{"id":108916,"date":"2020-12-01T13:31:14","date_gmt":"2020-12-01T19:31:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/?p=108916"},"modified":"2020-12-01T13:31:14","modified_gmt":"2020-12-01T19:31:14","slug":"aew-media-scrum-highlights-tony-khan-discusses-moxleys-passionate-promo-experience-formatting-a-show-declares-hes-aiming-for-the-top-w-radican-questions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/2020\/12\/01\/aew-media-scrum-highlights-tony-khan-discusses-moxleys-passionate-promo-experience-formatting-a-show-declares-hes-aiming-for-the-top-w-radican-questions\/","title":{"rendered":"AEW media scrum highlights: Tony Khan discusses Moxley&#8217;s passionate promo, experience formatting a show, declares he&#8217;s aiming for the top (w\/Radican questions)"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"pwtor-583162870\" class=\"pwtor-before-content pwtor-entity-placement\"><hr \/><b>SPOTLIGHTED PODCAST ALERT (YOUR ARTICLE BEGINS A FEW INCHES DOWN)... <\/b>\r\n\r\n<iframe src=\"https:\/\/widget.spreaker.com\/player?show_id=3076978&theme=light&playlist=false&playlist-continuous=false&autoplay=false&live-autoplay=false&chapters-image=true&episode_image_position=right&hide-logo=false&hide-likes=false&hide-comments=false&hide-sharing=false&hide-download=true\" width=\"100%\" height=\"140px\" frameborder=\"0\"><\/iframe>\r\n<hr \/><\/div><p>AEW held a media scrum today ahead of tomorrow&#8217;s Winter is Coming special edition of Dynamite with AEW President and CEO Tony Khan. The following are the highlights beginning with questions from PWTorch columnist Sean Radican:<\/p>\n<p><strong>(1) Sean Radican:<\/strong> Talk about the quick turnaround from Full Gear to the Winter Is Coming special. You\u2019ve built up Moxley defending the AEW World Championship vs. Kenny Omega really well in just a short amount of time. They\u2019ve got history dating back to Moxley\u2019s debut at Double or Nothing a couple of years ago that built to their unsanctioned match.<\/p>\n<p>This time there\u2019s a twist and it seems like both guys want a wrestling match, but it\u2019s personal. We don\u2019t know who attacked Moxley and Omega has been condescending in promos. Can you talk about transitioning Omega from the tag division back into a prominent singles star with some of the promo characteristics that people have been looking for as well as the passion Moxley brought out in his promo on Dynamite last week when he said \u201cI love this shit.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Tony Khan:<\/strong> Tony said the build has been there since Double or Nothing 2019. He said they wrestled in an unsanctioned match that didn\u2019t even count in their records. He said both guys have had amazing runs since then. Khan said Kenny has been involved so much on Dynamite and he\u2019s one of the winningest wrestlers in AEW. Omega has been everything AEW has ever done along with Khan and they are the only two you that can say that.<\/p>\n<p>Tony said nothing has been different for Kenny since his tag team stuff has been in prominent positions. Mentions wrestling against PAC in the Iron Man match and the Eliminator tournament. He said Kenny winning and John beating Eddie Kingston after the last PPV, you couldn\u2019t ask for two guys that have so much history.<\/p>\n<p>Khan said it\u2019s brought a lot of fire out of both guys and it\u2019s special. Khan said it will be a hot match and the rest of the year will be really hot. Khan talks about Moxley\u2019s intensity. He said John is the best champion in wrestling and this is his biggest match to date. He said the media being at this conference call shows how big the show is tomorrow.<\/p>\n<p><strong>(2) Sean Radican:<\/strong> Talk about formatting the show and building to so many things so quickly last week. Are you cognizant of keeping people tuned in and moving from segment to segment.<\/p>\n<p><strong>Tony Khan:<\/strong> Khan said he can play around when shows are tape. He mentioned that last weeks show was tape and it went to plan really well. Khan said early it was throwing things against the wall. He said he did things last year that he would smack himself in the head for. He said he learned and tried to make the show exciting.