Tony Khan’s AEW Double or Nothing Media Call Highlights for May 22, 2025

AEW President Tony Khan hosted a media call on Thursday, May 22, 2025, ahead of AEW Double or Nothing, set to take place this Sunday, May 25, at the Desert Diamond Arena in Glendale, Arizona. This marks the first time the event has been held outside of Las Vegas since its inception in 2019, making it a historic occasion for AEW fans.

During the call, Khan addressed major topics related to the upcoming pay-per-view, including match card details, talent updates, and AEW’s overall direction. Media members had the chance to ask Khan questions about the company’s future and what fans can expect heading into the big event.

Stay tuned for real-time updates as Tony Khan breaks down AEW’s game plan for Double or Nothing 2025. Ringside News will deliver live, minute-by-minute highlights throughout the media call. Refresh this page for the latest developments.

Tony Khan’s AEW Double or Nothing Media Call Highlights (5/22/25)

Tony Khan reflected on AEW’s six-year journey, expressing his excitement for the upcoming Double or Nothing weekend.

When Jon Alba asked why the company chose Will Ospreay vs. Hangman Page as the main event instead of the Anarchy in the Arena match, Khan said he’s thrilled about both bouts and believes each brings something special to the show.

Courtney Rice brought up the match between Mercedes Moné and Jamie Hayter. Tony Khan praised both women as two of the top wrestlers in AEW, noting that the current title picture is incredibly compelling. He mentioned how much Hayter has overcome to reach this point, calling her a potential top star, a great champion, and a strong leader within the company.

When asked about the recent improvement in AEW Dynamite, Khan credited the show’s sharper presentation to having fewer voices involved behind the scenes and a more focused creative direction.

Tony mentioned that simulcasting on Max represents a fresh start for AEW and highlighted growth in their cable audience during Q1, even with the new streaming option. Khan noted continued momentum into Q2 and expressed excitement for both smaller, intimate venues like Chicago’s Aragon Ballroom and larger arenas that have drawn big crowds. He also praised Collision’s performance this year and reiterated his belief that AEW is home to the best wrestlers in the world.

Andrew Baydala asked about AEW’s pay-per-view distribution. Tony Khan said they’ve partnered with Amazon, and AEW events are available for purchase on Amazon Prime. He also mentioned Max being accessible through Amazon Prime and noted that Max will soon be rebranded as HBO Max. Khan added that he’s a fan of HBO programming.

Cameron Hawkins asked what makes AEW appealing to young talent. Khan said AEW is a strong option for young wrestlers, and he enjoys working with them. He said the veterans in the company also like working with younger talent. Khan mentioned Jay White was unavailable due to injury and said Kevin Knight stepped in and delivered. He said Knight, who’s currently working in New Japan Pro Wrestling, is the kind of young talent AEW wants to bring in.

Ella Jay asked about Willow Nightingale and Marina Shafir being part of the Anarchy in the Arena match. Tony Khan said their involvement makes sense for the story and confirmed that both will play a major role in the match.

Bill Bodkin brought up AEW’s upcoming Grand Slam: Mexico event. Khan spoke positively about working with CMLL and the opportunity to run Arena Mexico. He also mentioned the company’s plans to hold a tribute show honoring Dean Rasmussen of Death Valley Driver Video Review.

Dave Meltzer asked about upcoming international TV deals and the lack of detailed data for the under-50 audience. Khan said there are talks underway regarding new international distribution, but nothing is finalized yet. He acknowledged that streaming platforms don’t provide the same level of audience data as linear TV on TBS or TNT. He added that AEW remains one of the top sports programs on Max. Khan said that even though he doesn’t have access to detailed streaming data, he knows Warner Bros. Discovery is pleased with AEW’s performance on Max—and that’s what matters to him.

Dominic DeAngelo asked Tony Khan if the Mark Briscoe vs. Ricochet stretcher match was a tribute to Sabu. Khan said the match was already planned before Sabu’s passing but admitted it was inspired by the classic Sabu vs. Rob Van Dam stretcher match. Khan recalled being fascinated by Sabu as a kid, chatting about him online, and seeing him wrestle live after getting into a top school. He said Sabu felt larger than life in the ECW Arena and shared how much he respected both Sabu and RVD. He offered condolences to Sabu’s family and said it was a big loss for wrestling.

Brian Zilem asked about AEW events streaming on Max. Khan said WBD is still building the platform to host AEW pay-per-views and that there hasn’t been a delay. He confirmed their strong relationship with WBD and promoted the Countdown to Double or Nothing special airing after Collision.

Sean Ross Sapp asked about adding women’s tag titles. Khan said it’s a goal and “very realistic at some point.” He praised the current women’s tag matches and also mentioned working to rebuild the men’s tag division after injuries.

Jim Varsallone congratulated Khan on six years of AEW. Khan said the company still has the same spirit it started with and that fan support has stayed strong. He’s proud of how far AEW has come and pointed to TV viewership as proof fans are engaged.

Amy Nemmity asked about the Ospreay vs. Hangman Page match. Khan said he’s thrilled about it and thinks the match will deliver. He said their segment on Dynamite made fans even more excited for the Double or Nothing main event.

Khan responded to a write-in about Darby Allin climbing Mount Everest. He said he’s proud of Allin, calling him one of AEW’s top stars. Allin is the first pro wrestler to complete the climb. Khan said they’ll welcome him back when he’s ready.

Khan closed the call by promoting tonight’s AEW Collision and the Double or Nothing event. He mentioned the contract signing between FTR, Nigel McGuinness, and Daniel Garcia. He said there will be a media scrum after Sunday’s show and thanked moderator Jim Woodcock for returning.