Tony Khan isn’t afraid to admit he listens to the audience—even the critics.
In an interview with The Takedown On SI, the AEW President discussed his philosophy on fan feedback, specifically addressing complaints about storylines like the recent “Death Riders” arc. Khan rejected the notion that listening to fans is a weakness.
“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 asserted.
He explained that he uses a mix of live reactions and TV ratings to guide his decisions, noting that the two don’t always align.
“You might see somebody that gets a really good reaction in the arena that doesn’t always get ratings… So I think studying the fans, listening to the fans, it’s really important.”
Khan emphasized that the most valuable lesson he learns is often “who they don’t want to see,” which helps shape the direction of the product.