by Amy Nemmity with Wrestle Joy will be on the AEW Media Call with Tony Khan as we head into Full Gear, Live on PPV this Saturday November 13th. This thread will be updated as the call goes on.
Tony on 10 matches being the ideal length for big PPVs:
— 🔥Phoenix🔥 (@AmyNemmity) November 11, 2021
The Big 4 have a great length that work well for us, particularly with All Out.
All Out '21 received the best feedback and most revenue of any PPV they've ever done.
Q: @BR_Doctor #AEWFullGear
Tony Khan says Hangman Page is the epitome of the Homemade Star. A lot of hardcore fans knew him, but he's really blossomed in a larger TV audience since 2019. Mentions his first championship match with Chris Jericho & growth since. Says he's a top guy.
— 🔥Phoenix🔥 (@AmyNemmity) November 11, 2021
Q @JonAlba #AEWFullGear
Tony Khan
— 🔥Phoenix🔥 (@AmyNemmity) November 11, 2021
"I've always believed in Hangman Page & Kenny Omega. As a tag team and as singles wrestlers, they've shone brightly. They have amazing chemistry together, but there was something between them that we knew would be an amazing rivalry.
Q @JonAlba #AEWFullGear
Tony Khan equates the Daily's Place pandemic wrestling shows to a drive in movie. Where everyone had their own pods, and they were treated to Hangman Page and Kenny Omega in the eliminator tournament where Omega went on to win the title, nearly one year ago. #AEWFullGear
— 🔥Phoenix🔥 (@AmyNemmity) November 11, 2021
Tony Khan says that Kenny Omega vs Hangman Page is perhaps one of the most anticipated matches ever in AEW. Credits BTE for some of the seeds of long term booking and planting seeds for Dynamite. #AEWFullGear
— 🔥Phoenix🔥 (@AmyNemmity) November 11, 2021
Tony Khan really likes watching @SilverNumber1 on BTE, and talks about how he encouraged him to take some of those antics to #AEWDynamite. #AEWFullGear
— 🔥Phoenix🔥 (@AmyNemmity) November 11, 2021
Tony Khan appreciated Hangman Page's storytelling and acting on BTE, and knew that his flawed hero character was something everyone could relate to.
— 🔥Phoenix🔥 (@AmyNemmity) November 11, 2021
Tony Khan is REALLY excited about Hangman Page vs Kenny Omega at #AEWFullGear
Tony Khan on west coast expansion:
— 🔥Phoenix🔥 (@AmyNemmity) November 11, 2021
2022 will see AEW coming out to the West Coast, they would have liked to hit it earlier. 2021 is about making up for lost time and lost dates in 2020. Double or Nothing will return to Vegas, with Dynamite and Rampage as well. #AEWFullGear
Tony Khan on interest in ROH releases and video library with All In
— 🔥Phoenix🔥 (@AmyNemmity) November 11, 2021
There's a lot of great stuff in the library, and a lot of great talent. Can't say with any certainty, but we'll see what happens in the future. Stay tuned, you never know who many show up.
Q: SRS#AEWFullGear
Tony Khan on branching out with women's wrestlers and whether he'd contribute to movements like NWA.
— 🔥Phoenix🔥 (@AmyNemmity) November 11, 2021
He says that he sent and paid a lot of women to the NWA Empowerrr show, that the pay for them coming from AEW to NWA were paid directly by Tony Khan.
Q Ella Jay#AEWFullGear
Tony Khan goes on to say that it was unfortunate that this was not made clear to people as it was a part of the discussions prior to AEW women attending NWA Empowerrr.
— 🔥Phoenix🔥 (@AmyNemmity) November 11, 2021
Tony Khan says that he's very excited about Ruby Soho and Kris Statlander, Shida vs Nyla Rose, Red Velvet and Jade Cargill, etc.
— 🔥Phoenix🔥 (@AmyNemmity) November 11, 2021
He is active about making big strides in women's wrestling, and has made great financial contributions to other companies' movements. #AEWFullGear
Tony Khan on Bray Wyatt
— 🔥Phoenix🔥 (@AmyNemmity) November 11, 2021
I like Windham a lot, we'll see. I haven't talked to him about it, the last time I saw him was at Jericho's birthday party. It was a late night, last year. It's a different world now, he's a wonderful person, great talent.
Q Nick Hausman#AEWFullGear
Tony Khan on if the format of Dynamite will remain the same on TBS or if there will be changes from TNT.
— 🔥Phoenix🔥 (@AmyNemmity) November 11, 2021
Wrestling, wrestlers, and what people love will remain the same. There may be changes in presentation to the look of the show, and it'll be a lot of fun. #AEWFullGear
Tony says if they mess with the look of the show once it moves to TBS and you don't like it, let him know and he'll look to change it back.
— 🔥Phoenix🔥 (@AmyNemmity) November 11, 2021
And hey, let him know if you like it too! Should be a lot of fun to see what it looks like (wrestling will stay the same).#AEWFullGear
Awww a little one is on the phone now. Steven Spice! He's so cute!!!
— 🔥Phoenix🔥 (@AmyNemmity) November 11, 2021
"I LOVE AEW." #AEWFullGear
Tony Khan says someone snagged a photo of him on the sidelines at a Jags game. He often doodles ideas and sketches of show ideas, and things will change or stay the same based on how well they stick after giving time to think about them. #AEWFullGear
— 🔥Phoenix🔥 (@AmyNemmity) November 11, 2021
Tony Khan says the pandemic was a big challenge with travel, tests, etc. But he always took a hard line that people never HAD to travel, that they wouldn't lose their jobs for it. The pandemic was a challenge, but brought some incredible memorable moments. #AEWFullGear
— 🔥Phoenix🔥 (@AmyNemmity) November 11, 2021
Steven Spice asks Tony Khan what it's like to book these big matches for shows & PPVs.
