Jason Burgos
Wrestling fans have long been concerned that Tony Khan’s own opinion and a select few allies are what he prefers backstage at AEW events. WWE legend D-Von Dudley seemingly confirmed that fear in a new interview.
There is no denying the success that All Elite Wrestling has had since starting up in 2019. However, as time has passed, there have long been rumblings that CEO Tony Khan wants total creative control and may not value the advice of pro wrestling veterans. Especially since he had zero experience in the industry before he invested millions in the startup.
In an interview with Video Gamer this week, WWE Hall of Famer D-Von Dudley revealed a weird story about Khan that proves he couldn’t care less about legends helping out backstage at AEW events, and would rather they compete in the ring even if they are well past their prime.
“I expressed to Tony that I didn’t wanna wrestle,” Dudley recalled about previous conversations with the AEW boss. “He kept trying to push it. I told him I don’t wanna wrestle anymore. And he wasn’t taking no for an answer. He couldn’t get that through his head.
“So I basically kept emphasizing that I wanted to be a producer. I did not wanna wrestle. He just wasn’t taking no for an answer. I’ve had three meetings with him and all three were a bust!”
D-Von Dudley is happy he didn’t land an AEW job
However, in hindsight, the WWE and ECW legend claims he is glad he didn’t end up with AEW. Because he says talent in the company don’t like the few people Khan is willing to actually listen to or let run the backstage areas.
“I don’t know if I would’ve felt comfortable in AEW. There’s just certain things about the organization that I don’t like,” he said. “And Tony Khan lets that happen. I think the talent is great, there’s no question about that.
“I’ve got friends in AEW, and a lot of the talent in AEW have the same frustration that I see. They just wish that certain people wouldn’t be calling the shots and that Tony would take more control.”
