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The latest episode of the "AEW Unrestricted" podcast is now available.
The guest this week is none other than AEW President and CEO Tony Khan. Khan talks about balancing his time through all of his different sports entities and getting very little sleep. The podcast was recorded right after the announcement of the extension of the relationship of All Elite Wrestling with TNT. Tony discusses meeting head of TNT Kevin Riley at a Halloween party dressed as Macho Man Randy Savage. The pair had a later meeting in April 2018 where he initially broached the subject of the Warnermedia network getting back into the wrestling business with the initial idea of being Khan's "World's Best Wrestling". Khan talks about how at the time of that discussion WWE had gotten their TV deal and he knew it was possible for someone else to do it. He discussed the network's history with WCW and how they were talents out there that can make a viable company. Tony says he already had guys like Cody and Young Bucks in mind knowing their contracts were coming up with the Ring of Honor. The AEW President also mentions Chris Jericho, and his initial statements regarding wrestling in America but having discussions with his agent.
Khan states the whole process of getting the company up and going cost them tens of millions of dollars, but now they are finally seeing the light at the end of the total. He discusses how the pay-per-views are doing well despite a weaker pay-per-view market. Khan is asked about being the point man backstage which he says he enjoys being part of a creative committee that involves the EVP's and backstage coaches who have great wrestling experience. He discusses how it was important for "Dynamite" to be live because being taped does have the same energy. There is also discussion regarding the locker room and the learning curve in dealing a live broadcast saying that they're not an indie company.
Podcast host Tony Schiavone and Aubrey Edwards talk about the camaraderie backstage and how it's unlike any other locker room where they like to hang out together. Tony Khan discusses how he is different in terms of producing people backstage where he is not in everyone's ear all the time. They talk about how everyone learns from the production meetings with the wealth of knowledge, behind-the-scenes.
Khan talks about his want to take care of talent in the best way possible. He talks about how the promotion pays more per date than anyone. Aubrey talks about how for the first time in the wrestling business, she has stability and can plan for the future. Schiavone brings up how things used to be done in the old days. Tony Khan talks about how he believes that the new TV deal also brings stability to the company. Khan talks about with the extension with TNT it brings the second show which he feels is enough as he doesn't want to oversaturate the company. Tony talks about signing MJF and other young talent getting experience on television.
Khan discusses how he became a wrestling fan watching WCW Super Brawl in 1991. Khan discusses his love of Memphis Wrestling caused him to shirk his responsibilities in school one night making an Austin Idol compilation tape. He also talks about communicating online in the mid-90s with Randy Hales about Memphis. He talks about loving WCW Halloween Havoc 1991 more than the World Series that year. Aubrey mentions that despite Tony Khan's schedule with everything, he still would come to indie shows.
Tony Khan praises the podcast with Steve Austin as giving the company mainstream acceptance with the WWE Hall of Famer giving the show praise saying that there's no bigger approval. Khan discusses his annoyance with promos not being focused directly to the camera and having an omniscient perspective.
Khan says if AEW did not get their TV extension he was still all in on the project and they would've kept moving forward going into Double or Nothing this May.
He also praises Schiavone and Edwards for the jobs they are doing. They do the same for Tony Khan taking care of the roster
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