CONFIRMED: AEW's Tony Khan In Talks To Buy WWE

By Michael Hamflett / January 13, 2023

In a story that will surprise many but not all wrestling fans, AEW and ROH president Tony Khan alongside Father Shahid are in the pool of potential buyers should WWE's sale go ahead as has been widely reported.

The Khans' interest was confirmed by Wall Street Journal's sister publication Barron's, who said (h/t Cageside Seats);

“All Elite Wrestling - the top rival to WWE, led by Tony Khan and family - is in the pool of potential buyers for WWE, a person close to the potential transaction told Barron’s, adding that the Khans will likely look for a financial partner to acquire the asset. Tony Khan’s father Shahid Khan, a co-owner of AEW, already owns the football team Jacksonville Jaguars and the English soccer club Fulham Football Club, indicating the duo have deep pockets.”

The mainstream pro wrestling monopoly Vince McMahon had held for 18 years was broken following AEW's formal launch in January 2019. This would mark the return to that after just four years, but with McMahon's newest business rival now at the helm instead of the 77-year-old himself.

McMahon purchased the freewheeling WCW in 2001 when the company were informed there'd be no place for them on television by Turner executive Jamie Kellner, but had been a potential suitor dating back to initial sale rumours the prior summer. The cycle is partially repeating in that sense, even if WWE's value is obviously astronomically bigger than its former opposition's could have ever been.

The prospect of the All Elite Wrestling owner taking over WWE is just the latest twist in a dramatic tale that started with the return of McMahon to the company seven days ago and has since roped in returning former company bigwigs George Barrios and Michelle Wilson, the departure of multiple other prominent board members including Stephanie McMahon, a heavily rumoured-then-quashed sale to the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund, and McMahon himself being sued by a shareholder.