AEW President Tony Khan fires back at WWE¡¯s counter-programming: ¡°This won¡¯t end like JCP¡±
Tony Khan has called out WWE¡¯s counter-programming tactics, comparing them to how Jim Crockett Promotions was treated in the 1980s. But the AEW boss promised things will end differently this time, as AEW prepares to face WWE head-on with confidence, experience, and long-term planning.
Tony Khan didn¡¯t hold back after AEW Double or Nothing 2025. The AEW boss made it clear that WWE¡¯s counter-programming isn¡¯t going unnoticed. Speaking to the media, Khan said this is the most consistent head-to-head scheduling he's seen since WWE went after Jim Crockett Promotions in the 1980s.
¡°It¡¯s pretty consistent,¡± Khan said. ¡°I¡¯d say it¡¯s the most consistent event head-to-head scheduling since Jim Crockett Promotions. And I can tell you this will go a lot differently than that did.¡±
AEW is not backing down from the fight
In the past, Vince McMahon went after JCP by running Survivor Series at the same time as Starrcade in 1987. Then came Royal Rumble on the same day as Bunkhouse Stampede. JCP couldn¡¯t handle the pressure and had to sell the company to Turner Broadcasting in 1988. Khan knows the story but believes AEW will not meet the same fate.
Tony Khan is growing up. He¡¯s become a lot more confident in his product and he seems comfortable in his own skin. pic.twitter.com/lIcj5VV2s6
¡ª C.O. (@FirstNameJ0hn) May 26, 2025
This weekend, WWE ran NXT Battleground opposite AEW¡¯s Double or Nothing. In July, AEW¡¯s All In Texas will go up against an NXT premium live event and Saturday Night¡¯s Main Event. AEW had announced their show almost a year earlier. WWE also has a European tour lined up during AEW¡¯s Forbidden Door in London this August.
Khan didn¡¯t reveal AEW¡¯s next steps but made it clear they are ready. He also spoke about Scorpio Sky, saying he still has plans for him but the timing wasn¡¯t right yet.
The message from Khan was clear. He sees what WWE is doing, but AEW won¡¯t back down. This rivalry might remind fans of the old days, but Khan believes the outcome will be very different.