Tony Khan on AEW’s PPV Buyrates Compared to WWE Before Launch of Network

– AEW President Tony Khan appeared on today’s edition of Busted Open Radio on SiriusXM, and he hyped up tonight’s episode of AEW Dynamite on TBS. Khan also revealed that AEW’s recent pay-per-view event buyrates are comparable to what WWE was drawing for their pay-per-view events before the launch of the WWE Network in early 2014. Below are some highlights (via WrestlingInc.com):

Tony Khan on AEW drawing similar PPV buys to WWE in 2013 before the launch of the WWE Network: “I don’t know if people know how significant the buys we’ve done for these shows are. But you look back for example at the competition, and before they stopped doing pay-per-views in 2013, at a time when it was arguably easier to get people to order a pay-per-view, or sit down and devote that time. But if it is an apples-apples comparison, nine years ago, at similar price points, we’re doing very similar sales. For example, just looking at before the [WWE] Network came in, and of competition doing pay-per-view, you know, just look back at the pay-per-view numbers in 2013, they are very similar to the numbers we’ve done for our last few pay-per-views. And before that, really, outside of WWE, nobody has done the pay-per-view numbers that we’re doing since the 90s. It’s a pretty great time for pro wrestling.”

His thoughts on The Hardys reuniting in AEW: “Right now, the reactions that Matt and Jeff Hardy are getting are some of the loudest reactions I’ve heard in the business. It’s three years for AEW, but I’ve been a fan for a long time and it’s very rare to hear anything like the huge buzz for Matt and Jeff. You know, just like wrestling things, You know, what’s old is new. Sometimes the simplest things are the best things. Just like building to that hot tag last week in the Hardy’s match, and the crowd being so hungry to see Jeff in the ring. It’s so great to hear, and it feels like Jeff has been here forever and he’s fitted into the locker room so well, and he’s fitted into AEW so well.”

On CM Punk returning tonight on Dynamite: “I’m so happy to have CM Punk back. And what an amazing match it was with MJF in the Dog Collar Match. Speaking of MJF, he’s here tonight too. It’ll be the first time we’ve heard from MJF since the Dog Collar Match, and also the first time we’ve heard from MJF since he screwed Wardlow out of the TNT Championship last week. So many exciting things happening in AEW right now. I’m absolutely thrilled about the line-up tonight and everything happening going forward.”