Notes from PWInsider:
On the status of William Regal, Khan said that going back a few months, it's been crazy. Going back to All Out, a lot of things happened. The next few weeks were a really important time for the company and it was all hands on deck. They had to overhaul a lot of things and Khan was happy with the success they had. He noted that leading into Grandslam, his mother had a stroke and it was a really stressful time for his family while a lot of things needed to be done with AEW. The Mayo Clinic couldn't figure out why she had the stroke and released her. They kept going forward at AEW. A few weeks later, she had a second stroke around his 40th birthday.
That same night, he got a call that William Regal had approached Megha, AEW's head of legal. Regal's son works for another wrestling promotion and asked that when his option to renew for another year came up, that AEW does not do that. He said it was a complex situation for AEW because of his role on-screen but Regal in his golden years, wanted to go to coach and work with people he was friends with. After his mom's second stroke, they found a spot on his mother's heart and if they could remove the spot, that was the best chance to stop the strokes from happening. He said his sister was a hero who was at his mother's side. As they went to Toronto, his mother was having the surgery and Regal's request came in at the same time. Khan had to think about it. Toronto's shows were successful. His mother's surgery was successful.
Tony was spending nights with his mom while the rest of his family stayed with her during the day. He was there and his mom was asleep and he received a message from Regal asking if they could talk. They had a "long, good talk and it was very positive." He said he felt Regal had good intentions for wanting to go back and be with his son. Khan said that it made a lot of sense to him and in that moment, as he was sitting at the hospital with his mother, he didn't want to prevent any parent and son from being together and working together. He had to think about how to make it happen, but also family and how they could accomodate him. Khan said he worked on changes and it's a complete overhaul, just as they made changes going into Forbidden Door and coming out of All Out.
Tony had a long, 90 minute conversation with Regal after Jacksonville and told him his company would make a sacrifice to make the best situation for Regal's family. He said Regal is with them through the end of the year. He said his mother is doing well and he's thankful to his father and his sister for all they did. He said he wishes Regal the best. He enjoyed Regal's time here and it was hard to see him go but he's not gone yet.
On Ring of Honor returning to weekly TV, Khan said he has two amazing companies. AEW comes first but he doesn't want ROH to take a back seat. He also doesn't want ROH to be the focus of AEW TV and after this week, he will be limiting how much ROH is on AEW TV. He said he'll punt the question about ROH TV to after Final Battle.
Khan was asked about the Rampage ratings dropping and how he will address. He's looking to put strong matches on Rampage and with the depth of the roster, it's a time for Khan to put all hands on deck on Friday. He always tries to listen to the feedback to the fans.
Khan was asked about the potential of AEW running Latin America in the future. Khan said they've upped their international presence and TV this year. There are great markets he'd love to run. On the potential of ROH running internationally, Khan pointed out that ROH has run internationally in the past and that he once attended a ROH show in London. He is open to international events for both brands.
On Athena, Khan said her work lately has been compelling and feels she's doing her best work ever right now. He talked up the match with Mercedes Martinez this Saturday.
On Juice Robinson vs. Samoa Joe, Khan talked about Robinson as a potential great TV Champ for ROH.
On whether Maria Kanellis will be used as a backstage asset, Khan said there has been discussions about that.
On Jade Cargill, Khan said she's her own great star. He has a lot of excitement for her and she'll be in action tonight in a trios match. He praised her stage presence as someone that people gravitate towards and make them interested in wrestling.
On Shane Taylor, Khan declined to comment on his contractual status. He said that he's been trying to build a new, exciting version of ROH and that includes bringing in those who were successful in the past as well as internationally. He said Taylor's match this Saturday should be an interesting family affair.
On ROH creative, Khan said there is a lot of crossover with people who work on each company. He's the head of creative for both. There are some who do coaching in ROH that don't in AEW and vice versa but there's crossover.
On FTR, Khan said that he has a great appreciation for them. Through no fault of their own, they have been involved in shuffling of plans due to talents being injured and not being around. He said CM Punk's injury led to months of stories changing, as an example. He said that tonight is a big night for them. He said that it's been a really hard year for him and they've been really supportive. They had challenges in their own lives and are so passionate, they want to wrestle and wrestle hard every week on TV. With them being all over the world, there have been times he's had plans for them that had to change. He said that starting tonight there will be a lot of Christmas spirit on AEW programming. What they have done this year is remarkable, winning belts in three promotions while also having great matches in AEW and still wanting to do more. Khan said that he feels he's got a new lease of life with everything that has gone on and he's looking forward to tonight and going forward. He said tonight is an important night for AEW with The Acclaimed vs. FTR.
On where FTR's match on the PPV is, Khan said that we have to wait and see where FTR ends up after tonight's Dynamite.
On whether they will add more AEW PPVs next year, Khan said it's a good question but nothing is locked in yet. He doesn't want to over-saturate the market. It could be 5 is the right number.
Khan said ROH has already been beyond all projections. The previous shows have doubled projections.
After Final Battle, he can talk more about the future of ROH. He feels strong about the present and future of AEW.
