Add as a preferred source on Google Tony Khan did not seem bothered by how Paul Heyman referred to him recently.
During an appearance on 107.7 The Bone, the AEW President addressed Heyman’s comments after the WWE Hall of Famer said AEW changed the pro wrestling market by giving wrestlers and fans a real alternative.
Speaking with Chris Van Vliet, Heyman compared part of AEW’s style to ECW’s influence, mentioning names such as Jon Moxley, Rob Van Dam, and Jerry Lynn.
“Well, I appreciated what he said. I thankfully grew up as a big wrestling fan and I appreciate that he had some kind things to say about AEW and when I was growing up he was a major influence on me and a lot of people in pro wrestling. So that was gratifying.”
Khan also reacted positively to being called a “wolf” by Heyman.
“I also appreciated that he called me a wolf. That’s a nice thing to be referred to.”
Heyman’s original comments drew attention, especially because he acknowledged the financial impact AEW’s launch had on the business in 2019.
“Well, I certainly hope so. I mean it short changed the compensation packages for a lot of talent because there was a wolf across the river named Tony Khan that had a billion dollar checkbook that he could afford to pay a lot more money for talent than talent was making back in 2017, 2018, 2019.”
Heyman also acknowledged that AEW has established itself as a viable alternative to WWE, with a major television presence and a different identity.
“So it certainly changed the compensation for talent. And they’re on a viable network. They have a style that’s different than WWE’s. They present an alternative, if not a competitive brand.”
Khan used his response to highlight AEW’s current run, noting that Dynamite became the longest-running prime-time weekly pro wrestling show in TBS and TNT history, surpassing WCW Monday Nitro in 2025.
“Wednesday Night Dynamite is the longest running prime time pro wrestling show ever on TBS or TNT. And I think that’s amazing because there’s such a rich history of pro wrestling on TBS and TNT. They’re great channels. The legacy of wrestling on TBS goes back to 1971. And on TNT goes back to 1995. And none of the shows on those channels have lasted in prime time longer than Wednesday Night Dynamite.”
Khan also praised AEW’s current momentum, pointing to Double or Nothing, which took place on May 24 at Louis Armstrong Stadium in New York. The event featured nine matches on the main card, including five title matches.