Tony Khan Credits Samoa Joe For Keeping AEW’s Most Stressful Event From Falling Apart

AEW has seen a lot of interesting moments in the company’s history, but All In’s 2023 event takes the cake in many reasons. Now Tony Khan is looking back at the chaotic situation that went on backstage.

Tony Khan recently discussed the backstage tension surrounding AEW All In 2023, and he credited Samoa Joe with keeping the event on track. This came after CM Punk and Jack Perry’s backstage brawl, and how Joe had to step in after Punk threatened to quit before their opening match.

While speaking during a radio interview with Q101, Tony Khan said the show at Wembley Stadium nearly unraveled before it began, but one veteran stepped in at a key moment. Samoa Joe and CM Punk were set to wrestle in the opening contest anyway, and he had to step in to talk Punk down.

Tony Khan said that amid the absolute chaos, Samoa Joe took control of the room. Rather than allowing emotions to escalate, Joe focused on restoring order and ensuring the scheduled match went forward for the audience in attendance.

“The most stressful pay-per-view ever.”

According to Tony Khan, Samoa Joe’s role was not about recognition but about responsibility. He said Joe worked to keep tensions contained and reminded everyone involved that the priority was delivering the show fans paid to see.

Tony Khan also noted that Joe’s conduct reflected his broader presence within All Elite Wrestling. Since joining the company in 2022, Joe has held multiple championships and become a consistent voice backstage during difficult moments. He summed everything up with three very strong words.

“He’s a captain.”

Tony Khan said having someone with Joe’s experience has been important during periods of uncertainty. He described Joe as a stabilizing figure whose influence extends beyond matches and title reigns.

AEW All In 2023 marked the company’s first event at Wembley Stadium and drew international attention. The pressure surrounding the show was compounded by a backstage altercation involving CM Punk and members of the AEW roster shortly before bell time. Thankfully, Punk and Joe had their match, which saw the Second City Saint actually win his final AEW outing in an AEW ring.

We will keep a close eye on AEW for the rest of 2026. This could be another interesting year for the company. Odds are, we will see a lot of things make headlines, but for Tony Khan’s sake, let’s hope that he doesn’t have to deal with any more stressful situations like this.

What’s your take on Tony Khan’s comments? Do you think that AEW can survive another huge scandal like in 2023? Let us know what you think in the comments section!