— 🔥Phoenix🔥 (@AmyNemmity) November 11, 2021
He stays up really late planning for Dynamite & Rampage, considering booking, commercials, promos, interviews, etc. There's a lot of time spent coming up with stories & formats#AEWFullGear
Tony Khan on connecting with fans for spur of the moment:
— 🔥Phoenix🔥 (@AmyNemmity) November 11, 2021
Cody gave TK a head's up in gorilla that there was a fan who was celebrating being cancer free, so TK brought Punk and Ruby out to celebrate with the fan.
Not booking for ratings is fun!
Q: Big Gold Belt#AEWFullGear
Tony Khan says Ruby Soho is a big star and that they want to treat her like a big star. So having her come out with CM Punk to celebrate with that fan in her hometown of Indianapolis was lovely. #AEWFullGear
— 🔥Phoenix🔥 (@AmyNemmity) November 11, 2021
Tony Khan says there will be updates on the Owen Hart Memorial Tourament coming in after Full Gear. He didn't want it to lose focus with the build to FG, but has some interesting announcements ahead, so definitely stay tuned after Full Gear! #AEWFullGear
— 🔥Phoenix🔥 (@AmyNemmity) November 11, 2021
Tony Khan on Eddie Kingston's journey in AEW
— 🔥Phoenix🔥 (@AmyNemmity) November 11, 2021
I connected with Eddie IMMEDIATELY. I didn't know him until he came in, but I wanted to find a spot for him on the show. Eddie was on Cody's list, and a lot of people on the list I ended up using, like Starks & Kingston.#AEWFullGear
Tony Khan says he KNEW he had to do something with this guy after the match with Cody.
— 🔥Phoenix🔥 (@AmyNemmity) November 11, 2021
Fyter Fest brought an opportunity to use Kingston as a manager with Lucha Bros along with tie ins with Butcher and Blade, as a Hot Stuff Eddie Gilbert character. #AEWFullGear
Tony Khan says that All Out'20 was a heel heel heel situation. Team Taz, Jake/Lance, and this Eddie Kingston group. He wanted the last people to be Lance and Eddie to have a disputed finished, and earmarked Eddie to wrestle Jon Moxley. #AEWFullGear
— 🔥Phoenix🔥 (@AmyNemmity) November 11, 2021
Tony Khan says that he knew hardcore fans loved him, but he doesn't want to undersell how far he's come in the ring in front of a national audience, and how far he's come outside of the ring too, with his personal story.
— 🔥Phoenix🔥 (@AmyNemmity) November 11, 2021
Really impressed with Eddie Kingston. #AEWFullGear
Tony Khan believes in Eddie Kingston. #AEWFullGear
— 🔥Phoenix🔥 (@AmyNemmity) November 11, 2021
Tony Khan on Inner Circle vs American Top Team
— 🔥Phoenix🔥 (@AmyNemmity) November 11, 2021
I'm good friends with Dan Lambert. He's a huge fan of the shows and old school wrestling. ATT has some of the best fighters in the world, working with Inner Circle was a great idea.
Q Stephanie Chase#AEWFullGear
Tony Khan on #AEWDark at Universal Studios
— 🔥Phoenix🔥 (@AmyNemmity) November 11, 2021
Plans to keep taping at Universal when they can, the fans have really enjoyed them, and he thinks they've been very fun shows. Big stars are generous with their time there, he really enjoys it.
Q Jim Varsallone#AEWFullGear
Tony Khan on #AEWDark at Universal Studios
— 🔥Phoenix🔥 (@AmyNemmity) November 11, 2021
Plans to keep taping at Universal when they can, the fans have really enjoyed them, and he thinks they've been very fun shows. Big stars are generous with their time there, he really enjoys it.
Q Jim Varsallone#AEWFullGear
Tony Khan on Lio Rush and Dante Martin
— 🔥Phoenix🔥 (@AmyNemmity) November 11, 2021
There is a story developing between Lio & Dante, doesn't want to spoil where they're going with it. People have been enjoying it, TK has been too. Lio benefits from coaching, says he's a great talent.
Q: Bill Pritchard#AEWFullGear
Tony Khan says he actively sought out and recruited Lio Rush after he came back from retirement. #AEWFullGear
— 🔥Phoenix🔥 (@AmyNemmity) November 11, 2021
Tony Khan on AEW and the Forbidden Door and NJPW
— 🔥Phoenix🔥 (@AmyNemmity) November 11, 2021
Says AEW & NJPW have a great relationship. It's changed a lot since they first started, he thinks they were pretty pissed at him. Things have warmed through TK's actions and offerings for Wrestle Kingdom.
Q Daily DDT#AEWFullGear
Tony Khan says AEW and NJPW have had a wonderful relationship this year, with Chris Jericho, Jon Moxley, KENTA, Rocky Romero, talks with Tanahashi, etc.
— 🔥Phoenix🔥 (@AmyNemmity) November 11, 2021
Says his reputation over time has eased early tensions, they have a great relationship now. #AEWFullGear
Tony Khan said this past summer there was a story getting buzz that NJPW would work with WWE, which was comical to him, because he was doing all this stuff with NJPW with a ton of plans in the works, convos nearly every day. So reading that was hilarious. #AEWFullGear
— 🔥Phoenix🔥 (@AmyNemmity) November 11, 2021