<\/p><div id=\"pwtor-1231405843\" class=\"pwtor-content pwtor-entity-placement\"><div align=\"center\" data-freestar-ad=\"__336x280 __336x280\" id=\"pwtorchcom_test_300x250\">\r\n  <script data-cfasync=\"false\" type=\"text\/javascript\">\r\n    freestar.config.enabled_slots.push({ placementName: \"pwtorchcom_test_300x250\", slotId: \"pwtorchcom_test_300x250\" });\r\n  <\/script>\r\n<\/div><\/div>\n<p>Tony said the show is great because it appeals to everyone. One thing he likes about Dynamite he likes is that he talks to people and they like different things on the show. People don\u2019t just mention the same thing. Tony said when they\u2019re live and there\u2019s a long match, sometimes things have to change on the fly. Khan said it depends on how many stars you have and how many angles you have. He said you can\u2019t cover everything with matches, so you have to find other ways to fit everything into the show.<\/p>\n<p>Khan said people asked him to put things on the format last year that he shouldn\u2019t have said yes to. He said he\u2019s done a better job editing and putting it together. Khan said he\u2019s learned from experience what ideas are going to work and which ones should be edited. Tony said trying to fit as much good stuff in one show is challenging.<\/p>\n<p>Tony said tomorrow&#8217;s show is going to be challenging to format and you\u2019re going to want to ask questions about the formatting after the show tomorrow. Khan said there will be a lot of great wrestling on the show tomorrow.<\/p>\n<p>-Tony is asked if Winter is Coming an alternative to doing multiple PPVs. Tony said they have multiple specials coming including more this month and Beach Break in January.<\/p>\n<p>-Dave Meltzer of The Wrestling Observer asks Tony if he can reveal what spot the Omega vs. Moxley match will be. Khan says it will be the main event. Tony says the show will be more like a PPV card and talks about the big matches on the card. He said if the main event were to go long, TNT will stay with it as long as it takes. Khan said if they don\u2019t get to the match with 60 minutes left in the show, the match will take place<\/p>\n<p>-Anything new with Brodie Lee? Khan says he cant comment on Lee not being there, but they are excited to have him soon.<\/p>\n<p>-Dave said it seems like AEW signs 1-2 people new people. Asks how many people can Tony add without subtracting. Khan said he could have made cuts, but hasn\u2019t done it because of the pandemic. He said it\u2019s hard to get work in the wrestling business and it\u2019s hard to use everyone, but at the same time they do need to keep using people and bring them in.<\/p>\n<p>Khan says he\u2019s thinking of splitting dark into two shows where one is more developmental and another is established talent. \u201cI believe in the people we are adding,\u201d said Khan. Khan referenced WIll Hobbs working through Dark. Tony said its worth singing people because they could turn out to be stars. Khan talks about Top Flight impressing on Dark and then on Dynamite. Also mentioned The Acclaimed. Khan said he had an idea for a team called The Acclaimed and those guys were perfect for it.<\/p><div id=\"pwtor-1106755709\" class=\"pwtor-content-1 pwtor-entity-placement\"><!-- Tag ID: pwtorchcom_test_300x600 -->\r\n<div align=\"center\" data-freestar-ad=\"__336x280 __300x600\" id=\"pwtorchcom_test_300x600\">\r\n  <script data-cfasync=\"false\" type=\"text\/javascript\">\r\n    freestar.config.enabled_slots.push({ placementName: \"pwtorchcom_test_300x600\", slotId: \"pwtorchcom_test_300x600\" });\r\n  <\/script>\r\n<\/div><\/div>\n<p>-Tony is asked to expand why he is doing Moxley vs. Omega this week instead of the next PPV. Khan said the timing of the PPVs is by design. He said he wants to put big matches on Dynamite because it is their core product and it is their main revenue stream. He wants people to feel on Wednesday night that they\u2019re going to see awesome matches.<\/p>\n<p>Khan said he\u2019s not a sucker, but he got into wrestling because he saw the revenue stream potential for TV contracts. Khan said they\u2019ve signed 2 $175 million dollar four year contract. Khan said the business plan was to get that contract and build to huge shows. Khan said this is the biggest match they\u2019ve had on Dynamite. He said Kenny is the biggest star Moxley has defended against to date.<\/p>\n<p>Khan mentions all the matches Moxley has had with talent in AEW and talks about how Omega is a big star and his biggest opponent to date. Khan said when the TV contracts in wrestling became so large, he thought the biggest matches should be on TV and he talks about specials like Fight for The Fallen and Fyter Fest becoming tradition.