Tony Khan’s AEW WrestleDream Media Call Highlights for October 16, 2025

AEW President Tony Khan spoke with the wrestling media on Thursday, October 16, 2025, to promote Saturday’s AEW WrestleDream pay-per-view.

Tony Khan opened the call by saying WrestleDream will be a great show. When Jon Alba asked about Andrade’s status with AEW, Khan said he has a lot of respect for Andrade and noted that he left on a high note in 2023. Alba followed up by asking if Andrade was under contract with WWE or if Khan knew about it. Khan responded that he had already said all he could on the matter.

When asked about the Jamie Hayter vs. Thekla match and pointed out how rare it is for AEW to feature a women’s pay-per-view match that isn’t for a title. Tony Khan responded by saying the AEW women have had a great year, and he’s proud of everything they’ve done in 2025. He praised the recent Megan Bayne vs. Harley Cameron match on Dynamite and said Thekla has been dominant in AEW and has never been pinned. Khan also spoke highly of Jamie Hayter’s return and mentioned the Kris Statlander vs. Toni Storm title match, saying he always knew it would be a big moment once they finally went with it.

When asked if AEW will honor Antonio Inoki at WrestleDream on Saturday, Tony Khan said they will. He mentioned the tag match with Konosuke Takeshita and Kazuchika Okada as part of that tribute. Khan also noted that Lou Thesz’s wife is expected to attend and said he wants to honor the spirit of wrestling in St. Louis.

Tony Khan explained that the upcoming match between Toni Storm and Kris Statlander was intentionally saved for the right moment. He said this will be their first-ever singles match, and that was always the plan. Khan called it a major match that he wanted to save for a major event and said both women have been doing fantastic work in their promos leading up to it.

Tony Khan didn’t rule out a women’s Continental Classic but said he’s excited about doing Blood & Guts and introducing women’s tag team titles.

When asked about the shared history between Darby Allin and Jon Moxley in AEW, Tony Khan said he’s excited for their upcoming I Quit match at WrestleDream. He said it’s a match he’s wanted to see for a long time and that he’s proud to work with both men. Khan praised their wrestling minds and also spoke highly of the angle they pulled off during the AEW and DC panel at New York Comic Con.

When asked about reports that AEW scrapped plans for a developmental facility in Asheville, North Carolina, Tony Khan said he is still interested in opening something like that and was surprised to see the report. He noted that sometimes you read something and realize it’s only part of the story. Khan also mentioned the current storyline tension between FTR, Adam Copeland, and Christian Cage, saying he hopes they can rebuild their relationship because he still wants them involved in an AEW-affiliated school in Asheville.

When asked about the recent changes to the Nielsen television ratings and the noticeable dip in pro wrestling numbers, Tony Khan said it’s something worth watching. He noted that AEW is still having a strong year overall and that, compared to where wrestling companies ended last year and where they are now, things are still looking good. Khan said he’ll be keeping an eye on how the new system plays out, calling it an interesting shift with potential positives due to its “big data” approach. He added that AEW has always been good at adapting to change.

Khan was also asked about Samoa Joe’s recent comments hinting at retirement and what Joe has meant to AEW. He said Joe is one of the most influential wrestlers of his lifetime and that having him in AEW has been a dream. Khan said if someone had told him at the start of AEW that Joe would become a multi-time champion and a locker room leader, he would’ve thought it was too good to be true. He praised Joe’s legacy in Ring of Honor and said he’d be a first-ballot pick for an AEW Hall of Fame if they ever decide to create one.

When Tony Khan for an update on Kota Ibushi’s injury and Swerve Strickland’s recovery from surgery. Khan praised Ibushi and revealed he was originally scheduled to wrestle at WrestleDream. He also took a moment to wish Kenny Omega a happy birthday and said he was deeply saddened by Ibushi’s injury. Khan shared that sitting in his office with both Ibushi and Omega was a dream come true. He visited Ibushi recently and said he was in good spirits, adding that Ibushi had been planned for a major role in AEW this year. According to Khan, Ibushi wants to return, and AEW will gladly welcome him back whenever he’s ready.

As for Swerve, Khan said they’re tracking his recovery and are looking forward to having him back. He made it clear that Swerve will return long before Ibushi and said they’re hoping to see him back “relatively soon,” emphasizing that it won’t be a full-year absence and using the phrase “sooner rather than later.”

Tony Khan spoke about the strong year AEW has had and acknowledged that some changes had to be made heading into WrestleDream, including Kota Ibushi no longer being able to compete. He said AEW has a good track record of handling changes when needed.

When asked if there would be more than one Blood & Guts match this year, Khan said having both men’s and women’s matches is something they could aim for. He said it depends on who’s healthy coming out of WrestleDream and also noted the Continental Classic is coming up.

Khan was also asked if he’s seen any differences in Adam Page during his second run as AEW World Champion. He said Page has grown a lot and has really developed as a professional, comparing his progress to that of a young athlete maturing in sports. Khan ended the call shortly after.