WWE CEO Nick Khan On If He Feels ‘Threatened’ By Tony Khan & AEW

WWE

WWE CEO Nick Khan has spoken out about whether or not he feels “threatened” by Tony Khan and rival wrestling company AEW.

Since WWE executive chairman Vince McMahon has returned to the company, there have been a number of shake-ups in WWE, with the company reportedly looking to sell by mid-2023.

Among the names that have been bandied about as potential buyers, AEW’s Tony and Shahid Khan have reportedly expressed an interest in purchasing or merging with the competing product.

Nick Khan sat down for an interview on sports analyst Bill Simmons’ podcast, where he spoke about a wide range of topics, including whether he sees his AEW counterpart (Khan-terpart) as a threat:

“I don’t feel threatened by anyone on anything. It’s just not how I do business. I don’t care what anyone else is doing. I care what we’re doing.

“And as long as we can have the best product on with the best talent and the best writers, I think we’re going to be in good shape.”

Nick Khan also addressed Vince McMahon’s WWE return, and the debunked reports that WWE had agreed to sell to the Saudi Arabian Public Investment Fund.

Paul Levesque (Triple H) told WWE talent in a meeting before SmackDown on January 13 and before Raw on January 16 that nothing would change on the creative side of things and he would still be the person heading that up.

He did say he and McMahon “may have discussions”, but Levesque is the one making final decisions.

However, it’s worth remembering that WWE did hold a meeting with employees (not talent) a week earlier and the message was “business as usual” and that no management would be changing, and then Stephanie McMahon resigned just days later, so it seems even what’s being said in the meetings is a fluid situation and things may change.

On January 6, using his power as majority owner, Vince McMahon put himself and former WWE presidents George Barrios and Michelle Wilson back on the company’s Board of Directors, disposing of JoEllen Lyons Dillon, Jeffrey R Speed, and Alan M Wexler in the process.

McMahon had stated that his intention was to facilitate a sale of the company.

He changed bylaws to ensure that no sale or media rights deal could be completed without his approval.

Upon McMahon’s return, two further Board members resigned of their own volition, those being Man Jit Singh – who was the one heading up the Board’s investigation into McMahon – and Ignace Lahoud.

Stephanie McMahon then resigned from her role as co-CEO and Chairwoman and her position on the Board on January 10, as Vince McMahon was elected Executive Chairman.

On January 15, Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer reported that Vince McMahon was back in his office and had been “suggesting changes” to different departments.

On January 17, WWE made a new SEC filing stating that, as of January 16, Vince McMahon no longer needs stockholders’ approval for his actions.

There has been much speculation that Vince McMahon was looking to sell to a party that would commit to keeping him in charge of the company despite the multiple sexual assault allegations that have surfaced in the past year that led to his initial ‘retirement’ in July.

You can keep up with all the latest news and updates on a potential WWE sale by clicking here.

Transcription courtesy of F4WOnline.

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