Why Tony Khan Said "NO" To AEW Copying WWE's ThunderDome
WWE's idea was a winner, but Tony Khan didn't want it in AEW. Here's why.
AEW boss Tony Khan has revealed that he gave an emphatic "NO" when some company staff called for him to copy WWE's ThunderDome idea last year.
During an interview with UPI, Khan praised Vince McMahon's flashy new set and called it a "fine idea". However, he wasn't prepared to play copycat and do something similar for episodes of Dynamite or AEW pay-per-view.
Why? Well, Tony thought it would be better if his company tried to create more of a "drive-in movie" feel by having as many fans as they were allowed in a more intimate live setting. Khan also said that building a strong relationship with a close-knit bunch of fans was more important to him than trying to mimic what WWE were doing.
He added that AEW managed to create a "wrestling territory" atmosphere at Daily's Place, and he's thankful to those who made that happen. Even so, Tony "pushed back" when some key members of management asked if they'd be better off having a video wall that showed people watching from home.
It was probably wise not to try and copy something WWE had already nailed.