Tony Khan Takes Aim At WWE Over Reports Of Partnership With NJPW
Ahead of the latest edition of AEW Dynamite, AEW President Tony Khan cut a scathing promo aimed at WWE after reports emerged that the company are in talks with New Japan Pro Wrestling over a potential partnership.
In a move which harkened back to ‘wrestling wars’ of years gone by, Khan took aim at WWE and taunted them over a lack of results after their talks with NJPW. Delivering a promo that 1997 Eric Bischoff would have been proud of, Khan addressed the “con-man from Connecticut.”
“Thank you very much Tony,” Khan said. “I appreciate it, Mr. Schiavone, and as we get ready to go live tonight on Dynamite on TNT, I just want to address, as ‘The Forbidden Door’, I read in the Observer today that New Japan Pro Wrestling has had talks with WWE’s President Nick Khan. Well, Nick, I have to say if you have been talking to New Japan Pro Wrestling for two months, you’ve gotten a lot done.
“Just in the last two weeks I’ve had Yuji Nagata, Ren Narita and Rocky Romero on AEW, I’ve reunited Roppongi Vice, I’ve had the New Japan IWGP United States Champion Jon Moxley defend the title successfully on our show, retaining it, and I have future plans for New Japan Pro Wrestling for the US Title. So you must’ve really gotten a lot done in the two months, Nick. In fact, I think there’s only room for one Khan in the wrestling business, Nick, and it’s me. It’s Tony Khan. It’s not some con-man from Connecticut. Have a fun show tonight, Nick. See you on Dynamite.”
Ahead of tonight’s Live #AEWDynamite at 10pm ET/9pm CT, and #AEWDoN on ppv Sunday, AEW Owner/President @TonyKhan, aka the Forbidden Door, addressed rumors of a relationship between @WWE & @njpwglobal, + what this means to @AEW! Watch Dynamite tonight LIVE coming up on @TNTdrama! pic.twitter.com/atFTSrvyqZ
— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) May 29, 2021
It was initially reported in the latest edition of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, that WWE President Nick Khan had been in talks with NJPW regarding an exclusive partnership with WWE which would prevent the company from working with AEW or IMPACT.
Meltzer went on to note how Khan, who has been spearheading the talks, is looking to change the idea that it’s WWE vs. everyone else in terms of the Forbidden Door.
It has since been reported by PWInsider that a role for Bryan in New Japan is at the crux of conversations between WWE and the Japanese promotion.
However, the report also urged caution to those expecting huge changes with the existing relationships between NJPW and the likes of IMPACT and AEW.
Inside The Ropes will keep you updated on the situation if and when it develops.
H/t to Wrestling Inc for the transcription.