Tony Khan’s X account has 399.7K followers, and every single one of them are well aware that his account could explode at any moment with an unexpected post. The AEW President did not disappoint today.
How it started
This week during WWE Raw, the official USA Network X account replied to former Wrestling Inc owner Raj Giri, who was acknowledging the history between Seth Rollins and Jinder Mahal.
These guys do have history. Seth Rollins defeated Jinder Mahal in the tournament finals to become the first NXT Champion. #WWERaw pic.twitter.com/FTrI5Cs82O
— Raj Giri (@TheRajGiri) January 9, 2024
The two former WWE Champions participated in a promo battle on the show and are set to compete for the WWE World Heavyweight Championship next week on the January 15th episode of RAW.
The response included a question about the Cagematch rating, seemingly taking a dig at AEW President Tony Khan, who often highlights the high Cagematch.net scores that AEW pay-per-views, shows, and matches receive.
The USA Network responded to Giri’s post to simply ask: What was the Cagematch rating?” This response blew up within the internet wrestling community, as fans both commended and criticized the account’s zero chill remark.
Tony Khan takes a shot at Jinder Mahal and WWE Booking
On January 9th, Tony Khan logged onto X, where he laid down a post about double standards. AEW has often been lauded as a “challenger brand,” and Khan was not shy about comparing Jinder Mahal’s WWE World Heavyweight Title shot to Hook being a logical challenger for Samoa Joe’s AEW World Title.
A double standard: @730hook 28-1 career record, on winning streak calls out the Champ, a logical challenge sparks online outrage Jinder has literally lost every single match he’s in for the past year, immediately gets title shot, where is the rage #AEWDynamite TOMORROW on TBS
A double standard:@730hook 28-1 career record, on winning streak calls out the Champ, a logical challenge sparks online outrage
Jinder has literally lost every single match he's in for the past year, immediately gets title shot, where is the rage#AEWDynamite TOMORROW on TBS
— Tony Khan (@TonyKhan) January 9, 2024
… and keeps tweeting
Tony Khan was not finished there. He then directed a reply directly at the USA Network’s post asking about a Cagematch rating. The AEW President pointed out that Jinder Mahal has gone a full year without winning a match, yet he’s getting a big match opportunity.
A moral victory for USA is one win more than their World Title challenger Jinder Mahal has in the past 364 days… because it’s been literally a full year since he won a match. You really put AEW in our place getting Jinder Mahal in a big match on your tv show. Do it more often.
A moral victory for USA is one win more than their World Title challenger Jinder Mahal has in the past 364 days… because it's been literally a full year since he won a match.
You really put AEW in our place getting Jinder Mahal in a big match on your tv show. Do it more often https://t.co/0kpuUsvkm1— Tony Khan (@TonyKhan) January 9, 2024
Jinder Mahal Reacts
Former WWE Champion Jinder Mahal replied to Tony Khan’s tweets about him and shut down in the situation in true ‘Modern Day Maharaja’ fashion.
Khan is familiar with expressing his thoughts and sparking discussions on social media. Last year, the AEW President shared a retweet, discussing how Shawn Michaels and Triple H aimed to convey a message to him through a loaded-up WWE NXT episode when their shows were in direct competition. He then proceeded to throw down a post where he called the WWE higher-ups “bald *ssholes.”
I have a message for them:
See you TONIGHT at a special Tuesday Night #AEWDynamite:
Title Fight Tuesday
At 8pm ET/7pm CT on @TBSNetwork
At least the first 30 Minutes Are Commercial-Free, + a big overrun TONIGHT! https://t.co/ZKVQVnlMnf pic.twitter.com/ruuc2k49kD— Tony Khan (@TonyKhan) October 10, 2023
Eric Bischoff Jumps In the Fray and things get even uglier
Tony Khan and Eric Bischoff directed some fiery tweets at each other in the aftermath of this situation. Bischoff called Khan a clown via emoji, and Tony replied by channeling the great Joan Collins to tell Bischoff he’s a ‘miserable has-been.’
#AEWDynamite pic.twitter.com/yq2fdbNi9v
— Tony Khan (@TonyKhan) January 9, 2024
A fan posted on X to say, “Tony forgets that he literally gave Abadon a title shot after being off AEW TV for over a year…. the same exact situation as Jinder.” Eric Bischoff noticed that post on X, and he replied to ask Tony Khan, “Hey Tony Khan is this true or is it a bot?”
Tony Khan then replied to Eric Bischoff, as he backed up his booking of Abadon.
No @EBischoff, not true at all. Abadon returned to AEW + then they won a 4 way match on TNT against other great wrestlers to earn a title shot, which is completely different than someone going a full year losing every match they’re in + getting a title shot without a single win.”
Tony Khan then followed that post up with another which said: “Reading would be your friend, Eric.”
No @EBischoff, not true at all.
Abadon returned to AEW + then they won a 4 way match on TNT against other great wrestlers to earn a title shot, which is completely different than someone going a full year losing every match they're in + getting a title shot without a single win https://t.co/tmo8TzuBAy— Tony Khan (@TonyKhan) January 9, 2024
Eric Bischoff promptly responded to Tony Khan, addressing AEW’s leader while referencing a Dave Meltzer quote.
“Oh kid, my reading comprehension skills are wizard like. By the way, that was one of @davemeltzerWON wicked comebacks whenever he’d get called out on his bs. Coincidence or are you really that deep?”
Oh kid, my reading comprehension skills are wizard like. By the way, that was one of @davemeltzerWON wicked comebacks whenever he’d get called out on his bs. Coincidence or are you really that deep? https://t.co/hDDxIii4gN
— Eric Bischoff (@EBischoff) January 10, 2024
More reactions
Here are some more reactions from the wrestling world at Tony Khan’s latest Twitter activity:
One troll tweet from @USANetwork sparked mayhem
— Chayanne Marte (@ChayMarte) January 10, 2024
We used to see wrestling companies drive jeeps up to the opposing company's venue, Billionaire Ted skits, giving away results and trying to fight each other at the ALAMO
Tweets? You all are mad over tweets and little comments at the Hall of Fame and stuff??
Cmon lol
— Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful.com (@SeanRossSapp) January 9, 2024
— The Realest Swerve Strickland (@swerveconfident) January 9, 2024
As hilarious and entertaining as it was, I can't believe yesterday happened on this app ??
— Stephanie Hypes (@StephanieHypes) January 10, 2024