<\/p>\n<p>Khan said when he does big cards for $50, he wants the biggest collection of matches he can give people to give them their money\u2019s worth. Khan said he will keep putting big matches on Dynamite.<\/p>\n<p>-Tony is asked if being in wrestling has been more difficult or less difficult than he expected. Khan said he\u2019s learned a lot on the job. He said some things have been easier and some have been harder. Tony said he hasn\u2019t had to let a ton of people go yet and talks about the human side of things. He mentioned again it not being the right time to contract the roster. He said that will be hard. Khan mentions his experience as a GM in the Premier League has helped him with roster management.<\/p>\n<p>&#8211;Tony is asked about how the Elite was positioned on TV for the first year. He\u2019s asked if there\u2019s been an overcorrection. Tony said he doesn\u2019t think so because they\u2019ve all been prominently positioned even though other wrestlers have been pushed.<\/p>\n<p>-Tony is asked about Mike Tyson and Shaq. He is asked if his goal is to bring mainstream respect to wrestling given his status as an executive in the NFL and the Premier League. Tony credits his dad and dumb luck. He said he\u2019s meant some powerful friends thanks to his dad, but some of it comes to dumb luck. He mentions he met his partner on a flight and it was a random happening. He said he introduced him to Kevin Riley, who opened the doors at TBS and eventually TNT.<\/p>\n<p>Tony said bringing wrestling back to TNT. Tony said he says a lot of great wrestling has been on TNT and he hopes the show tomorrow is remembered as one of the best wrestling shows on TNT and one of the best episodes on Dynamite. Khan said wrestling has been affected during the pandemic in terms of the presentation. Khan said there will be 1,000 people in the stands in an open air venue where they will be spaced out in pods. They enforce mask wearing and Khan says they haven\u2019t had any issues with it. \u201cI\u2019m glad it\u2019s working well and there\u2019s going to be a real crowd for this.\u201d Tony says a lot of the great wrestling shows you\u2019ve seen in wrestling have had crowds of 1,000 or less.<\/p>\n<p>-Tony is asked if Moxley is going to work at Wrestle Kingdom. Khan says no. Tony is asked if there\u2019s been talk of introducing a trios championship. He said if it happens, it will be in 2021. He says he wants to get through 2020 and into Beach Break and moving towards Revolution, but it is something he\u2019s been thinking about.<\/p>\n<p>-Tony is asked why Winter is Coming was used. Khan said he wants to build a brand around an episode of Dynamite like FIghter Fest and Fight for the Fallen. Khan said Winter is coming is a huge expression. Khan said he\u2019s never watched Game of Thrones. He said his mother watches Game of Thrones and is a huge fan. He knows it\u2019s a huge name. Khan said it\u2019s hard to get into new shows because he\u2019s always so busy and he sticks to South Park and Curb Your Enthusiasm. Tony said it is Warner Media\u2019s trademark and they gave him permission to use it. He also said it fits because it is now winter.<\/p>\n<p>Tony said more is ahead including a big Christmas and New Years show plus beach break.<\/p>\n<p>-Tony is asked if he\u2019s had talks about airing Dynamite live on ITV in the UK. He said they have a great partnership and he\u2019s like to increase their live viewing. Khan said AEW plus has been great for them and the AEW plus version of Dynamite is the best version of the show. Tony said if he was a tape trader, he would want the international version of Dynamite on AEW plus. Tony said it is a great product and it\u2019s very affordable at $5 per month.<\/p>\n<p>Tony said before he signed his TV deal he committed millions of dollars to a roster without any American TV revenue, but he knew he would get it and he had a relationship with TNT. He said he knew he could sign big stars and have a big brand. Khan mentions that ITV was his first TV deal.<\/p>\n<p>-Khan is asked about people being excited about bringing back elements of his cleaner persona. Khan is asked if Omega wanted to bring that back or was it Khan\u2019s ideas. Khan said Kenny wanted it, but they worked together to start introducing elements of the character.<\/p>\n<p>Khan said he works with everyone on the card. He mentions Ricky Starks asking if he could dress like Darby Allin and it became a reality.