AEW President Tony Khan spoke with the pro wrestling media on Thursday, June 25, 2026, to promote Sunday’s AEW Forbidden Door pay-per-view.
Tony Khan addressed AEW’s pay-per-view schedule and said the new Redemption event is part of AEW slowly expanding its calendar, not replacing another annual show.
Khan was also asked about the possibility of ROH Tag Team Title plans being affected by a CMLL match. He said that match was not something he had in mind when putting the Forbidden Door card together.
When asked about New Japan, CMLL, and Stardom content possibly coming to the MyAEW app, Khan said he has had those talks with CMLL. He also pointed out that New Japan already has the New Japan World app, but said he is excited about working with different promotions on the platform.
Khan was also asked if AEW had any visa issues while putting the Forbidden Door card together. He said it has been a massive challenge.
Tony Khan was asked for injury updates on Jay White, Toni Storm, and other sidelined AEW wrestlers. Khan said some are closer to returning than others, but he did not give any specific timelines.
Khan was also asked about Maya World. He praised her work ethic and said she has been eager to take every opportunity AEW has given her. Khan also noted that World recently went through a personal tragedy after her brother was killed in a car accident on June 7. He said AEW offered her time away, but she declined. Khan praised her match with her mentor Athena and said her next challenge is a major one, as she is now set to face Mercedes Mone, the wrestler who inspired her to become a pro wrestler.
Tony Khan was also asked about reports that Jack Perry has not re-signed with AEW yet. Khan praised Perry and made it clear that AEW sees him as part of the company’s future. He said the plan is for Perry to remain with AEW for a long time.
Tony Khan was asked if fans should expect any free agents to make surprise debuts at Forbidden Door. Khan said several names that have been linked to AEW are still under contract with other promotions, so fans should not expect to see those particular wrestlers show up at the pay-per-view.
Tony Khan was also asked about future markets for AEW. Khan named Puerto Rico as a priority market for the company going forward, making it clear that AEW sees the territory as an important place to run in the future.
Tony Khan was asked if AEW is interested in doing more dual contracts with other promotions. Khan said the setup with CMLL has worked out well. He said there could also be opportunities to do something similar with NJPW or Stardom, but noted that “it takes two to tango” and said it has not been a major focus right now.
Tony Khan was asked about Willow Nightingale’s shoulder injury and when she could return. Khan said he was happy to see Willow join Harley Cameron at the Supergirl premiere and said he hopes her return will happen “relatively soon.”
Khan was asked if AEW has any interest in buying video libraries for the MyAEW app. Khan said it would depend on the situation. He noted that ROH is the only library he has acquired, and that came as part of the overall ROH purchase.
Khan called the ROH library incredibly robust and said there could be a great opportunity to acquire more libraries in the future. However, he said he is more interested in working with other promotions and giving them a platform than buying them out.
Khan was asked what makes Thekla stand out to viewers. Khan said she has incredible presence, charisma, and star power.
Khan was also asked if the FIFA World Cup has affected AEW’s booking. He said he does look at the schedule and noted that AEW put Bandido and Mistico on before Mexico played a World Cup match.
Tony Khan was asked whether he would be interested in buying TNA if Anthem ever decided to sell. When the idea of a $40 million price tag came up, Khan made it clear that would not be the right number for him. Khan said any deal would have to come at the right price. He also said buying TNA is not a top priority for AEW right now, and it is not something he has had any serious talks about.
Tony Khan was asked if MyAEW could host independent wrestling events during the week leading up to AEW Revolution. He said absolutely, adding that AEW is also interested in doing something similar around All In.
Khan was also asked if there are plans to feature Zack Sabre Jr. in AEW more often. He praised Sabre as one of the faces of the Forbidden Door concept and said he would love to have him appear at more AEW events. However, Khan acknowledged that Sabre remains a key part of New Japan Pro-Wrestling, which makes scheduling more challenging. That concluded the call.
