AEW president Tony Khan expressed feeling betrayed following the unexpected loss of the AAA Tag Team titles by FTR to Dragon Lee and Dralistico. The title change occurred on the same night WWE officially announced Dragon Lee’s signing, a situation Khan says unfolded without his approval.
Khan revealed these details during an interview with Case Lowe of Q101, where he also touched on WWE’s acquisition of AAA, stating it was something he had anticipated since WWE revealed Lee’s signing in December 2022. However, the way the title change happened took him by surprise.
Details of the Title Change and Doubts About the Arrangement
According to Khan, the original plan was for FTR to lose the titles to Rush and Dralistico, but on the event day, Dragon Lee’s involvement altered that plan. Khan was in Denver, Colorado, managing the AEW Dynamite tapings and did not sign off on the final outcome.
“We had agreed FTR would go down and wrestle Rush and Dralistico. Then, something happened during the day when Dragon Lee was in there,”
Khan explained.
He expressed suspicion after speaking with FTR, saying,
“I thought there was some strange stuff going on here,”
noting that WWE cameras were reportedly present in Mexico during the match. Following the conclusion of Dynamite, the match took place with Lee pinning FTR, and shortly after, the WWE signing announcement was made public.
Khan further added,
“FTR’s name is still on the (title belt) plate (at the time), so it was really a double-cross and one of those things that would never happen now.”
Background on Relationships and Wrestling Partnerships
Industry insider Dave Meltzer reported that Khan had known about Lee’s WWE signing weeks before it became public. Earlier in 2022, Dragon Lee made appearances in AEW and ROH. Meanwhile, Dralistico currently competes in AEW, making the moment even more unusual.
Khan stressed his positive working relationship with CMLL president Salvador Lutteroth Lomeli, highlighting their close bond by stating they
“are brothers”
and emphasizing that they
“would never betray each other like that.”
AEW had maintained a partnership with AAA since 2019, but over time, that collaboration has fallen apart amidst these recent tensions and title controversies.
The Impact and Future Implications for AEW and AAA Relations
This incident highlights the complexities and fragilities of wrestling promotions working across different organizations and countries. Tony Khan’s sense of being double-crossed by AAA during the title change reveals ongoing challenges between AEW and AAA, particularly in light of WWE’s increased involvement with AAA talent. The breakdown in trust could affect future cross-promotional events and talent sharing arrangements.
With Khan now focusing on his relationship with CMLL and given WWE’s growing acquisitions, AEW’s approach to partnerships and talent may continue to evolve in order to protect its interests and avoid similar conflicts.
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. Is Tony Khan a billionaire?
A. According to Forbes, Shahid Khan, Tony Khan’s father, has a net worth exceeding $12 billion. Though Tony Khan’s exact worth isn’t publicly available, it is said he is valued at about $1.5 billion due to owning AEW.
