Tony Khan ATTACKED On AEW Dynamite - The Elite Destroy Boss In Big Angle
AEW boss eats Tony Khan Driver as Shad Khan debuts on television.
AEW founder and CEO Tony Khan worked his first physical angle for the promotion on last night's Dynamite, taking a Tony Khan Driver from The Young Bucks to close the show.
This big Elite-focused angle began with the newly returned Jack Perry walking to the ring, then calling Khan out. When Tony arrived, the 'Scapegoat' played a false babyface, saying he wanted to work with his boss to change the wrestling world. This followed his return to AEW for the first time in eight months at last week's Dynasty pay-per-view, where he helped The Young Bucks defeat FTR to become three-time World Tag Team Champions.
Khan embraced Perry and shook his hand. This was fatal. After a knowing glance to the camera, Perry socked Tony in the gut, then waited for the rest of the Elite to hit the ring.
The Young Bucks deliberated hitting TK with the EVP Trigger knee strike. Building the tension for just long enough, they decided against this, then attacked the founder anyway. Soon, Khan was piledriven into the mat - and the AEW locker room rushed to his aid while the Elite fled to the back.
Amongst the group showing concern was Tony's billionaire father, Shad, appearing on-camera for the first time since 2019's Fight for the Fallen event.
AEW has published the full segment on its social media platforms:
WHAT JUST HAPPENED? Jack Perry puts his hands on AEW CEO & GM, Tony Khan!
Watch #AEWDynamite on TBS!@boy_myth_legend | @TonyKhan | @YoungBucks | @RainmakerXOkada pic.twitter.com/aulRu8jAq2
Advertisement— All Elite Wrestling (@AEW) April 25, 2024
The segment has understandably drawn a loud, mixed response within the wrestling community. At the time of writing, WhatCulture's audience was split almost perfectly down the middle.
This was the first time Khan has been physically attacked as part of an AEW storyline. Compared to other American wrestling promoters, he has typically exercised restraint when appearing on-camera, typically only appearing in fleeting backstage glances and for his myriad 'announcement' segments.
Three years ago, Khan told Bloomberg:
“No, I don’t write myself as a TV character, but if this makes sense, I am a plot device in the show. So, you’ll hear my name a few times because I am the matchmaker. I make the matches, so you’ll have somebody appeal to me. I don’t need to act or be on television or take up the TV time, but you do have to have a commissioner and a person who lays the law down and makes the rules.”
On Dynamite, he was, indeed, a plot device. The follow-up will tell if the Elite's attack brings a change in Khan's on-screen role.