Tony Khan, CEO of All Elite Wrestling (AEW), responded firmly to ongoing rumors suggesting that star wrestler Mercedes Mone holds significant creative control within the company. Speaking during the All In media call, Khan dismissed these claims as false, emphasizing that he alone maintains final authority over the show’s creative direction.
Mercedes Mone, formerly known as Sasha Banks in WWE, left that promotion in 2022 and spent nearly a year away from wrestling before joining New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW), where she won a championship title. After a successful tenure overseas, Mone joined AEW in 2024 based in Jacksonville, quickly rising to prominence by capturing the TBS Championship. Despite holding the title for over a year and being scheduled to challenge Toni Storm at the upcoming All In event on July 12th, Mone has faced criticism and speculation over an alleged misuse of creative authority backstage.
Khan addressed the rumors directly, stating unequivocally:
“That’s definitely not true at all. I would love to talk about that. Mercedes Mone is an incredible talent. I have wanted Mercedes Mone in AEW and she is a big star on the show. I really enjoy working with her backstage as a talent and she has done great things for the company doing media. She’s a great person. Mercedes is a great addition to AEW. I also think it’s ridiculous, the idea that people would think because she’s a strong wrestler on the show that she must be the one dictating that.”
He made clear that a tightly focused build and well-crafted storylines have contributed to what he describes as
“the best run of television we’ve ever had”
over the last six months. Khan reiterated his sole creative control, saying,
“I’m the only person with creative control over the show. At the end of the day, I’m responsible for what you see. I’m really proud this year because this has been one of the best years, six months into the year so far, we’ve ever done of television.”
The Origin of Creative Control and AEW’s Vision Under Khan
Tony Khan reflected on how he has maintained the ultimate authority on creative decisions since AEW’s inception. He described a turning point around New Year’s in 2020 when he resolved to only proceed with ideas he truly believed in, without being influenced by external pressures.
“Philosophically, since the start of the year, in particular this year….I’ll go back. I’ve had the final say since day one of AEW. I’ve had the final creative control since the beginning of the company. We launched very successfully. When we started doing Dynamite those first few months, I was pretty open that around the holidays, I planned to comeback with tighter focus in 2020. It was a New Year’s Resolutions.”
Khan explained that early 2020 marked a period when AEW’s programming quality hit new heights, culminating in the build-up to the original Revolution pay-per-view event.
He further illustrated the principle guiding his decisions:
“In January, like a lot of New Year’s Resolutions, it takes time to make a good transition into something you want to do. In that case for me, going into 2020, I said I was only going to do things I believe in and I’m not going to be talked into something I don’t believe in. I’m going to focus on AEW doing things that I come in and bring to the table and say, ‘This is what I want to do’ or if somebody has an idea and I hear it and I say, ‘I strongly believe in that. That is the way to go. You’re right.’ If I don’t believe in it, I’m being talked into it, I’m being dragged across the finish line, I have just found that those things are the things that don’t work.”
He noted that accountability is critical when an idea fails, adding,
“What’s even worse is when they don’t work, there is nobody to blame but yourself.”
AEW’s Ongoing Evolution and Focus in 2025
Khan highlighted AEW’s growth over the last several years, including securing an important media rights deal that bolstered the company’s future prospects. Despite the successes of 2024, he admitted that managing many ideas and voices can create challenges, which led him to reaffirm his commitment to a focused creative approach starting in late 2024.
“I made a resolution, five years later, around the holidays of 2024, that I made in 2019, which was that AEW is going to have a great year and I believe 2025 was going to be that great year, and I wanted to take a similar mindset and approach.”
According to Khan, this renewed focus means fewer voices influencing the direction of AEW’s storylines.
“This year, you’re seeing the most focused AEW in many years and the best AEW in many years in part because there are less voices. I’m taking less input. I’m still listening to ideas, but if I don’t feel 100% about it, I’m not going to do it. That’s been a really positive change for the company and the shows in 2025, the way things have come together, reflect that positively.”