<\/p>\n<p>-Khan said they are making a new character out of Miro. He said he doesn\u2019t know what he was supposed to be before. He said there\u2019s a person in him that is him and not anything they made up in AEW. Khan said he wants people to get to know him better. He references the Miro and Trent video with Excalibur. Khan said he was beaten down so bad in WWE that they\u2019re building him back up.<\/p>\n<p>Khan said the guy he signed had been abused for years. He said he will be a huge star in wrestling and he wasn\u2019t treated like it for a long time. He said it\u2019s a marathon and not a sprint.<\/p>\n<p>-Khan is asked about some heat on Twitter. Khan asks if he got heat or got buzz. He said he got buzz after he said the balance power is shifting and said they did some of their best ratings to date. Khan said he\u2019s 100% right in what he said. He said people will see tomorrow that he\u2019s right and they will see Thursday when the numbers come in that he\u2019s right. Tony says Winter Is Coming in wrestling. Tony said it\u2019s shifting in storyline and to the fans. Tony said fans are getting to see more than they\u2019ve ever seen before. Khan said he\u2019s willing to work with other companies and that\u2019s why he said the balance of power is shifting. Khan said there\u2019s a difference between heat and buzz. He said it was a good kind of heat if it was heat.<\/p>\n<p>Khan is asked about negative feedback on social media. He said he feels really good about it because they\u2019ve delivered in the ratings and audience numbers. \u201cI can\u2019t open my mouth without upsetting some fans.\u201d Tony said he expects a really big number for Dynamite this week. \u201cI am aiming for the top. I have great ambition here.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Khan said PAC is a huge star and his return is the first of many exciting moments that will happen on Dynamite.<\/p>\n<div class=\"pwtor-end-article-groups pwtor-entity-placement\" id=\"pwtor-2059939352\"><div id=\"pwtor-3105735082\"><div align=\"center\" data-freestar-ad=\"__336x280\" id=\"pwtorchcom_medrec_3\">\r\n  <script data-cfasync=\"false\" type=\"text\/javascript\">\r\n    freestar.config.enabled_slots.push({ placementName: \"pwtorchcom_medrec_3\", slotId: \"pwtorchcom_medrec_3\" });\r\n  <\/script>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\nTHANK YOU FOR VISITING<\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<div class=\"mh-excerpt\"><p>AEW held a media scrum today ahead of tomorrow&#8217;s Winter is Coming special edition of Dynamite with AEW President and CEO Tony Khan. The following are the highlights beginning with questions from PWTorch columnist Sean <a class=\"mh-excerpt-more\" href=\"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/2020\/12\/01\/aew-media-scrum-highlights-tony-khan-discusses-moxleys-passionate-promo-experience-formatting-a-show-declares-hes-aiming-for-the-top-w-radican-questions\/\" title=\"AEW media scrum highlights: Tony Khan discusses Moxley&#8217;s passionate promo, experience formatting a show, declares he&#8217;s aiming for the top (w\/Radican questions)\">[&#8230;]<\/a><\/p>\n<\/div>","protected":false},"author":6,"featured_media":108917,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"episode_type":"","audio_file":"","podmotor_file_id":"","podmotor_episode_id":"","cover_image":"","cover_image_id":"","duration":"","filesize":"","filesize_raw":"","date_recorded":"","explicit":"","block":"","itunes_episode_number":"","itunes_title":"","itunes_season_number":"","itunes_episode_type":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[6163,2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-108916","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-aew-news","category-prowrestlingnews"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-content\/uploads\/post\/2020\/12\/IMG_8597.png","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/108916","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/6"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=108916"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/108916\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":108918,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/108916\/revisions\/108918"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/108917"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=108916"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=108916"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.pwtorch.com\/site\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=108916"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}