Tony Khan thinks being competitive is what’s important in the battle with WWE.
The AEW President started the company in 2019 in an attempt to offer an alternative to the WWE. He quickly grew the company into the second biggest in the world, regularly selling out pay per view events in both the US and the UK.
Tony Khan recently appeared on WFAN Daily, where he was asked how long it would take him to “dethrone” the WWE. He noted that it is more about being competitive, rather than killing off the WWE.
He compared AEW and WWE to other sports leagues, like the Big Ten and the SEC, adding that there’s room for both promotions to exist.
“It’s just about being competitive, right? I mean, the Big Ten and the SEC, you’re going to compete, and they’re going to slug it out—that’s where you want to be. I think there’s room for both to exist and compete. And then there’s the ACC, the Pac-12, and all kinds of other great leagues, too, just to compare.”
Tony Khan then called the rivalry between WWE and AEW “a constant fight”. He noted that wrestling has no off-season, which makes it different from the other sports he helps run.
“Yeah, I want to be ahead, but it’s a constant fight—it’s 52 weeks a year. You’d appreciate that in this industry; it’s a 52-week-a-year business. Wrestling is the only sport with no offseason. I’m involved in other sports, working in the Premier League and the NFL, and I grew up as a huge fan of college football, basketball, and the NBA. I just love sports.”
Tony Khan: Fighting Is An Obsession
Tony Khan was then asked if competing with the WWE had become an obsession of his.
He answered diplomatically, noting that “fighting is an obsession” in all competitions, not necessarily in this specific context. The AEW President added that the only way to win in sports is to do your best, which is what he’s trying to do with AEW.
“Fighting is an obsession. I think it’s really a driving obsession—competition, especially in wrestling and sports. I think it’s similar to sports—you have to focus on doing your best. That’s how you win in sports too—by going out and giving your best effort, no matter what you’re trying to achieve.”
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