Tony Khan Criticized for Staying Quiet Amid Ricochet’s “Glad You Got MS” Controversy

Ricochet’s ongoing controversy has now pulled AEW President Tony Khan directly into the conversation, after Vince Russo publicly questioned why the company’s top executive hasn’t addressed the situation.

With criticism already mounting over Ricochet’s response to a fan with multiple sclerosis, Russo used his appearance on the Coach and Bro Show to argue that the issue goes beyond one wrestler’s actions. In his view, moments like this damage wrestling’s reputation compared to mainstream sports, and he believes the industry continues to struggle for credibility because of behavior like this. Russo compared the situation to how a major sports figure would be expected to act under public scrutiny.

“Coach, what do we always talk about? We always talk about how we’re supposed to be looking at WWE and AEW like they are the best in the world. Correct? Could you imagine after the World Baseball Classic, people dogging Aaron Judge for striking out three times and Aaron Judge firing back like this?”

He went on to say that reactions like Ricochet’s reflect a failure to maintain professionalism, stressing that experienced performers should know when to avoid situations that could create negative fallout.

“This is why, guys — just so you know — this is why the wrestling business has zero respect from the outside world. Professionals do not act like this. If you’re acting like this, you are not a professional. It’s that simple. When you’re a professional, you can’t let stuff like this happen. You cannot make calls like this. If it’s 50/50 and could go the wrong way, you don’t do it. That’s why you’re a pro — there’s no upside.”

Russo then shifted his focus squarely onto Tony Khan, questioning why AEW leadership has not publicly stepped in while the controversy continues to gain attention. He suggested that major business partners and investors are likely watching how the company responds to situations like this.

“Now, about Tony Khan — if you’re a leader and you own this company, and all of this sale is going through, and your media rights deal is up in the air, you’ve got to come out and address your guy Ricochet. All these companies looking to invest in live events are looking at AEW too. How do you not say something? Ricochet makes this comment and you don’t step in?”

Russo didn’t hold back when describing what he believes the silence signals from a business perspective. He also argued that Khan’s leadership style could be contributing to a perception that AEW talent operate with too much freedom and limited accountability.

“In my opinion, these are really bad business decisions.”

“Tony not saying anything feeds the narrative that he lets the Jerichos, the Omegas, the Bucks, the Cody Rhodes, the CM Punks walk in and do whatever they want, and then he cleans it up without saying a word.”

Russo closed his comments by questioning whether Khan’s desire to maintain popularity is affecting his decision-making as a leader, drawing a sharp comparison to how leadership worked under Vince McMahon.

“Why is that, coach? Because he wants to be liked. That supersedes everything. Do you think Vince McMahon cared whether you liked him or not? No. Tony wants to be liked. He wants to be everybody’s friend, everybody’s buddy. He wants to be one of the boys. That’s the problem. He wants to be liked by the fans. That’s the number one issue. He’s not thinking business — he’s thinking about being liked, being adored, being Booker of the Year. That’s where Tony Khan’s head is at.”

Ricochet is already dealing with criticism tied to the original incident, but Russo’s comments have now shifted attention toward AEW leadership itself. With more voices weighing in, the pressure may continue to grow for Tony Khan to publicly address the situation before it escalates further.

Do you think Tony Khan should respond publicly to this situation, or is staying quiet the smarter move? Drop your thoughts and let us know what you think.

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