12 Times AEW Was Better Than Literally EVERYTHING

4. Whenever Tony Khan Wasn't A Typical Carny

AEW Sting
AEW

This is a hard sell, given that he’s a billionaire who might act with more childish ruthlessness than his sometimes dopey public persona suggests. Many performers have spoken of Khan’s tendency to “ghost” the wrestlers on his roster that he has no intention of using. 

Tony Khan truly wants good things to happen for his talent, and puts them in positions to achieve it. Even the dud signings, whose runs were unfortunate, enjoyed at least one great night: Keith Lee at All Out 2022, Malakai Black at Revolution 2023, Jake Hager during the first Stadium Stampede…

Hell, even Paul Wight took an awesome bump in the strange yet wonderful Like A Dragon Street Fight. 

Khan fought with Warner to get the Briscoes on television. His tribute to the much-missed Mr. Brodie Lee was the most emotionally stirring and dignified wrestling tribute show ever, and the best wrestling show ever full-stop. On that, Khan allows Brodie, Jr. the stage on occasion to create dream moments for himself. He granted Hangman Page as much time as he needed and wanted to be a father, when Page was in the midst of the push of his life. Khan at times is too nice; without over-pushing them, he has refused to give up on wrestlers who stood a very remote chance of getting over.

A lot of people love AEW because it’s great, and while Khan has made more than one appalling decision - the signing of Ric Flair, for example - more people love it because, by wrestling standards, it’s really quite nice.

Contributor
Contributor

Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!