Collaborative Character Development with Top AEW Stars
Khan expressed high regard for both Mercedes Mone and her scheduled opponent, Toni Storm, calling them
“two of the best wrestlers on the planet.”
He explained that he meets with them at least weekly to discuss character direction and creative ideas.
Both wrestlers work with trusted collaborators—Mercedes with Jen Pepperman and Toni Storm with RJ City—in crafting their personas. Still, Khan asserts he retains the final say on all character development.
“In the case of Toi or Mercedes or so many of the other great talents that I work with closely, I have the final say on what they do. In the case of this match, it’s something I really wanted to have in AEW for a very long time and it’s something the fans have wanted to see in AEW for a long time and we’ve done a great job, in my opinion, building to this for over a year as a match the fans absolutely are going to want to see.”
Clarifying the Myth of “Creative Control Cards” in AEW
Khan tackled the misconception that wrestlers receive special creative privileges that allow them to dictate their pushes or storylines.
“The idea that anybody in AEW has a creative control card and that’s why anybody would get a push here because they dictate it: that’s not how it works. We have a great company and we’ve having a great year and it’s because of, first and foremost, the people I mentioned earlier. The group of people that all work together to make this happen. It’s a team effort between the wrestlers, the staff, and the fans all working together 52 weeks a year and none of us can exist without the others.”
He pointed out that Mercedes’ position as TBS Champion stems from her immense talent and popularity, not because of special backstage influence.
“Mercedes is a great wrestler. She’s a focus on the show. She’s the TBS Champion because she’s hugely followed and a hugely talented star who brings so much to the table.”
Khan described the notion that Mone must hold creative sway because of her prominence as “ridiculous.”
“I’ve seen people infer she must have some kind of creative card because she’s such a feature on the show, but that’s ridiculous to me because when you have somebody of that stature, you would want to feature them and push them strongly.”
Khan Praises Mercedes Mone’s Dedication and Professionalism
Beyond her in-ring success, Khan praised Mone’s character and work ethic backstage, highlighting her receptiveness to collaboration even when her ideas are redirected.
“That’s why, frankly, in the case of Mercedes Mone, she is not only one of the biggest stars in AEW, but backstage she is a great person to work with. I found her to be very receptive and even if she comes in with an idea that points in one direction, I might have an idea that takes it 180 degrees in the total opposite direction.”
Khan emphasized the trust Mone places in the company and its leadership.
“If I really feel strongly about it, I found that she is somebody that is going to do what I believe and is very trusting of AEW. She is somebody that likes working at AEW and likes being here.”
He reiterated AEW’s 2025 focus on supporting those who show commitment to the company and work hard, portraying Mone as an exemplary figure.
“One of the great things we’ve done in 2025 was try to focus AEW, this entire year, around the people that want to be here and care about AEW and the people that work really hard for us every week. I think Mercedes is a great example of that. Somebody is really hard working and a very talented pro wrestler.”
Updates on Chris Jericho’s Anticipated AEW Return
Separately, news has surfaced about the return of another major AEW star, Chris Jericho. Absent from the promotion for nearly two months, Jericho has recently concluded his current tour with his band Fozzy and is reportedly awaiting creative directions from Tony Khan regarding his forthcoming television return.
Although Jericho is prepared for a comeback, no official announcement has yet been made by AEW or Jericho concerning a precise return date.
Mercedes Mone’s Personal Life Draws Attention
In related news, Mercedes Mone shared a heartfelt social media clip featuring her new boyfriend, reflecting her off-screen life amidst the professional spotlight.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. Is Tony Khan a billionaire?
A. Forbes says that Shahid Khan, father of Tony Khan, has over $12 billion. Although Tony’s exact wealth isn’t publicly known, he is estimated to be worth about $1.5 billion due to owning AEW.
