Felix Upton on October 26, 2025
Vince Russo didn’t hold back when discussing the controversial Jon Moxley vs. Darby Allin match at AEW WrestleDream, where Moxley appeared to drown Allin in a fish tank. The former WWE writer slammed AEW and Tony Khan for pushing brutal, extreme content while trying to sell the product as kid-friendly.
During his appearance on Ready with Russo, he reacted to former AEW coach Sarah Stock’s online warning, where she claimed moments like Moxley drowning Allin are dangerous for children. Russo took that concern and expanded it into a full-blown critique of AEW’s branding and leadership. Russo pointed directly at AEW’s conflicting image:
“You can’t have Moxley matches with cheese graters, ripping ears, drowning people in a fish tank, and spikes in the head… Bro, you can’t have this type of programming and then have Tony Khan go out and say, ‘Oh, we’re trying to keep our ticket prices family-friendly.’ That right there, Tony, they’re going to bury you.”
He backed it up by referencing his time in WWE’s Attitude Era, where even Vince McMahon knew the difference between edgy and kid-safe programming:
“Everybody remembers Taste the Rainbow. The WWE’s biggest sponsor in the mid-80s was Skittles. When we started the Attitude Era, Vince McMahon told Skittles, the marketing representative, ‘We can’t air that commercial anymore. This show is not for kids.’ Vince left money on the table.”
Russo made it clear that AEW’s current strategy could spell disaster if one major sponsor or partner decides they’ve crossed the line.
“All it’s going to take is one parent or one group to point that out—‘The owner of the company, Tony Khan, a billionaire, son to Shad Khan, made this statement… and look at his show.’ That’s a lack of responsibility.”
He also warned about the risks this content creates for AEW’s TV deals, like the one with Warner Bros. Discovery:
“You’re at the mercy of your partners as well. If Max pulls out because of stuff like this, you’re really in a bad position. You can’t sit here and pretend you don’t have parameters.”
The real issue, according to Russo is that AEW—and pro wrestling in general—is chasing dopamine highs by constantly raising the bar. With no stories to tell, promotions rely on increasingly dangerous stunts to get reactions.
“This is what we’re seeing. You’ve turned this into a game of ‘can you top this?’ And this is where we are, bro. Next it’s going to be a saw on flesh.”
All of this criticism directly clashes with Tony Khan’s public statements about AEW being an affordable and welcoming brand for families. During the AEW All Out media call, Khan made it clear that he sees AEW’s pricing model as one of its biggest strengths.
“AEW’s ticket pricing is designed to be very family-friendly and it has been that way since the very beginning. Everybody who’s been involved in AEW from the start will tell you that we always wanted to maintain affordable ticket prices for the fans, and particularly to bring families and young fans to the show, and make it accessible for fans of all backgrounds, of all ages.”
As WWE embraces premium pricing and profitability, AEW claims to be the accessible option. But when the product involves drowning spots and blood-soaked visuals, critics like Russo believe the branding no longer matches the content.
Russo’s passionate rant makes one thing clear: AEW’s attempt to be edgy and family-friendly at the same time isn’t just hypocritical—it’s risky business.
Are wrestling companies pushing the line too far just to get a reaction? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below—we want to hear what you think about AEW’s direction.
Please credit Ringside News if you use the above transcript in your publication.
October 26, 2025 2:49 pm
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