AEW could have a serious mess on its hands if Duke decides to unload everything he claims to know. The D-Von and the Duke podcast host says he has information involving NDAs, hotel partying and independent female wrestlers being placed in “shark-infested waters” during the pandemic.
The warning came while Duke revisited his previous comments about MJF. He claimed people from inside and outside AEW contacted him after the episode and backed up what he had said, with some allegedly willing to put their names behind it. Duke then challenged MJF to deny his accusations and warned that Tony Khan wouldn’t be able to protect him if he started releasing what he claims to have.
“There are people inside and outside that company who, even since the episode dropped, have made it abundantly clear that not only was what I said true, it was a bullseye—and there’s so much more.”
“I’m just hoping and praying that MJF denies any of it or tries to act like it didn’t happen, because Tony Khan can’t save you. I’ve got tweets. I’ve got people who will go on the record. I just hope and pray that you deny any of it, MJF. I really do.”
That’s when Duke turned directly to Khan and warned him to take the situation seriously. He then claimed he knows stories involving NDAs and independent female wrestlers who appeared for AEW while the wrestling industry was largely shut down during the pandemic.
“Tony Khan, put the kratom down, brother. Every time I bring up the kratom, you know that I know a little something, right? Put the kratom down, Tony. This is serious business here.”
“There’s so much more I could talk about. Don’t make me talk about NDAs. I know those stories. Don’t make me talk about during the pandemic, when you guys had all those independent ladies coming through and you were patting yourselves on the back because you were giving them jobs during the shutdown and all that stuff.”
Duke didn’t spell out exactly what those women allegedly experienced, but he made a disturbing claim about the environment surrounding some of the men in AEW.
“Let’s not talk about the partying and some of the challenges those ladies had to face, because they were basically in shark-infested waters with some of those men in that company.”
He then accused Khan of using access and parties to win over members of the wrestling media. Duke also claimed some of those media figures signed NDAs, although he did not name anyone or produce evidence during the podcast.
“Don’t let me start talking, Tony, because that’s the problem. You think that because you can buy off some of these goofball media people—you let them party with you and stuff like that, and some of those guys had to sign NDAs as well—you think that shields you from the world knowing the kind of nonsense that goes on in that company.”
The wildest claim involved a hotel allegedly used by people connected to AEW. According to Duke, one floor had earned a disturbing nickname because of what he claims happened there.
“About the hotel and that floor at the hotel they call the ‘drug floor’—don’t get me started. I’m just saying. I’m willing to keep my mouth shut until somebody tells me that I’m a liar. This has nothing to do with D-Von Dudley. This is all me, baby.”
Duke made sure to separate D-Von from every accusation before threatening to dedicate entire podcast episodes to exposing what he described as “foolishness” inside AEW. He closed the warning by claiming enough former AEW personnel are now outside Khan’s control and prepared to speak publicly if given a reason.
“Do not make me push the button and start. I’ll do entire episodes talking about the foolishness that goes on in that company. Don’t make me do it.”
“There are enough people who have left that company now who aren’t afraid of you and will go on the record. They just need a reason. I’ll leave it at that.”
These are serious accusations, and Duke did not provide documents, names or other evidence to support them during the show. Still, he made one point crystal clear: If AEW, Khan or MJF calls him a liar, he says he’s ready to hit the button and start talking.
What do you make of Duke’s claims about AEW’s NDAs, pandemic-era partying and an alleged hotel “drug floor”? Do you think he will release what he says he has? Sound off and leave your feedback in the comments.
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