Tony Khan Pushes Back on Claims AEW Pay-Per-Views Are Too Long

Tony Khan isn’t letting fan criticism go unchecked—especially when it comes to AEW’s stacked pay-per-view events.

During his recent appearance on The Mark Hoke Show, the AEW President addressed one of the most frequent complaints he hears: that AEW pay-per-views are simply too long and overloaded with matches. Host Mark Hoke brought up what he called the “number one” gripe from listeners—suggesting some AEW PPVs have featured as many as 13 matches on a single show. But Khan wasn’t having it.

“It’s a great thought, Mark. I think that we have so many great things happening on Dynamite and Collision.”

“We don’t put that many matches on a pay-per-view. I’ve never put 13 matches on a pay-per-view ever. I’m not sure where people get that. That’s never happened.”

Hoke quickly clarified that some fans may be lumping in the free pre-show matches—which air before the official start of the pay-per-view—with the actual main card. Khan agreed, but doubled down on his point and used Worlds End as a prime example of how AEW manages match pacing.

“I think that people thought that Worlds End, the nine-match pay-per-view, was one of the best-paced and delivered some of the best action. People loved the pacing of Worlds End.”

He then brought up AEW All In: Texas as another example of a packed show that still maintained quality.

“Other events like AEW All In: Texas, which was an epic show… they bring great things to the presentation of AEW. And I do think it really behooves us to give the fans the best action. AEW has the best wrestlers, and I love showing off those great stars.”

So while AEW events can be lengthy, Khan made it clear there’s a reason behind every match—and he’s not going to apologize for showcasing his roster when fans are still reacting positively. Khan’s stance is simple: don’t confuse pre-show content with the main event, and if you want less wrestling on a wrestling show, AEW might not be your promotion.

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