Tony Khan spoke to the media ahead of this Sunday’s Forbidden Door pay-per-view at SAP Center in San Jose, California, which is co-produced by AEW, NJPW, CMLL, and Stardom.
Below are highlights from the call:
- There is excitement about adding Redemption to AEW’s PPV calendar.
- Sammy Guevara and The Beast Mortos will defend their ROH tag team titles against Mistico and Mascara Dorada this week. However, Tony Khan would not speculate if the titles would be on the line in the three-way tag at Forbidden Door if Sky Team were to win the match.
- Khan revealed there have been conversations with some partners about more global access to MyAEW.
- It was confirmed that the following wrestlers are experiencing visa issues: Beast Mortos, Komander, Hechicero, Gabe Kidd, and Mark Davis.
- Khan noted that Toni Storm, Jay White, Keith Lee, and Britt Baker are in different positions and some are closer to returning than others.
- There was praise for Maya World’s recent work, and it was noted that World was offered time off, which everyone would have been OK with, but she wanted to go to work.
- Jack Perry reportedly has not re-signed with AEW, but Khan said the plan is for Perry to remain with AEW for a long time.
- According to Khan, Bushiroad transferring their shares of NJPW to TV Asahi and CyberAgent has not changed NJPW’s day-to-day work.
- Willow Nightingale’s recovery process will be followed up on, but the hope is that she will return “relatively soon.”
- Khan was asked if there would be interest in acquiring the tape libraries of companies like PWG or Lucha Underground for MyAEW, and he said that it would depend on the situation. There is more interest in helping promote and host current independent companies.
- There was praise for Thekla and the hope that she can continue to be in AEW for years to come.
- On the potential of free agents showing up at Forbidden Door, Khan said a lot of the names linked to AEW are still under contract to other promotions, so he wouldn’t expect to see them.
- Khan named Puerto Rico as a priority market in the future for AEW.
- Tony called Mercedes Mone versus Hazuki one of the best Dynamite matches and said Hazuki is always welcome back.
- There was excitement about having Stardom and CMLL talent on this year’s show amid a different process in putting a PPV together.
- Khan noted that Starlight Kid is someone he’s asked about for years and always wanted to have in AEW.
- Tony was asked if he’d be willing to buy TNA if Anthem put it up for sale. He asked how much, and the hypothetical of $40 million was suggested. Khan said no, and that it would have to be at the right price, and that it isn’t a top priority, nor something he’s had serious discussions about.
- Zack Sabre Jr. was called Mr. Forbidden Door, and there was interest in having him in more AEW events, but an understanding of how important he is to NJPW.
