All Elite Wrestling President Tony Khan appeared on the X-Pac 12360 podcast on Wednesday and spoke to Sean Waltman about a wide variety of topics. In the first part of our recap, we covered what Khan said about his vision for the company, the challenges associated weekly programming and rumors of Goldberg joining AEW.

Khan also spoke about AEW partnering with other promotions, talk of AEW wrestlers receiving healthcare and male and female competing on an even financial playing field.

Partnering With Other Promotions

The Wrestling Observer Newsletter recently reported that AEW turned down a proposal to purchase Impact Wrestling. Khan flat out denied that AEW is interested in acquiring other wrestling promotions, saying “No. No.” at the prospect.

“We’re looking to start something new I am not looking to absorb… I am open to partnerships. There are a lot of people doing exciting things all over the world and especially internationally; I am very open to partnerships. And domestically, I think I’ve seen the future and it’s what we’re doing. I am very very happy with where we’re at today … I am not really looking to acquire a lot of other companies or even libraries but as far as partnerships and things of that nature I think there’s a lot of exciting things that people can do.”

Healthcare & Equal Pay

Coming out of Tuesday’s Double or Nothing press conference, there have been conflicting reports about whether or not AEW talent will be given health care coverage. Khan clarified the situation, noting that some AEW talent will be independent contractors (and allowed to wrestle elsewhere), but some AEW wrestlers (Cody and Brandi Rhodes, The Young Bucks)  will have full-time office jobs with AEW and will have similar benefits to other sports executives. “At the end of the day a lot of people are doing office jobs so a lot of wrestlers are gonna end up with healthcare out of this.”

As for the talk of ‘equal pay for men and women’ in AEW, Khan said it’s entirely based on performance and merit, but the ‘base pay’ is the same for everyone. From there, it’s up to the talent to perform. If certain people draw more money for the company, they will get paid more. But it will be an even playing field for everyone no matter their gender.

You can listen to Tony Khan’s appearance on X-Pac 12360 below:

All Elite Wrestling President Tony Khan was Sean Waltman’s guest on Wednesday’s edition of the X-Pac 12360 podcast. Khan spoke about a wide range of topics during the interview, including rumors that Bill Goldberg joining AEW, the prospect of partnering with other promotions, his vision for All Elite Wrestling and much more.

Tony Khan’s Vision For All Elite Wrestling

“I want to grow this into being something that the wrestling community will embrace… From top to bottom, beginning to end, every show we’re going to give you things we think you’re gonna enjoy and I don’t want to give you anything unless there’s a reason. Where it’s gonna be important later where you saw it, I don’t want to give you anything that you’re not going to enjoy now. If that makes sense… I think what we have, is we have a group of people with so much talent and so much wrestling know-how that I think we’re going to be able to generate a wrestling show that’s not just build with great work and awesome promos but spontaneity and a live show that really feels like a live show like ’ooh anything can happen’… I am excited about what we’re going to do.”

The Importance of Wins and Losses in Wrestling

Over the years, many fans have bemoaned the concept of “50/50” booking, a concept where everybody wins and loses against everyone else and nobody gets ahead. At the Double or Nothing press conference, Cody Rhodes referenced the importance of wins and losses in pro wrestling. Tony Khan agrees that it’s crucial for pro wrestling to be presented as athletic competition with consequential matches.

“[Wrestling] hasn’t been taken seriously as the true athletic competition it is, in other sports wins and losses matter and I feel like wins and losses are a huge part of the equation. I really want a win and a loss to be taken seriously and the win/loss component should be a huge part of the competition to build up to the championship. Something we will take very very seriously. In my background in sports, I am huge believer in statistics and I think that’s one area where in wrestling we’ve seen some cool stuff get over…To me I think there’s real opportunities to do some interesting things just in terms of building up athletes the way UFC has as legitimate competition.”

Challenges AEW Will Face

When asked about what challenges lie ahead, Tony Khan spoke about the need to produce a compelling product “every week” and deliver something people want to see (and will pay to see) regularly.

“I think it will be on the company to deliver something that people want to see and I think we have the performers that can deliver that, we have the brainpower within the organization to deliver that,” he said. “So, I think it’s not gonna be easy, everyone has to work really hard but I think that’s the challenge that everybody’s up too.”

You can listen to Tony Khan’s appearance on X-Pac 12360 below:

Shad and Tony Khan have released statements to the wrestling media about their new upstart wrestling promotion, All Elite Wrestling. Notably, Shad Khan reveals he is the lead investor in AEW and promises something new and authentic for wrestling fans worldwide.

Shad Khan Statement On All Elite Wrestling

“I am the lead investor, a supporter and a backer of All Elite Wrestling, and I anticipate great things today and into the future for AEW and everyone who has worked passionately on this week’s launch,” said Shad Khan, the 68-year-old patriarch of the family. “I know AEW will be welcomed by wrestling fans here in the U.S. and throughout the world who are ready for something new and authentic. AEW will work hard to deliver on that promise.”

Khan then turned attention to his son’s role in the promotion:

“As important, I am the father – the proud father – of Tony Khan, who will serve in a leadership role at AEW during the 2019 launch and in the years ahead. Tony will assemble a great team to take AEW over the top, for the benefit of everyone who loves the wrestling industry, while continuing to serve in his current capacities with the Jaguars and Fulham.”

He also stated that AEW will not take away from his other work:

“AEW will operate as an organization completely independently from my other interests. It will not deter attention or divert resources from any of my businesses, teams, projects or investments. At the same time, AEW will enjoy the same full commitment I given to everything and everyone in my life – my family and friends, my business and, in recent years, to sports, hospitality and now entertainment.”

Tony Khan Statement On All Elite Wrestling

“Wrestling fans are a community unlike most others,” the longtime wrestling fan stated. “I’ve been a part of this community since I was 7 years old, and I can tell you that wresting fans see the world every day through a special lens. We see wrestling in Hollywood films and tv shows, we see elements of wrestling in the presentation of sports and in the marketing of grandiose star athletes, and we certainly see wrestling in politics.”

Khan continued to talk about the wrestling community.

“The wrestling community is a constant; its members are diverse, we are physically located on all corners of the planet, yet we are constantly connected. Recently, a new family has formed, bonded by love and respect for wresting but armed with a vision and resources that have never before been available to the wrestling community. Our objective is to connect our community closer than ever before through All Elite Wrestling, or AEW.”

Tony Khan also pointed out his work with All Elite Wrestling won’t take away from his other obligations.

“AEW does not mean any less of a continued commitment to existing obligations and duties that I have, or my family has, to our business and sports interests. That will never be the case. What’s important is that every individual decision we make as family, whether it’s ownership or investment in a team or property, is 100 percent beneficial to those specific interests. I will always welcome that accountability and responsibility, as nothing is more important than serving our supporters and friends.

AEW will launch with a roster of the top wrestlers in the world. While they’ll clash in what will be some of the most intense and fast-paced contests ever sanctioned in the squared circle, they’ll also share a common goal: to make this the true golden age, to make this the greatest time ever to be a wrestling fan. Likewise, as a business, by treating our wrestlers with respect and warmth, we also seek to make this the golden age for the performers themselves.”

He then encouraged fans to watch.

“I urge everyone who believes in what we’re doing, or wants to believe in dreams coming true, to support AEW by spreading the word and passing the wrestling bug onto someone else. My message: Get in on the ground floor with AEW today and help lead our movement to grow the wrestling community and ensure that the voices of the wrestling fans, their creative minds and their remarkable ideas, will always be heard.”