Tony Khan Reacts To Eric Bischoff Telling Him To ‘Shut Up & Wrestle’

Tony Khan Reacts To Eric Bischoff Telling Him To ‘Shut Up & Wrestle’

Tony Khan has responded to Eric Bischoff criticising the AEW President for his recent comments about WWE and competition.

Speaking on Busted Open Radio, Khan confessed that he was caught off-guard by Bischoff telling him to ‘shut up and wrestle’. Noting that he’ll respond when there’s competition on his doorstep, Khan said:

“I really like Eric and I was kind of surprised by Eric’s comments, because they were coming from Eric Bischoff,” Khan said. “I think Eric Bischoff is probably the last person anyone would expect to say that a President of a wrestling company should be quiet. But when it comes to head-to-head competition, we were in one this past week. It was only 30 minutes and I didn’t ask for it. We were in our time slot, and somebody came into our time slot aggressively. This is the first time on a Friday we’ve gone head to head like that.

“I thought it was pretty aggressive what they came in with, they loaded it up with the biggest stars they had. And I had to make a choice; do I change up the card we have? You have CM Punk, who’s one of the biggest names in all of wrestling, and he’s wrestling Matt Sydal, who’s a great high flyer and great technical wrestler and very respected, but not the biggest box office name in all of wrestling. That’s a great match for the fans. I had to think ‘do I change that to a crazy box office match to try and go head to head?’ And no I didn’t. I stuck with the matches we had because I believe in our wrestlers.

“I was amused by Eric’s comments. I like Eric when we’re together, but this is the ultimate example, I think, of glass houses in some ways, knowing how Eric conducted himself as the President of WCW.”

“For Eric Bischoff, of all people, the guy who got lowered down on a motorcycle from the ceiling, the guy who challenged Vince McMahon to fight him, to say that somebody should be quiet is laughable. Eric is doing an act and I respect it. But let’s be serious; Eric used to be a wrestling company executive, and now he is a commentator. And as a commentator, he’s trying to stir up controversy.

“I think it would be pretty naïve of anybody and not examine that the person talking is Eric Bischoff, who is the most outspoken wrestling executive of all time, and somebody who got a lot of heat. But also somebody that, look, the things that I’m trying to do in terms of balancing the great stars we have like a CM Punk, Chris Jericho, Bryan Danielson and people who have come in with years of experience.

“When Eric says ‘focus on the wrestling‘, I am focused on the wrestling, and pushing these people and not running (them) out of the company. Chris Jericho couldn’t get out of WCW fast enough. Eddie Guerrero was put in his place and the wrestlers and were told by their boss ‘there’s only three guys in the company.’ When Eric said that Hogan, Savage and Piper were the only three guys that ever drew money, of course a slap in the face to a few other people in the room, but also what does that say to the morale of the young wrestlers who are busting their ass every week? It just doesn’t make sense.

“I am happy and grateful to not go off like that every week. Really only when there’s a call for it, when there’s competition for us on our door step and we have to respond. I’m just really grateful for the fans, for their support and I think there’s nothing to talk about now, because I think we did what we had to do last weekend. And now we can enjoy it and also look forward to a great card this weekend.”

Khan has also announced that an AEW preview special will air ahead of Saturday Night Dynamite.
Transcription via WrestlingInc.

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2 years ago by Sanchez Taylor

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