Tony Khan knows that wrestling fans are never shy about sharing their opinions, and he claims he is always listening.
In his interview with The Takedown, the AEW CEO discussed how he processes fan feedback, particularly regarding controversial storylines like the recent “Death Riders” arc. Khan admitted that contrary to the advice of some industry peers, he places significant value on what the audience thinks.
“I put a lot of merit into that feedback. I really like to hear what the fans think in the arenas and at home,” Khan said. “I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had people who work in pro wrestling tell me that I listen to the fans too much… Not the case. You always should be listening to the fans.”
Khan also highlighted the importance of distinguishing between the vocal minority online, the live crowd in the arena, and the viewership data at home.
“One of the most interesting things to do is to study TV ratings patterns… You might see somebody that gets a really good reaction in the arena that doesn’t always get ratings… And the flip side. You can get people that do really well in the ratings but don’t get the biggest reactions… So I think studying the fans, listening to the fans, it’s really important.”
