-down, triple-down, or quadruple-down [on it] if something doesn’t work. I like to say I have my finger on the pulse [of wrestling]. Nobody bats a thousand. But if you’re throwing a pitch [in baseball] and it keeps getting crushed, don’t keep throwing the same pitch. Maybe switch it up. And there have been times like that.”

A prime example of this is one gimmick Khan wasn’t a fan of in its presentation on AEW TV. March 2020 was a crazy time in the world never mind the always wacky world of professional wrestling. The COVID-19 pandemic was gripping the planet and sports and entertainment venues were closing their doors to fans. On the first episode of the pandemic era in AEW, the company saw two huge debuts take place. First Brodie Lee revealed himself as The Exalted One and leader of The Dark Order. Then later in the night ‘Broken’ Matt Hardy brought his vessel into AEW. Famously, Hardy confronted Chris Jericho and his Inner Circle by appearing to teleport inside the empty arena. According to Khan, he was talked into doing that spot despite his misgivings as he was just grateful people were there to put on any kind of show at all.

Tony Khan explained:

“A great example I think would be, and he would be totally fine with me saying this, I was not as into Broken Matt Hardy as other people were and I’ve said this on Jericho’s podcast, that thing he did with time travel, that was the craziest Dynamite of all-time other than the Atlanta taping. […] Matt Hardy and Chris were trying to talk me into [it], specifically, Chris liked the idea of Matt teleporting. Dude, I’m lucky these guys are even there. But the idea of teleportation, I was just like, ‘Alright. I’m just lucky you guys [are here].’ At that point, it was a miracle the show was even coming off.”

“But anyway. To get to the point we are now with Big Money Matt and the stuff we’re doing now. I feel like sometimes if you don’t like an idea you can move on and do something [else]. And I think Matt Hardy, and the stuff he’s done with Private Party, The Butcher, and The Blade and the Bunny, and now with Christian Cage, is super compelling. He’s really become a really central figure in the show. Like I said, his match with Darby Allin was huge. Of Darby’s ten title defenses that was by far his biggest one.”

Matt Hardy and his Hardy Family Office have become integral antagonists feuding with both Christian Cage and The Dark Order in recent weeks.

Credit: Rasslin’ with Brandon F. Walker

h/t Wrestling Inc. for the transcription

  • Facebook
    Share
  • Twitter
    Tweet
  • WhatsApp
    Send
  • Share

Popular Stories

  1. Dana White Open To WWE Star Fighting In UFC
  2. AEW Star Recalls Almost Dying During Iconic Dynamite Match
  3. Jim Ross Provides Health Update On Jerry Lawler
  4. Highly Touted AEW Star’s Contract Expiring In May
  5. Matt Riddle Shows Off Bizarre Look During WWE Absence
  6. “It Was A Good Exit For Me” – WWE Hall Of Famer Confirms Retirement
  7. Surprising Former WWE Star Was Once A Stunt Double For The Undertaker
  8. Top RAW Star Hits Back At WWE Hiatus Rumours
  9. Brock Lesnar Makes Non-PG Reference To Blacklisted Former WWE Star On Raw
  10. Trish Stratus Demands Former Women’s Champion Is Inducted Into The WWE Hall of Fame
Inside The Ropes
  • News
  • Features
  • Interviews
  • Podcasts
  • Magazine
  • Write For Us
  • Facebook Facebook
  • Twitter Twitter
  • Instagram Instagram
  • YouTube YouTube
© 2023 ITR Digital Media Limited. Read about our privacy policy.