All Elite Wrestling President Tony Khan recently spoke with Dean Moses of amNY for a wide-ranging interview, reflecting on the company’s six-year history as it approaches the Full Gear pay-per-view next month. Khan discussed the promotion’s future, including its successful return to the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey, and his ambitions for further international expansion. He also opened up about the most significant moments that have defined the company, sharing his personal highlight of Sting’s retirement and the most challenging times the locker room has endured.
AEW is set to return to the Prudential Center on Saturday, November 22, for Full Gear, an event that has become a staple in the Newark area. Khan spoke highly of the venue and his expectations for this year’s show.
“The Prudential Center is a great home for AEW, we had our first ever dynamite on TBS there when the show came over from TNT to TBS in January of 22 and in Newark, in recent years, we’ve had Full Gear now three out of the past four years in Newark at the Prudential Center, I think it’s become a great home for the event, and I think there’s a good chance we’ll have our biggest crowd yet for Full Gear at Newark this year.”
Khan also touched upon the company’s successful international expansion, which has been highlighted by record-setting events at Wembley Stadium in London. He expressed his strong interest in continuing to grow AEW’s footprint in Europe, with an upcoming debut in Manchester, England.
“We built a lot. It’s been six years of AEW, and again, it feels like we started just yesterday. I’m very interested in taking AEW and visiting more of Europe. I think there are more opportunities there. We’ve had great shows in the UK, particularly with shows in London. We’ve set records at Wembley Stadium, and we’ve had great events in Cardiff, Wales. And I’m really excited about this year taking AEW to Manchester for the first time. I think there’s more opportunities there internationally, for AEW…I think that’s very attractive, just international expansion.”
When asked about the most memorable moments in AEW’s six-year history, Khan immediately pointed to the emotional retirement of “The Icon” Sting at the Revolution pay-per-view in March 2024.
“Before Sting went out for his last match, as they were showing the video package, and as his sons were about to make their entrances and they were on the stage, that was really special. Sting said some very nice things to me right before he went out that I’ll never forget about how fantastic his run had been, and how happy he was about all this and the things he said afterwards. That was really probably the highlight.”
He contrasted that high point with the most difficult and challenging periods the company has faced, specifically the tragic losses of Mr. Brodie Lee and Jay Briscoe. Khan emphasized the importance of honoring their memories.
“The hardest times in AEW, by far, was when we lost Mr. Brodie Lee, who was a great TNT champion and a great person in and out of the ring, a great father and the head of a great family. That was really probably some of the most important times ever in AEW, and also when we lost the late great Jay Briscoe. I think those are the times that are probably memorable and challenging, but they’re really important to remember. And I think about Brodie Lee, and I think about Jay Briscoe a lot, and I think it’s important to honor the memories.”
AEW is now firmly on the road to the Full Gear pay-per-view, which is scheduled for Saturday, November 22, at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.
H/T to Fightful for the transcription. Thanks for checking out this article. Make sure to follow Jeff Jarrett and all things GFE on Facebook.
