Following the conclusion of AEW Worlds End last month, a conversation regarding wrestler safety ignited across the industry. The catalyst was a frightening moment during the event where Kyle Fletcher landed on his neck during a match against Jon Moxley. Shortly after the pay-per-view, William Regal took to social media to issue a public warning about wrestlers performing dangerous and high-risk spots, a statement many perceived as a direct fallout from the events at Worlds End.
Now, nearly a week later, AEW President Tony Khan has officially responded to the discourse. During an appearance on the Mark Hoke Show Pro Wrestling Radio Show, Khan was asked directly about Regal’s comments and his own philosophy on the risks taken inside the squared circle.
Khan defended his promotion’s track record, noting that risk is inherent to the sport but arguing that AEW has managed it successfully. He noted that while wrestlers always want to push the envelope, the company has avoided catastrophic injuries directly resulting from their style of wrestling.
“Pro wrestlers are always taking hard-hitting and high-risk chances. That’s one of the things that makes pro wrestling so exciting. In AEW, we’ve been able to have all of these great events, and we’ve never had a career-ending injury like that from our wrestling,” Khan stated.
“I don’t think that AEW is any different than any other wrestling promotion in the world. The wrestlers want to do their very best, and sometimes a promotion will step in. AEW and I have at times stepped in and said, ‘I can’t do that. I don’t think that’s a good idea.’ I don’t want to do that every day or every match, but there are times where it comes up, and that’s okay. Everything you talk about, these are things you constantly balance in sports. Not just AEW, but all sports. Taking care of your athletes and doing things to protect the health and safety of the athletes to make the sport work.”
If you use any portion of the quotes from this article please credit Mark Hoke Show Pro Wrestling Radio Show with a h/t to WrestlingNews.co for the transcription.
