Speculation about Tony Khan and the direction of AEW has risen following a wrestling veteran’s comments about the absence of Keith Lee, a notable former champion, from All Elite Wrestling’s programming. The Tony Khan AEW controversy was stirred when Dutch Mantell, a well-known figure in wrestling, addressed the prolonged time Lee has spent away from the ring and questioned the motivations behind AEW management’s choices.
Wrestling Community Reacts to Keith Lee’s Extended Hiatus
Keith Lee, previously a champion in both NXT and as part of AEW’s World Tag Team division alongside Swerve Strickland, has not appeared in AEW events for over two years. After joining the Jacksonville-based promotion in 2022 and making a significant impact within his first year, Lee stepped away due to an injury. Although he has since recovered, Lee himself has hinted that the decision to return is out of his hands, leaving fans and industry members questioning AEW’s management and Tony Khan’s choices regarding Lee’s role in the company.
The matter reached new attention when Dutch Mantell spoke about Lee’s absence on his show, Story Time with Dutch Mantell. Mantell, with his experience as a former WWE manager and long-time wrestling figure, addressed speculation in the community about race possibly playing a role in AEW’s decisions. He noted how quickly and easily labels can be assigned, referencing both AEW under Tony Khan and WWE under Triple H, whose treatment of black wrestlers has also come under public discussion.
“Is Tony Khan racist? (laughs) Well, we haven’t seen Keith Lee in over two years, ‘ wait a minute, oh, he’s racist’. It’s easy to brand or label people,” said Mantell
Debate Over AEW’s Secondary Titles and Impact on the Brand
Beyond the controversy concerning Keith Lee, Dutch Mantell also voiced concerns about the recent introduction of the AEW National Championship. On a previous episode of his show, Mantell criticized Tony Khan’s decision to add this new secondary title, currently held by Ricochet. He argued that increasing the number of championships could erode the prestige and recognition of all other titles within AEW.
“It does not only decrease the name and recognition of this belt, but of all of them. Which one is more? We used to have just one belt and a tag belt, that was it,” said Mantell (1:30:42- 1:30:58).
The AEW National Championship was secured by Ricochet at Full Gear 2025 and has since been defended successfully on several occasions. The addition of this title has sparked discussion about the structure and direction of AEW as the company continues to evolve. Industry observers are watching to see how Tony Khan and AEW’s leadership will manage the diversity of championships, the handling of star talent like Keith Lee, and the brand’s image as it moves into 2026 and beyond.
This ongoing Tony Khan AEW controversy highlights larger conversations in professional wrestling about representation, leadership choices, and the balance between expanding opportunities and preserving tradition. With figures like Dutch Mantell publicly weighing in, the discourse surrounding AEW’s decisions remains at the forefront of wrestling news.
