AEW President Tony Khan took questions from the media on Saturday following the Full Gear pay-per-view in Newark, New Jersey, addressing a range of topics.
Continental Classic update
Khan confirmed that the Continental Classic will begin on the Thanksgiving Eve edition of Dynamite on Wednesday. He noted that he has a “very good idea” of the participants for the Gold and Blue Leagues and expects to announce the field early this week.
However, Khan stated that Kyle O’Reilly will likely be unable to participate following his match against Jon Moxley at Full Gear. He expressed disappointment for O’Reilly, noting it was arguably the biggest win of his career but left him with injuries.
Kyle O’Reilly will probably be out of action and it’s unfortunate because Kyle did want to wrestle in the Continental Classic he was really excited about it… I think Kyle’s probably not going to be cleared and will probably have to deal with some injuries coming out of what was an incredible no-holds-barred match.
Reflections on 2025
When asked to compare the current state of the company to one year ago, Khan described the difference as “180 degrees.” He admitted to feeling “embattled” at this time last year but views the 2024 edition of Full Gear as part of a turnaround.
Khan highlighted the consistency of AEW programming throughout the year. He claimed that Dynamite had “gained share” on TBS in the first three quarters of the year and that Collision is back in a groove following sports preemptions.
I’ve just been so happy with the AEW shows. I think this has been the most consistent year. I thought tonight was another great pay-per-view. It’s just opinions, it’s all personal opinions, but I feel like we’re batting a thousand on the shows this year.
Full Gear performance and start times
Regarding the commercial performance of the pay-per-view, Khan stated he would not have final data until next week but was encouraged by early numbers. He cited strong international support and advanced buys as indicators of a “great success story.”
Khan also addressed the recent experiments with earlier start times for pay-per-views after a question noting that the pay-per-views are rarely done by midnight ET.
He added that “in the history of the company”, AEW has been contracted to run pay-per-views that run “about 3 hours and 45 minutes”.
I look at Saturdays and Sundays different. We have a history of doing more Saturday pay-per-views in Q4. Particularly during football season, I really think it serves us well not to do Sunday pay-per-views. Saturday pay-per-views, I will always be a little more flexible than Sunday, but also I think there was something to the early start time pay-per-views too.
Breakout stars for 2026
Looking ahead to the future, Khan was asked to name three wrestlers with breakout potential for 2026. While he was thinking, Renee Paquette nominated Kevin Knight. Khan immediately agreed and also named Knight’s partner “Speedball” Mike Bailey.
Khan also praised Willow Nightingale, despite her loss in the four-way match at Full Gear. He noted the strong crowd support she received as evidence of her star power.
I think Kevin Knight would be a great answer. The Jet is a great answer for that somebody who has absolute breakout potential… and along with him you could absolutely say his partner… I still think Willow Nightingale is going to be one of the biggest stars.
Warner Bros. Discovery potential sale
Khan was asked if he had concerns regarding reports of potential suitors for Warner Bros. Discovery, specifically those with existing wrestling commitments. He dismissed any worry, citing the current partnership with TBS, TNT, and HBO Max.
I am not worried at all. I feel really really good. First of all, we have a great partnership with Warner Bros. Discovery… That doesn’t concern me at all. I’m very very very optimistic about the future of AEW and where everything’s going.
Additional notes
- Condolences: Khan opened the press conference by offering condolences to the families of wrestling photographer George Tahinos and legendary broadcaster Bob Caudle.
- Burnout: Khan dismissed potential burnout, stating that he has not taken a break from wrestling in a long time but remains “obsessed” with the industry. He noted that he has not missed a show in seven years and feels “very much in the zone” regarding his work.
- Scouting criteria: Khan compared the recruitment process to scouting football players, observing that different athletes are required to fill specific roles. He emphasized that he prioritizes talent that can connect with the audience and will be a “good fit” for the locker room.
- GalaxyCon: Khan confirmed that AEW will hold both Collision and ROH Final Battle at GalaxyCon this year. He noted that they have secured a bigger space and set compared to the previous year.
- Music rights: Addressing the use of licensed music for Hangman Page, Khan reiterated his strategy of paying for rights in perpetuity. He stated this ensures music will not need to be edited out of future archived viewings.
- Ricochet: Khan praised Ricochet’s National Championship win and compared his potential to that of Mercedes Moné. He suggested Ricochet could defend the title in promotions such as NJPW and CMLL.
- Jazwares: When asked about the future of the partnership with action figure manufacturer Jazwares, Khan said he could not speak to the exact duration remaining but praised the relationship.
