Following the conclusion of the most successful North American show in AEW history, All In: Texas, company president Tony Khan sat down with the media for an expansive post-show press conference. A proud and emotional Khan discussed the biggest moments of the night, addressed the last-minute change forced by an injury to Adam Cole, gave insight into the company’s creative philosophy, and touched on a multitude of other topics related to the business of AEW.
A Historic Night and New Champions
Khan opened the scrum by expressing immense gratitude for the fans, his staff, and the wrestlers for making the event a historic success. “This is the biggest attendance we’ve ever had in North America, the biggest gate,” he announced. “And I think the best show, certainly the best ending, a very fitting moment and a very deserving champion.” He praised the new AEW World Champion, “Hangman” Adam Page, who defeated Jon Moxley in a brutal Texas Death Match. “The fans have been wanted to see a hero in AEW rise up, and it was very fitting to have AEW’s anxious millennial cowboy… be the focus of that great moment,” Khan said. He also took time to praise the former champion, Jon Moxley, for his dominant reign. “Whether you agree with everything he did or not, he’s been one of the most important people ever in AEW… I think we’re all better off for Jon Moxley having been the champion.”
On Adam Cole’s Injury and the TNT Title Change
One of the biggest stories of the night was the unfortunate situation involving TNT Champion Adam Cole. Khan confirmed that Cole was forced to vacate his championship due to an injury just hours before the show. “Somewhere between late last night and early this morning… we talked, and he just wasn’t feeling well,” Khan revealed. “And that’s the unpredictable nature of some of these kinds of injuries… The right thing to do… was for him to vacate the title and just talk to the people.” Khan praised Cole as a respected locker room leader and said that while he doesn’t know when Cole will wrestle again, he remains a key part of the AEW family.
Dustin Rhodes’ “Storybook Moment”
The vacant TNT Championship was decided in a four-way match, which saw veteran Dustin Rhodes capture the title in what Khan called a “storybook moment.” He explained the decision to book the match, saying, “I think given the emotional nature that we weren’t expecting… I wanted to give the people an opportunity to have a match. And it worked out… Thankfully, Dustin was able to pull it out.” He recounted Dustin’s long history of coming close to the TNT title and how special the moment was.
On Long-Term Storytelling and Roster Management
When asked how far in advance he plans major storylines, Khan explained that while he has long-term visions, the company has to be able to adapt to unforeseen circumstances like injuries. He used the main event scene as an example, noting that Bryan Danielson’s injury last year is what ultimately set Jon Moxley on his path to the championship. He also reiterated his philosophy on managing his large roster. “In sports, when you have a great, deep team, it’s important to remember there’s only so many spots,” Khan said.
Lucha Libre Partnership and Future International Shows
Khan spoke passionately about his love for Lucha Libre and AEW’s successful partnership with CMLL, calling their joint “Grand Slam Mexico” event “one of my favorite nights.” He praised the work of luchadors like Bandido, Mistico, and Mascara Dorada, and expressed his desire to return to Arena Mexico. When asked about running shows in other Latin American markets like Chile or Puerto Rico, he said, “I hope we can continue visiting new territories, but I know that we’re taking it one step at a time.”
On the Women’s Division and ROH Injuries
He also addressed the state of the women’s division, noting that injuries to key stars like Jamie Hayter and ROH Women’s TV Champion Red Velvet had forced him to change plans. This led to the decision to feature the women in a Casino Gauntlet match at All In rather than a Tag Team Championship match. He announced that an Interim ROH Women’s World TV Champion had been crowned at the recent Supercard of Honor event and praised the depth of the women’s roster for being able to deliver a great gauntlet match despite the injuries.
The Future for Casino Gauntlet Winners
The press conference concluded with Khan being asked about the championship opportunities for the night’s two Casino Gauntlet winners, MJF and Athena. He confirmed that both will receive future world title matches but did not specify when those would take place. “I’m going to sit with the winners, sit with the champion, I’m going to sit with the schedule, and I’m going to put some real thought into when I’m going to make those announcements,” Khan said. “I think they’ve earned some say in when they cash these things in.”
Praise for Swerve, Ospreay, and The Young Bucks
Khan also took a moment to praise the growth of Swerve Strickland, calling him a “great franchise player” and a “really key wrestler in AEW.” He was very complimentary of the high-stakes tag team match that saw Swerve and Will Ospreay defeat The Young Bucks, putting it on par with some of the greatest tag team matches in AEW history. He also reflected on his long relationship with The Young Bucks, dating back to the very first conversations about starting AEW over seven years ago.
ROH Scheduling and Final Thoughts
Finally, Khan clarified that a scheduling change for ROH Supercard of Honor was a one-to-one swap with the Death Before Dishonor event and that rumors of a Las Vegas location were untrue. He closed the nearly 45-minute session by once again thanking the media, his staff, the wrestlers, and most importantly, the fans for their continued support.
