Tony Khan Discusses His Growth as the Head of AEW, Changing His Approach, and Taking ‘The High Road’ Now

During a recent interview with Ringer Wrestling, AEW President and CEO Tony Khan discussed his leadership of the company, what provoked his change in approach, and opting to take the high road more often now. Below are some highlights:

Tony Khan on Moments That Made Him Decide To Change His Approach as an Owner

“Yeah, I think I’ve gone around uh a few different revolutions now, and I feel really great about where AW is. We all learn and grow, and it comes with experience. And the way somebody might do things their first or second year in the NFL might be different than they would do it in their sixth or seventh year in the NFL. And for me, now going into my seventh year in wrestling. Absolutely. I’ve learned a lot, and I feel really great that AW’s gotten stronger and continues to grow. I’m very grateful for the support of the fans, and I just like what we’re doing. I think in 2024 it was an important transitional year for us, and then it set us up for a great 2025, and it was about building foundational pieces, and we have a lot of great people, so many great wrestlers. I really believe AEW is where the best wrestle I think we have the best roster of pro wrestlers in the world. I also think we have a lot of great minds in the company.”

On His Change in Approach

“An important thing that happened, I think, in late 2024 and kind of early 2025. I mentioned when I believed it was really important for Hangman and MJF to be on a collision course at the start of 2025, and I made a lot of changes. You know, I do like to get a lot of ideas from different people, but it was about five years apart. At the start of 2020 and then at the start of 2025, almost exactly 5 years apart, Christmas 2019 and Christmas 2024, that week kind of leading into then, you know, January 1, 2020, January 1, 2025. I had very similar reflections almost exactly five years apart, where it’s like you can listen to a lot of people but like you’re responsible for this, and you have to do the ideas you believe in, and you can’t — if some you take somebody else’s idea it’s not their fault it’s my fault.”

On Making a Lot of Changes in AEW

“So I made a lot of changes at the start of 2020, and I made a lot of changes at the start of 2025, and both times they were really good changes. If you remember some of what we did at the start of 2020, it felt like it was better than what we were doing at the end of 2019. 19 and I think that happened again at the start of 2025, where I was like, ‘Okay, I locked in.’ Kind of in the weeds is the expression people like to use. So, I locked in a different way. But I agree with what you’re saying, too. And you know, I think it’s good to take the high road, and like you said, I think at the beginning of AEW it was good to have that outlaw rebellious spirit, but now we’re more established, and you know this is coming from more of a veteran place. So I definitely agree with that, and I appreciate that very much.”

On the Perception That He’s Too Nice

“Well, you know, before I worked in wrestling, I had a lot of experience in sports. You know, I’ve been in the NFL for 15 years, working in the front office of the Jacksonville Jaguars. I’ve got a lot of experience working with different brilliant football people. There’s different ways to lead, and they can both be right. You just have to be true to yourself. And as long as you’re a good person or respectful, it’s okay to lead like Tom Coughlin and be a hard-headed, brilliant leader who’s very principled and very disciplined and will drive people and demand that excellence of others in the way that Tom Coughlin does, which can be sometimes hard-headed.

“And I love Tom so much. But that can be different from how Liam Cohen would do it, which might be a little softer modern approach, but also they’re both great ways to do it. They’re both great coaches, and they’re very different people, and I think Tom’s a brilliant coach and I think Liam’s a brilliant coach and they’re different human beings, and the way Liam leads is different than how Tom leads, and they’re both great.”

AEW Dynasty 2026 is set for tomorrow. The event is being held at the Rogers Arena in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. It will be broadcast live on pay-per-view.

If using any of the above quotes, please credit Ringer Wrestling, with a h/t to 411mania.com for the transcription.