In a wide-ranging interview on the “Way of the Blade” podcast, AEW CEO Tony Khan provided updates on Bryan Danielson’s status with the company, shared his thoughts on extreme wrestling, and detailed AEW’s involvement in upcoming tribute shows.
Khan emphasized Bryan Danielson’s continued importance to AEW beyond his wrestling career, as he has been absent from in-ring action due to injury.
“I still work with Bryan Danielson. He’s still a big part of my office. He’s not on the show, and he’s been injured and maybe retired for good, but he’s never said he’s done for good, and I hope that there’s some possibility he will be able to return to wrestling from the injuries and the way he left, but he’s still a part of AEW, so I’m still very fortunate to work with Bryan. I talk to Bryan almost every day. He’s got a great mind for wrestling, and he’s somebody that I’m really pleased and blessed came into AEW and got involved with us. He’s a great person in and out of the ring, and he’s a great leader in AEW.”
Transitioning to the topic of extreme wrestling, Khan was asked about his reaction to particularly violent or risky ideas proposed in matches. While acknowledging some recent extreme spots, he drew a line at anything potentially life-threatening.
“Well, these are new ones, but that’s also what’s great about wrestling is whenever somebody can do something that hasn’t been tried or take it to another level, I think it’s great, and especially when both of them are able to continue their careers. I don’t want to have any career or life threatening moments in AEW. I think these are great moments on the shows, and thankfully, every time, the people have continued their career.”
Khan further elaborated on a specific instance, Jon Moxley’s match against Adam Copeland where Moxley had a spike bat driven into his back. He defended the use of such extreme spots when executed safely and for the benefit of storytelling and audience engagement.
“I think these are great moments on the shows, and thankfully, every time, the people have continued their career. There hasn’t been that kind of injury moment, but these are incredible chances and risks that the wrestlers take, in particular here in AEW, and that’s what makes them the best. When Mox had the spike bat in his back on AEW Dynamite in Omaha versus Adam Copeland, that was a great wrestling moment. It was memorable. It helped drive box office for us. It was our highest rated episode of the year. It went viral. It’s one of the most watched videos of the year. I think it’s probably the most watched video of the year in AEW, and it’s a fantastic moment. It made new fans. It created interest. It was on. TMZ. There’s people that weren’t watching AEW that saw it, and it clearly brought outside fans in and created casual interest. In a perfect world, that’s what these can do.”
Tony Khan said he and Way of the Blade host Phil Schneider will co-produce two tribute shows in honor of Dean Rasmussen. AEW talent will work both shows with the plan to stream the shows on ROH’s YouTube channel. DEAN 2 will be held on May 24 and will be a free outdoor show outside Scottsdale Arena. DEAN 3 will take place in September and will be affiliated with the ROH Death Before Dishonor pay-per-view.
If you use any portion of the quotes from this article, please credit Way of the Blade with an h/t to WrestlingNews.co for the transcription.
