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‘He’s Not Focused on What’s Best for AEW’: Belief That Tony Khan Runs AEW Like an ‘American Football Team’

Published Aug 24, 2023 | 6:30 AM EDT

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Pro wrestling can be a really tough career, especially for the athletes. Because not only do they have to keep themselves physically fit but also deliver in-ring every time they get out there. And while some superstars are treated like gods during their tenure, others are just looked upon as a normal commodity.

And that’s exactly how The Big Show feels now that he is working with AEW. He feels a certain sense of appreciation and that’s all thanks to CEO Tony Khan.

Big show feels more appreciated in AEW

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The Big Show is such a behemoth wrestling figure that you just couldn’t ignore him when he entered the WWE in 1999. Prior to that, he worked with WCW under the ring name ‘The Giant’ from 1995-1999.

Then he joined the WWE and was with the brand till 2021. During his illustrious career, he won practically every championship that WWE had to offer, including being a 4-time World champion. He left WWE due to some financial differences in his contract. Post that, he joined AEW and has been with them ever since.

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So if someone has immense experience of working with different wrestling managements, that has to be The Big Show. And recently on his appearance with DAZN Wrestling, he spoke about how pleasant it is working with Tony Khan. He said, “Tony is no stress, for me. I show up, I work hard, I give a full effort, my effort’s appreciated, and Tony’s grateful for my being a part of AEW. That’s not just me, that’s how he treats all the talent. I think there’s a definite more of a respect for personnel than you get when you work with Tony because Tony runs AEW like you would run a professional American football team… It’s top-of-the-line, player-focused, and that’s the way Tony runs AEW”.

Read more: “Serious A** Kicking” – Brock Lesnar Purposely Went Too Far in Beating Up a One-Legged Wrestler to Prove a Point

He also said he feels more motivated and accepted in AEW than he felt in the WWE. He added, “It’s a different atmosphere. You’re only as good as the last thing that you’ve done, you’re only good as far as what you can provide. I don’t get that feeling here with AEW. I feel like I’m part of something, I’m helping build something”.

And it seems like this talent-first approach of Tony Khan is definitely attracting a lot of top WWE stars to AEW. Next in the pipeline for superstars that could move to AEW from WWE is a major superstar.

AEW might sign Edge as WWE declines the Rated R superstar’s requests

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Edge just celebrated his 25th anniversary at a packed stadium in his hometown of Toronto, Canada last week on SmackDown. And at the end of the show, he told the fans that he will decide the future of his career this week with his family.

Well that decision was taken and Edge wanted to continue his contract with the WWE. He made a few requests in that contract but WWE flatly declined, leaving him in a state of limbo.

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And if the WWE’s doors get shut for Edge, there is just one place he can go to enthrall the pro wrestling audience, that’s AEW. Fans were speculating on the internet that it could be an Attitude Era reunion on AEW. With The Hardy Boyz and Edge’s old tag team partner, Christian already working for AEW. We will have to just wait and watch to see what decision Edge finally makes. But what do you guys think about Tony Khan’s treatment of his wrestling roster compared to the WWE?

Written by:

Christopher Lazarus

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Christopher Lazarus is a WWE writer at Essentially Sports with over 12 years of experience in radio, television and music streaming. After completing his Bachelors in Chemistry, he moved on to media for his love for the creative aspect. He has been an avid fan of WWF/WWE since the dawn of cable TV in India when main events like 'King Of The Ring' and 'Royal Rumble' were aired on Sundays through VHS cassettes.
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Edited by:

Amal Joyce