Tony Khan Fires Back at AEW Criticism, Says Fan Feedback Is Fuel for Dynasty

AEW’s top boss is speaking out—and he’s not ignoring the noise.

With the Death Riders faction drawing heat from parts of the AEW fanbase—some even saying the group is “ruining AEW’s entire product”—Tony Khan was asked directly about the backlash during the AEW Dynasty media call. His answer? Long, detailed, and firmly focused on one thing: the fans.

“Fan feedback is very important,” Khan said when asked by Sean Ross Sapp how he weighs audience response in his booking. “Probably the most consistent fan feedback we get week to week is in the form of hearing directly from the fans, commentors, absolutely, but also the data we get from Nielsen in the ratings.”

Khan didn’t sugarcoat it—he knows fans are vocal, and that reactions can swing from love to rage. But to him, numbers don’t lie.

“There are a lot of ways to track engagement… viewership data can be very powerful when it comes to trying to interpret what’s happening, who is being well-received,” he continued. “Sometimes, wrestlers who don’t get the best reactions from the fans can move the needle in a major way.”

Despite earlier backlash toward the Death Riders and concerns about AEW’s direction, Khan says the momentum has shifted in 2025. With Kenny Omega back and top stars healthy, he feels AEW is “on a real high note.”

“The sentiment around the product going into Dynasty is maybe the best it’s been in many years,” Khan added. “I’m very proud of the way the fans have received AEW shows in 2025.”

As AEW heads into Dynasty, Khan is banking on that fan energy to carry the company forward—and he’s clearly tuned in to what people are saying online and in arenas.