Tony Khan Says AEW Doesn’t Need To Sacrifice Wrestling For Storytelling

AEW President Tony Khan is doubling down on what makes his promotion stand out — and he’s not here for claims that AEW lacks long-form storytelling.

Speaking with Jon Alba, Khan tackled criticism from wrestling fans: that AEW puts on great matches, but doesn’t tell enough “long-term” stories. Khan pushed back hard, explaining that AEW’s entire presentation is designed to be different — and that storytelling and in-ring quality aren’t mutually exclusive.

“I think it’s best for AEW to tell stories and put on wrestling matches with a focus that is best described as authentic to AEW,” Khan told Alba.

When asked to explain what “authentic to AEW” really means, Khan referenced AEW’s early years and the company’s acclaimed approach to both match quality and emotional arcs.

“There are great stories that people could talk about at length if they’re AEW fans and want to point out that there were a lot of stories in the early AEW. Hangman and Kenny is a great example of that… If you look back at some of those early shows, you can see how great the wrestling was and how great the TV was.”

Khan explained that in 2025, AEW leaned even harder into its core strengths — wrestling-first presentation, character-driven rivalries, and a refusal to mimic anyone else’s template.

“This year, I’ve been trying to make sure that the presentation is authentic to AEW — not trying to be like any other wrestling company. We can take the best wrestling we have and focus on the characters… and their relationships with each other, while still keeping the focus on the wrestling.”

At the end of the day, Khan believes the product speaks for itself—and that AEW’s 2025 lineup proves great wrestling is storytelling.

“You don’t have to sacrifice the wrestling to tell great stories, and we’ve shown that in 2025. I think we’ve had more great wrestling matches across TV and pay-per-views and told more interesting stories.”

Tony Khan isn’t interested in copying the competition—he’s focused on AEW’s DNA: quality matches, strong characters, and authentic presentation. For Khan, storytelling doesn’t come at the expense of in-ring excellence. In his eyes, the ring is the story.

Do you agree with Tony Khan’s vision of wrestling storytelling? Or should AEW lean harder into narrative drama? Drop your thoughts below!

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