Tony Khan, AEW President and CEO, shared insights about recent developments with AEW events, emphasizing the significance of the AEW Grand Slam: Mexico show. He praised the collaboration between AEW and Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre (CMLL), highlighting its impact on the company and its fans worldwide.
“The first AEW show ever in Arena Mexico was a massive success. A great partnership between AEW and CMLL, who own and operate Arena Mexico. It means so much for them to invite AEW to Arena Mexico and collaborate with AEW. The show was fantastic and it was a testament to the spirit of the wrestling fans all over the world, and in particular the live fans in Mexico. It galvanized the AEW viewership, leading to the biggest viewership of any AEW event in a very long time. I think that the CMLL fans were so kind to embrace AEW and our wrestlers with open arms. Absolutely, the door is open for AEW to return to Mexico. I think all of us want AEW back in Arena Mexico.”
This successful venture into Mexico showcases AEW’s growing international presence and the enthusiasm from local wrestling communities. The positive reception by CMLL and Mexican fans opens further opportunities for AEW to expand its footprint in Latin America.
Ambitions for AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door 2025 in London
Looking ahead to AEW x New Japan Pro Wrestling’s (NJPW) Forbidden Door event in 2025, Khan forecasted a major spectacle set to take place in London. This venue will mark AEW’s ongoing tradition of hosting this cross-promotional event in iconic wrestling cities.
“Each year Forbidden Door has emanated from an iconic wrestling venue in one of the greatest wrestling cities in the world, and this year will be the biggest one yet. It’s one of the biggest gates in the history of AEW already, and it’s going to be a massive event collaborating with our friends and partners at New Japan Pro Wrestling.”
This excitement highlights AEW’s commitment to delivering large-scale events with global appeal, working closely with NJPW to engage wrestling fans internationally. Hosting the event in London aligns with AEW’s strategy to utilize historic wrestling locales for its marquee shows.
Potential Expansion with A Third AEW Television Show
Regarding future programming, Tony Khan addressed questions about adding a third AEW show. Currently, the company focuses on its two main television programs: Wednesday Night Dynamite and Saturday Night Collision. Interestingly, Khan revealed that Collision will move from Saturday to Thursday nights starting with the upcoming Garland show.
“Great question there. I think we’ve done a great job in 2025, focusing now on the two primary AEW shows that we’re doing, which are Wednesday Night Dynamite and Saturday Night Collision. Although in Garland next week, Saturday Night Collision is actually going to move to Thursday. We’ve had some great experiences doing these Collisions on Thursday nights. There’s always potential to expand the AEW programming calendar right now. Things have worked really well with Dynamite and Collision, but as we’re having a great year, it’s always something to consider. There’s definitely an opportunity to continue growing following the AEW media rights continuing to grow and develop new platforms for AEW. But certainly in 2025, right now, we’re feeling great about Wednesday Night Dynamite and Saturday Night Collision as the primary TV shows today.”
While no immediate plans for a third show are confirmed, Khan’s comments reflect AEW’s openness to expanding its content as its audience and media partnerships evolve. This cautious but optimistic outlook demonstrates AEW’s strategic growth in professional wrestling entertainment.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. Is Tony Khan a billionaire?
A. Tony is a real billionaire. He has ownership or part-ownership in four sports teams and is likely to inherit his father’s $15 billion business.
