As a hardcore wrestling fan and avid gamer, I can’t help but feel a sense of excitement and awe when I think back to the inception of All Elite Wrestling (AEW). In 2018, Cody Rhodes and The Young Bucks produced an independent event called ALL IN that paved the way for AEW’s programming. Little did we know that behind the scenes, Tony Khan was carefully crafting his ideas for a professional wrestling promotion.
As an avid wrestling fan, I’ve been eagerly following the rise of All Elite Wrestling (AEW). It all began in 2018 when Cody Rhodes and The Young Bucks put together an independent event called ALL IN, which felt like a precursor to AEW’s programming. In the background, Tony Khan, the owner of Jacksonville Jaguars, was quietly shaping his vision for a professional wrestling promotion. For years, I’ve dreamed about being part of this thrilling world, and the wrestling landscape in 2018 presented the perfect opportunity. With powerhouses like New Japan Pro Wrestling and Ring of Honor breaking records, the top tier of wrestling, WWE, had become stagnant. This vacuum created an opening for a trailblazing company to challenge the status quo.
Back in April 2018, at a party in Beverly Hills, an idea hit me. I was there with my buddy Kevin Reilly, who was the President of TBS and TNT back then. It wasn’t yet the era of Warner Bros. Discovery under David Zaslav. The wrestling world was going through some major changes, and TV rights were up for grabs. With the right timing and resources, someone could launch a successful wrestling promotion. Little did I know that I would be the one to seize this opportunity.
For Khan’s wrestling idea to thrive, television played a vital role, as regular weekly broadcasts are essential for any promotion to prosper.
I can relate to Khan’s experience of searching for a suitable TV partner. It’s not an easy task, but when I finally found a potential candidate in Kevin, I was filled with hope and excitement. However, the journey didn’t end there. It took another year of negotiations and discussions before we could put pen to paper on a deal. But Kevin’s interest kept me going, and I refused to let go of this opportunity that I had worked so hard to obtain. We had numerous meetings, and with each one, I felt like I was opening a door that I would never close again. Khan’s story reminds me that perseverance pays off in the long run.
After his talks with Warner executives ended unsuccessfully, Khan proposed the concept to The Elite, a subgroup of New Japan’s Bullet Club which included Kenny Omega, Matt and Nick Jackson (Young Bucks), Hangman Page, Cody Rhodes, and Marty Scurll.
Around three months had passed since my initial chat with Kevin Reilly when I had my first interaction with Matt and his spouse Dana. Matt and Dana were the first individuals I engaged with from The Elite, as they contacted me on July 3rd, 2018, according to Khan’s account. Nick may have thought I was unhinged given the prevalence of charlatans in wrestling. However, something about my unusual approach piqued Matt’s interest. I believe it was primarily due to my connection as the proprietor of the Jacksonville Jaguars that captured their attention, adding credibility to our endeavor.
After those phone calls, the “vetting process” began.
After connecting with Matt, I arranged a meeting with Cody’s agent, Brian Wittenstein. This was Matt’s suggestion as he believed it would be beneficial. Subsequently, I conversed with both Matt and Nick. Following this interaction, I met Brian, who then introduced me to Cody. Our discussions turned out to be very productive.
“I had to wait for some time before I could speak with Kenny as he was engaged with New Japan Pro Wrestling at the time. Notably, we debuted with Matt, Nick Jackson, Hangman Page, Cody Rhodes, MJF, Pac, Chris Jericho, Dr. Britt Baker, and several others at our rally in Jacksonville on January 8, 2019. Kenny joined us a month afterwards after completing his commitments with New Japan. It’s amazing to reflect upon that moment now.”
AEW Dynamite 250 airs tonight at 8 PM ET on TBS.
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2024-07-17 18:09