Tony Khan Confirms Discussion Of AEW Training Facility, Is Still Interested

Tony Khan confirmed a report about discussion of an AEW training facility and said he’s still interested in doing it. It was reported on Wednesday that AEW talked earlier this year about having a training facility in Asheville, North Carolina. The report noted that the company decided not to do it due to the cost associated with the matter.

Khan answered a question about the report during Thursday’s media call promoting AEW WrestleDream. He confirmed that the facility was talked about and added that he’s still interested in it. He also confirmed that that Adam Copeland, Beth Phoenix and FTR would be involved and put a storyline slant on why the facility hasn’t happened, saying that Cope’s feud with FTR caused the notion to be put on hold.

As you will likely recall, Cope and Christian Cage battled FTR at AEW All Out. After the match, FTR assaulted Phoenix and hit her with a spiked piledriver. Copeland took time away from AEW at that point, which was a way to write him off so he could film the new season of Percy Jackson in which he plays Ares. You can see Khan’s comments from the media call below:

On the report of the training facility being discussed:

“Yeah, I am interested. And it’s something I’ve talked about. But I was kind of surprised to see the report, because I’m still interested in that. And I would say there was — it’s one of those things where you read something and there’s a lot of truth to it. But then, you know, when you’re around the situation sometimes and you see something reported, sometimes you say, ‘Okay, well that’s part of the story but not the whole story.’

On Copeland’s feud with FTR:

“Obviously, it’s a different relationship with FTR and Adam Copeland than it was earlier this year. These guys have been butting heads. They fought in this incredible grudge match, and then FTR piledrove Adam Copelan’s wife and did one of the most terrible things you could possibly do to a family. And FTR are two of the greatest wrestlers we’ve had in AEW. They’ve been with us for years. And we’re really blessed to have Adam Copeland in AEW. I love all three of those guys very, very, very much, and I
think the world of all three of them.

On the facility potentially still happening down the line:

“If FTR and Adam Copeland can rebuild their relationship, that is something I’m very interested in, is having that facility. But you know, right now I think if I tried to put Cope and FTR in a room together, FTR would try to tear his head off. And then Cope would try to tear their head [off]…

“So I do think that is something that there is interest in. And I do think in the long term, in the big picture… I hope that Adam Copeland and FTR can rebuild that relationship, because I am interested in that. I think they would be absolutely fantastic mentors… But I would love to have those guys reunite and be able to rekindle that project we did talk about, which is a real idea about having FTR and Copeland with an AEW-affiliated training school.”