Tony Khan on How He Pays Attention to TV Ratings, Longer Matches on AEW Dynamite

– Busted Open Radio recently spoke to AEW President Tony Khan, who discussed TV ratings, match times on Dynamite, and more. Below are some highlights (via WrestlingInc.com).

Tony Khan on having longer matches on Impact: “I get that not every match can be twenty or thirty minutes. But having some good long matches in the show every week is very important. You know, we don’t three or four PPV’s a month. Our PPV’s are quarterly, they’re big events. And I’d be remiss if I didn’t tell people you get to see great, long matches (on Dynamite). You’re going to see ten, fifteen, sometimes twenty, twenty five minute matches. Last week the Young Bucks with PAC and Fenix went close to a half an hour and had one of the best matches you’re ever going to see. And that was totally free on Dynamite. And every Wednesday, on TNT, we try to offer people that promise, that guarantee that you’re going to see quality wrestling on this show.”

Tony Khan on if he pays attention to ratings: “Yeah, I do. This week with so many tough matches on the card it was really tough slotting the matches. But on the other hand, based on the way a lot of the stars are performing, you know the show rating was very consistent last week. So we’ve gotten to a point, on TV wrestling, I’m not really sure it really matters in the two hour card where you are as long as you get some good time. Because it’s all prime time. 8 to 10 Eastern, 7 to 9 Central, these are prime hours. Anything you get in there is good. So I think everybody’s really clamped onto that real estate and we were able to maintain a great audience throughout the show. There wasn’t a lot of flipping in and out. When I was putting it together (last night’s show), yeah, you want big stars in those spots. And we have people who have delivered in those spots, consistently. Hangman has gone out, time and time again, and come out and opened the show with some great, great matches and started us out with some big ratings. Ricky Starks, same thing. Both guys have been in segments coming out of the gate that have done a million. That’s a huge, huge match for us.”

Khan on Deonna Purrazzo wanting to face AEW wrestlers: “Well Deonna is a great wrestler. That would be great for everybody. I hadn’t necessarily considered unifying those titles, but that’s something to see.

His thoughts on Kenny Omega vs. Rich Swann at Rebellion: “I think people have asked me why I haven’t gone out and spent a lot of money, Tommy [Dreamer], on promoting it (Omega-Swann). And I think it’s when I’ve gone to your guys shows (Impact) to promote cards, I’ve had to pay and buy ads. So that’s kind of on you guys. But here’s a little free ad from me, that this weekend Kenny Omega is coming up to Impact Wrestling. And he’s going to be wrestling for the world title. It’s possible Rich Swann could be the AEW World Champion next week. It’s also quite possible Kenny Omega will be the Impact Champion, the AAA Champion and of course the AEW World Champion. But we’ll see next week.”