AEW president Tony Khan appeared on the Ariel Helwani Show and provided updates on multiple performers and reflected on CM Punk’s exit from the promotion.
Helwani previously interviewed Khan in October 2022, which Helwani later referred to as “the most frustrating interview in my career,” and led to numerous tweets back and forth between them in the ensuing months.
Tuesday’s interview was much more cordial, with Khan expanding on topics while still keeping his cards close to the vest on various talent situations.
Khan told Helwani he didn’t agree with Punk’s description of what occurred at All In in August 2023 and defended his decision to air the security footage on an April 2024 episode of Dynamite. In the footage, it can be observed that Punk confronted Jack Perry and lunged at an individual (believed to be Khan) and had to be restrained. One week later, Punk was fired by AEW and returned to WWE several months later.
The incident occurred shortly before Punk’s match with Samoa Joe at Wembley Stadium.
Later in the chat, Khan was asked about various performers. He didn’t specify if Andrade El Idolo was being held to a non-compete clause by WWE after appearing on the October 1 episode of Dynamite. Khan said that Andrade left the company in 2023 “on the best of terms” and is hopeful of working with him again. He didn’t respond if Andrade misrepresented his status after exiting WWE earlier this year.
Khan didn’t address what Chris Jericho’s contractual status is, although it was reported by Variety that he signed a three-year extension in 2022 and runs until the end of this year. Khan called Jericho one of the building blocks of AEW and put over his contributions to the company since signing in January 2019.
Khan said he was waiting for the “right time” to bring back Dr. Britt Baker and is awaiting the right situation and making she that she is “one hundred percent.” Baker has not wrestled over the past year and has had only five matches last year.
Will Ospreay is “on the recovery” and is hopeful for the “first half of 2026” for his return.
When asked about Adam Cole, Khan reacted, “That’s hard”. He stated that Cole had had some head injuries in the past and was glad he told them he wasn’t prepared to wrestle. Helwani asked about Cole’s future, and Khan said, “It would have to be the right situation for Adam to wrestle again,” but would keep him as part of the AEW family and would always have a role. He didn’t outright dismiss the idea of Cole wrestling again.
