10 Changes That’d Happen If AEW's Tony Khan Bought WWE
WWE would look VERY different under Tony Khan, but so would his own AEW...
Welcome to 2023 - the year when pro wrestling tried to top 2022's madness within the first fortnight. Vince McMahon has returned to WWE, his daughter Stephanie has resigned, WWE is up for sale and AEW boss Tony Khan is rumoured to be weighing up a possible bid for the sports entertainment giant.
That...was unexpected.
Imagine the scenes if All Elite's hierarchy pulled this off and Tony/Shahid Khan became the new owners of World Wrestling Entertainment. Suddenly, the middle word in that iconic name would be re-emphasised, but would the industry be worse off for AEW monopolising the North American market?
That's a valid question, but it's probably one AEW's hardcore fans don't want to think about right now. Obviously, this is all guesswork and the entries on this list exist in a realm of sheer fantasy. However, it's fun to pick apart what the wrestling landscape would look like if the Khan family did own WWE.
What would become of a bursting roster of wrestlers? Would WWE's biggest pay-per-views disappear? Could Tony lose interest in the very company he bankrolled as competition to the McMahons?
Let's dig in.
10. “Sports Entertainment” Would Be History
The term "sports entertainment" exists as a not-so-subtle joke in AEW's world. Chris Jericho's JAS faction refers to its work using Vince McMahon's long-held alternative to being dubbed pro wrestling, and everyone's in on the gag. "Sports entertainment" is to be shunned by All Elite's hardcore fanbase.
That'd openly be the case in WWE's world too if Tony Khan purchased his competitor. Being honest, Triple H has downplayed Vince-isms since assuming control (which could change all over again now McMahon is back) last summer, but Khan would obliterate them and proudly wave the wrasslin' flag on Raw and SmackDown.
It'd be one of the first tweaks he'd make to WWE's product.
Suddenly, beyond being used as fan-baiting fuel for heels, all "sports entertainment" chatter would diminish across the board. Khan might even take a page from IMPACT Wrestling/TNA's old playbook by starting a marketing campaign akin to, "Wrestling Matters Here".