Tony Khan Says AEW Only Welcomes Veterans Who Can Still Go

AEW President Tony Khan isn’t just handing out contracts to legends for nostalgia’s sake. In a recent interview, Khan got real about what it actually takes for a veteran to join the AEW locker room—and the bar is high

During an appearance on SI’s The Takedown, when asked whether AEW would consider bringing in more veteran talent who might not physically match today’s top-tier performers, Khan pointed to one man who did it right: Sting. According to Khan, there’s no room in AEW for anyone not willing to keep up.

“Sting wrestled at a very high level,” Khan began. “Again, I would never say that Sting was not wrestling at the level of the top stars at AEW. Sting wrestled at the highest level.”

Khan stressed that AEW’s fan base demands excellence, no matter how long someone’s been in the game.

“If somebody comes into AEW, you expect them to wrestle at a high level,” he explained. “Wrestling at a high level is the standard. I never brought in wrestlers that I didn’t think could meet the expectations of the AEW fans.”

He then detailed how Sting’s run in AEW wasn’t just a farewell tour—it was a full-on contribution to the company’s future.

“Sting came in here as one of the greatest wrestlers of all time and was in great shape and said, ‘I want to wrestle and I really want to do this,’” Khan recalled. “And I thought that Darby Allin was a perfect partner for him… Darby exemplifies the in-ring standards of AEW and goes above and beyond anything I would ever ask. He brought that same mentality to Sting.”

The duo’s chemistry didn’t just click—it pushed Sting into new territory.

“We saw Sting taking chances, doing incredible things, and having some of the most memorable matches,” Khan said. “Not everybody has to wrestle the exact same style. Nobody said Sting needs to go out there and try to beat Will Ospreay. We just wanted him to go out and do the best he could as Sting. And he did more than anyone could have imagined.”

For any other legends looking for a home in AEW, Khan made it clear: your name alone isn’t enough.

“If the situation’s right and somebody’s a truly great wrestler, then AEW is a great home for them,” he added.

Tony Khan’s message is simple: if you’re not ready to deliver at a high level—don’t bother knocking on AEW’s door.

Please credit Ringside News if you use the above transcript in your publication.