On the status of William Regal, Khan said that going back a few months, it's been crazy. Going back to All Out, a lot of things happened. The next few weeks were a really important time for the company and it was all hands on deck. They had to overhaul a lot of things and Khan was happy with the success they had. He noted that leading into Grandslam, his mother had a stroke and it was a really stressful time for his family while a lot of things needed to be done with AEW. The Mayo Clinic couldn't figure out why she had the stroke and released her. They kept going forward at AEW. A few weeks later, she had a second stroke around his 40th birthday.
That same night, he got a call that William Regal had approached Megha, AEW's head of legal. Regal's son works for another wrestling promotion and asked that when his option to renew for another year came up, that AEW does not do that. He said it was a complex situation for AEW because of his role on-screen but Regal in his golden years, wanted to go to coach and work with people he was friends with. After his mom's second stroke, they found a spot on his mother's heart and if they could remove the spot, that was the best chance to stop the strokes from happening. He said his sister was a hero who was at his mother's side. As they went to Toronto, his mother was having the surgery and Regal's request came in at the same time. Khan had to think about it. Toronto's shows were successful. His mother's surgery was successful.
Tony was spending nights with his mom while the rest of his family stayed with her during the day. He was there and his mom was asleep and he received a message from Regal asking if they could talk. They had a "long, good talk and it was very positive." He said he felt Regal had good intentions for wanting to go back and be with his son. Khan said that it made a lot of sense to him and in that moment, as he was sitting at the hospital with his mother, he didn't want to prevent any parent and son from being together and working together. He had to think about how to make it happen, but also family and how they could accomodate him. Khan said he worked on changes and it's a complete overhaul, just as they made changes going into Forbidden Door and coming out of All Out.
Tony had a long, 90 minute conversation with Regal after Jacksonville and told him his company would make a sacrifice to make the best situation for Regal's family. He said Regal is with them through the end of the year. He said his mother is doing well and he's thankful to his father and his sister for all they did. He said he wishes Regal the best. He enjoyed Regal's time here and it was hard to see him go but he's not gone yet.
On Ring of Honor returning to weekly TV, Khan said he has two amazing companies. AEW comes first but he doesn't want ROH to take a back seat. He also doesn't want ROH to be the focus of AEW TV and after this week, he will be limiting how much ROH is on AEW TV. He said he'll punt the question about ROH TV to after Final Battle.
Khan was asked about the Rampage ratings dropping and how he will address. He's looking to put strong matches on Rampage and with the depth of the roster, it's a time for Khan to put all hands on deck on Friday. He always tries to listen to the feedback to the fans.
Khan was asked about the potential of AEW running Latin America in the future. Khan said they've upped their international presence and TV this year. There are great markets he'd love to run. On the potential of ROH running internationally, Khan pointed out that ROH has run internationally in the past and that he once attended a ROH show in London. He is open to international events for both brands.
On Athena, Khan said her work lately has been compelling and feels she's doing her best work ever right now. He talked up the match with Mercedes Martinez this Saturday.
On Juice Robinson vs. Samoa Joe, Khan talked about Robinson as a potential great TV Champ for ROH.
On whether Maria Kanellis will be used as a backstage asset, Khan said there has been discussions about that.
On Jade Cargill, Khan said she's her own great star. He has a lot of excitement for her and she'll be in action tonight in a trios match. He praised her stage presence as someone that people gravitate towards and make them interested in wrestling.
On Shane Taylor, Khan declined to comment on his contractual status. He said that he's been trying to build a new, exciting version of ROH and that includes bringing in those who were successful in the past as well as internationally. He said Taylor's match this Saturday should be an interesting family affair.
On ROH creative, Khan said there is a lot of crossover with people who work on each company. He's the head of creative for both. There are some who do coaching in ROH that don't in AEW and vice versa but there's crossover.
On FTR, Khan said that he has a great appreciation for them. Through no fault of their own, they have been involved in shuffling of plans due to talents being injured and not being around. He said CM Punk's injury led to months of stories changing, as an example. He said that tonight is a big night for them. He said that it's been a really hard year for him and they've been really supportive. They had challenges in their own lives and are so passionate, they want to wrestle and wrestle hard every week on TV. With them being all over the world, there have been times he's had plans for them that had to change. He said that starting tonight there will be a lot of Christmas spirit on AEW programming. What they have done this year is remarkable, winning belts in three promotions while also having great matches in AEW and still wanting to do more. Khan said that he feels he's got a new lease of life with everything that has gone on and he's looking forward to tonight and going forward. He said tonight is an important night for AEW with The Acclaimed vs. FTR.
On where FTR's match on the PPV is, Khan said that we have to wait and see where FTR ends up after tonight's Dynamite.
On whether they will add more AEW PPVs next year, Khan said it's a good question but nothing is locked in yet. He doesn't want to over-saturate the market. It could be 5 is the right number.
Khan said ROH has already been beyond all projections. The previous shows have doubled projections.
After Final Battle, he can talk more about the future of ROH. He feels strong about the present and future of AEW.