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’s Struggling” – Dave Meltzer On Growing Gap Between AEW & WWE

By Lyle Kilbane. Published 8th August 2022.
Tony Khan AEW

Dave Meltzer has discussed the problems facing AEW now that Triple H is running WWE and says that AEW is now further away from catching WWE.

The wrestling world changed forever on the 22nd of July when Vince McMahon announced his retirement from WWE with Triple H becoming the man in charge of the company’s creative direction going forward.

While McMahon had been the man in charge of WWE for many years, some fans had grown tired of McMahon’s direction and had looked elsewhere for their wrestling fix, something that helped grow the swell in popularity that led to AEW.

Speaking on Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer has explained why the change in the top at WWE could mean trouble ahead for AEW and company CEO, Tony Khan:

“In a historical wrestling war, being number two is tough. What Tony [Khan] had – number one was Tony was the growing company since he started, with momentum, a very hot fanbase, better television – at least Wednesday was better television – and it was growing and the other guys were falling.”

“The gap was getting closer and as long as the gap stayed the same or got closer he’s doing really, really well. Well now – it’s too early – but Paul [Levesque]’s getting kinda like the beginner’s luck and new enthusiasm but Tony’s struggling. I mean, he’s first on Wednesday but he’s further away from WWE than he was months ago and a year ago.”

“It’s not like this Wednesday Tony’s got this great show […] and it’s not like I’m sitting here going ‘I’m wondering if they can beat them with men [in the ratings]’ because they’ve done that many times in the past. I’m saying this week I don’t think they will, I don’t think it’ll be close. The gap is different and in wrestling wars when you fall behind there’s a weird momentum.”

“It’s a different business now and there’s so many differences to it and Tony’s ability as far as the money that he has and the money this thing generates, it’s not the same but he’s not closing in on number one which he had been doing almost from day one.”

Related

“I’m The Most Fined Guy In TNA History” – Samoa Joe

Meltzer also harkens back to a previous wrestling war and wonders if Tony Khan can avoid the pitfalls of former WCW boss Eric Bischoff:

“Now he’s not closing in one number one so it’s changed things. Does he do what happened to Eric Bischoff in 1998 where you kinda mentally self-destruct because everything that you thought you had they turned it on you and you’re losing again? Eric totally self-destructed and we saw at the end of 1998 and 1999 and know what happens from there.”

Dave Meltzer finishes by discussing the struggles ahead for Khan of facing a rival who has a closer creative vision for his company to Khan’s own and says Tony Khan will have to be as aggressive as WWE in recruiting talent:

“Tony’s super passionate and it’s up to him to go through that period and keep this thing strong and build this thing back up when the guys get healthy and get that new [TV] deal wherever it’s from but it’s a completely different challenge for him now than it was. Fighting Vince McMahon is one thing, fighting someone that is closer to your vision who’s gonna try to match you for match quality – whether he can or he can’t but he’s gonna try – and in many people’s eyes he does so it’s gonna change a lot.”

“[…] We’ll see who wants to go where when contracts are up, there’s a lot of guys thinking different things and [Tony’s] gotta be very aggressive on the other side in that there will be people who go from AEW to WWE when their contracts are up and he has to make sure there are people that also go from WWE to AEW when their contracts are up that are valuable to him. It can’t be leftovers.”

If you use any quotes from this article please credit original source and then h/t with a link back to Inside The Ropes.

  • Facebook
    Share
  • Twitter
    Tweet
  • WhatsApp
    Send
  • Share

Popular Stories

  1. Vince McMahon Facing Another Lawsuit Connected To “Horrifying Allegations” Following WWE Return
  2. Ric Flair Confirms Liv Morgan’s Relationship With Fellow WWE Star
  3. Brock Lesnar Has Heat Backstage Following Royal Rumble “Freak Out”
  4. Seth Rollins Lays Into Top WWE Star – “He’s A Selfish S.O.B”
  5. Drew McIntyre Heading For Huge WrestleMania Title Match
  6. Attitude Era Star Admits To Bullying Talent During His WWE Run
  7. Lanny Poffo Passes Away Aged 68
  8. Dwayne Johnson Updates Fans Following Mother’s Terrifying Car Crash
  9. AEW’s Mammoth 2022 Earnings Revealed
  10. WWE Star Goes Public With Backstage Frustration
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.