Tony Khan Reveals His Unfiltered Process for Scouting AEW Talent

Tony Khan isn’t just throwing darts when it comes to signing new talent—he’s got a very specific mindset, and it’s all about building around strengths instead of exposing weaknesses.

During his recent interview on The Danny Ocean Show, the AEW president gave a deep look into how he evaluates future stars for AEW and Ring of Honor. When asked what he looks for in wrestlers trying to break into the industry, especially from the independent scene, Khan explained that it’s less about checking boxes and more about seeing potential—even when others don’t.

“Well, it just completely depends. You have to see something and the fans have to see something sometimes. Sometimes you see something in someone the fans haven’t seen it in yet and that’s good too. So I just look for people I think could fit into a situation in AEW—people we could develop into a role that fits what they are—and try to tap into the skills people have and build off of their strengths.”

Khan went even deeper, saying that too many people in wrestling and sports are hyper-focused on flaws when they should be amplifying what talent already brings to the table.

“Too often, I think in sports—and certainly in wrestling included—you see people playing to their strengths, but also, it’s really important to not always focus on any particular person’s weaknesses. Because everybody has them. And people succeed—and every single person who succeeded in life, other than Jesus Christ himself—everybody who’s ever done anything in life has had some kind of weakness.”

For Khan, it’s all about maximizing value and putting people in the best possible position to succeed. Whether it’s an indie star or a former champion, his philosophy stays the same.

“So I think it’s important to really look at the strengths. Whether you’re evaluating a football player or a pro wrestler in AEW, I want to see what people can do well and then figure out how we can utilize that for them in AEW.”

This mindset explains a lot about AEW’s diverse roster and how unexpected names have risen to the top of the card. Khan’s approach leans more like a seasoned NFL scout than a traditional wrestling promoter—and he seems proud of that.

As AEW continues to grow, Khan’s talent strategy could be a major reason for the promotion’s long-term success.

Do you agree with Tony Khan’s philosophy of building around strengths instead of focusing on flaws? Let us know what you think in the comments and share your take on AEW’s talent development.