Tony Khan thanks everyone for joining the Wrestle Dream media call.
– Jon Alba of Sports Illustrated asks about Andrade’s contract status. Khan echoes his comments about Andrade from World’s End 2023. He has a ton of respect for him and thinks he’s a great talent. His departure was “on a very high note.” Khan still feels that way, thinks Andrade is a great wrestler, and he’s excited to see what he does in AEW. He leaves it at that. Khan reiterates his comments and notes that’s all he can say about the subject.
– Tony Khan talks about the women’s division, noting he wanted to wait to do Toni Storm vs. Kris Statlander when the time was right.
– Tony Khan is asked if AEW has plans to honor Antonio Inoki. He praises Inoki’s legacy and reveals Lou Thesz’s wife is expected to be in St. Louis for Wrestle Dream.
– Tony Khan says he’d be open to doing a women’s Continental Classic and is excited about doing Blood and Guts and having women’s tag titles.
– There is a lengthy discussion about Darby Allin and Jon Moxley’s “I Quit” match and their history in AEW.
– Tony Khan addresses a Fightful Select report about discussions of a training center in Asheville, N.C. that would have seen FTR, Adam Copeland and Beth Phoenix helping talent. Khan says there is still interest in the project but cites the storyline between FTR, Copeland and Phoenix that stalled plans in the short term.
– Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful asks Tony Khan about the new Nielsen methodology. He claims that if you look at wrestling companies last year through the first few months of this year, “AEW is having the best results out of anybody.” He’s interested to see where things go with the new Nielsen methodology. He notes the NFL is having its best year ever and how others in the league are aware of the new media and ratings methodology.
“Being a part of the NFL major events and fan committee, we’re very cognizant of changes in media and ratings methodology. I am going to keep an eye on it.”
He says it’s interesting to see the differences and to try to learn from them.
“That’s what business and enterprise is all about, adapting to the environment. AEW, historically, has done very well at adapting.”
It’s a new system, but Khan believes there could be positives to look at, too.
– Tony Khan discusses Samoa Joe’s impact on AEW.
– Tony Khan talks about Kota Ibushi’s “devastating injury.” He highlights booking Ibushi and Kazuchika Okada for Dynamite 300 and how well that match performed in female viewership. He notes that Ibushi and a new visa and called it a “dream” to sit in a room with Ibushi and Kenny Omega, discussing ideas. He wishes Ibushi well in his recovery and notes that Swerve Strickland is doing well in his injury recovery timeline.
– Tony Khan talks about booking Wrestle Dream amid injuries to AEW’s top stars.
– Tony Khan is open to the idea of more than one Blood and Guts match this year, but that will depend on how things shake up. He also talks about how Adam Page has changed in his second men’s world title run compared to his first.
– Tony Khan closes out by thanking the media for their time and coverage.