Last August, it was reported by multiple outlets that AEW President Tony Khan held a talent meeting heading into All Out where he brought up how Megha Parekh, Chief Legal Officer, sent an email to then-WWE co-CEOs Stephanie McMahon and Nick Khan regarding talent tampering.
This would’ve been around a month after Triple H took over main roster creative and was bringing back former stars who had been let go.
While appearing on The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz, Khan discussed the alleged tampering by the rival promotion. He noted that a lot of AEW wrestlers told him about the tampering.
“I can’t really comment on what their internal struggles, internal strifes are because I don’t work there and I’m not there. I can only speak to the challenges we’ve had. I’ve got a lot of wrestlers who come to me and allege that WWE reached out to them to tamper with their contracts and ask them to break their contracts. I can’t confirm that specifically. I can only tell you what the wrestlers have come to me and said, but I’ve had multiple wrestlers and staff report that to me. It was very disturbing. I’ve had to go out and try to put on good shows despite this alleged tampering, and stuff like that. Frankly, I don’t think it’s stopped us because the quality of the product and the quality of the shows is at an all-time high right now,” Khan stated.
Khan was asked whether the wrestling business is as dirty as the fight business.
“The wrestling business is very dirty,” Khan answered. “I can’t speak to the fight business but certainly, I think it’s more organized than the fight business. As far as there’s two, I think, well-organized promotions competing with each other.”
Khan continued, “Again, I don’t know if these things have happened. I only know what people have come to me and alleged. But, I do know it’s a real war between AEW and WWE.”
Khan also stated the biggest story in wrestling that makes for the most exciting television is the rivalry between the two companies as they try to put on the best product possible.
“I think we truly, truly hate each other and I think it makes for really exciting TV and it makes for an exciting wrestling war.”
Khan was asked about CM Punk’s status but didn’t give an answer. As noted, he’s a few months away from being medically cleared, although his future with the promotion is still up in the air.
Khan put over the recent Dynamite episodes and the quality of their shows. He pointed to the fan ratings on Cagematch.net as proof of that. Check out the interview here:
If you use any portion of the quotes from this article, please credit The Dan Le Batard Show with Stugotz with an h/t to WrestlingNews.co for the transcription.
