Tony Khan Addresses AEW Stars ‘Hating Each Other’ Backstage

AEW

Tony Khan has addressed AEW stars hating each other backstage.

CM Punk has been at the center of controversy since his AEW All Out 2022 post-show media scrum which led to a physical backstage altercation between himself and The Elite (Kenny Omega and the Young Bucks) that resulted in the two parties and others being suspended in the aftermath.

Punk recently returned to the promotion this past June for the launch of the AEW Collision show, but the issues between him and The Elite have remained, as well as news of some others.

In particular, word has emerged that Hangman Page, Ryan Nemeth and Christopher Daniels are all essentially not allowed to be backstage at Collision due to Punk having issues with them and his major influence on the show.

Speaking with The Hollywood Reporter ahead of AEW All In London, AEW President Tony Khan addressed wrestlers hating each other or not getting along backstage. He said:

“The most important thing to me as the CEO is the wrestling fans. I’m a huge wrestling fan, and I try to think like a wrestling fan. I want the best wrestlers here in AEW. I want the best roster.”

“And there may be some of them that don’t get along with each other backstage or on TV. It’s not ideal, but it’s a reality, and I can’t make everyone get along. I’m not sure it’s necessarily even in the best interest of pro wrestling for everybody to get along.”

“But ideally, everybody is going to be able to focus on their matches and putting on the best shows for the fans. And I think that’s what we’ve been doing. We’ve had really strong ratings.”

“So even though … wrestlers backstage hate each other and don’t want to be friends with each other, I think we all agree this is a really exciting time for the company. And it’s a really exciting time for the wrestling business and for the wrestling fans.”

Khan continued on to explain that he is trying to create an environment for all his wrestlers to thrive, saying:

“There are a lot of people around here who think they’re the best. And I think a lot of them have a valid claim that they’re the best.”

“And what I’m trying to do is to create an environment where everybody can go out and prove it multiple times per week and create a platform where the fans can decide who the best wrestlers are, what the best rivalries are, what the best matches are.”

“As long as I can keep the top talent in AEW, we will have the best matches and the best big events.”

“The lineup of wrestlers competing on AEW All In is the strongest group of talent we’ve ever assembled on one show, it features some of the biggest matches in the history of this company, and I think it’s going to be one of the greatest days ever in pro wrestling this Sunday.”

All Elite Wrestling will host AEW All In London in front of over 80,000 fans from Wembley Stadium this Sunday, August 27. At the event, CM Punk will defend his Real World Championship against Samoa Joe.

The show will be headlined by MJF defending the AEW World Championship against Adam Cole. Also, FTR will face The Young Bucks for the AEW World Tag Team Championships.

For the full lineup for the show, click here.

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• The Elite
• cm punk
• tony khan
• AEW

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