Before founding All Elite Wrestling (AEW) and acquiring Ring of Honor (ROH), Tony Khan was already an avid pro wrestling enthusiast. His ongoing efforts to enhance AEW’s roster show his deep passion for wrestling, which is reflected in his recent comments where he highlighted some of his favorite grapplers outside of AEW. These remarks offer a window into the wrestlers Tony Khan admires beyond his own promotions.
In the early days of AEW, Khan mentioned Chris Jericho, Steve Austin, and Bret Hart as likely his favorite wrestlers. His admiration also extends to talent such as Orange Cassidy, Katsuyori Shibata, Mercedes Moné, Bryan Danielson, Toni Storm, and Jon Moxley. Despite his enthusiasm for many wrestlers, Khan tends to refrain from giving public acclaim to current <a href="https://cynicaltimes.org/category/wrestling-news/wwe/”>WWE roster members, though he has previously recognized Austin, Hart, Ric Flair, and Ricky Steamboat among his wrestling icons.
Favorites from Outside AEW’s Current Lineup
AEW and ROH benefit from collaborative partnerships with several notable promotions including New Japan Pro Wrestling (NJPW), Stardom, CMLL, and RevPro. During a recent discussion on the “My Mom’s Basement” podcast with Robbie Fox from Barstool Sports, Tony Khan shared insights about non-AEW talents he follows closely. When asked about his favorite technical wrestlers, Khan named Bryan Danielson, Bret Hart, and Zack Sabre Jr., expressing a keen interest in technical tag team wrestling as well. He highlighted teams such as FTR, The Midnight Express, The Rock ‘n’ Roll Express, and The Hollywood Blondes.
When pressed for his favorites outside of AEW and ROH, Khan named several names from a wider global wrestling scene:
“I just said Zack Sabre, Jr., that would be very high on the list. Um… that’s a good answer. Starlight Kid, very good. AZM, very good. [Fox: how tapped into other wrestling can you possibly be?] Oh, very… and actually, I just realized the light bulb came on as you were asking your question. Mistico, by far. Mistico is one of my all-time favorite wrestlers. Mistico has been on [my fantasy-booked] Dynamite since I was in college, I’ll put it that way. I was… I’m a big Mistico guy. I got really into CMLL in the early 2000s,” Tony Khan said.
Khan’s Continued Passion for Global Wrestling Styles
Tony Khan’s mention of Mistico, a star from Mexico’s CMLL, illustrates his appreciation for diverse wrestling styles and histories. His long-term interest in Mistico dates back to his college days, showing a deep-rooted respect for talent across the wrestling world. Similarly, by naming young stars like Starlight Kid and AZM, Khan recognizes emerging female wrestlers who have made significant impacts in promotions like Stardom.
This wide-ranging admiration reflects Khan’s commitment to blending styles and talent within AEW’s evolving roster, bolstered by partnerships with international wrestling organizations. Through these connections, AEW continues to bring new and exciting performers to fans, maintaining diversity in wrestling techniques and backgrounds.
What Khan’s Preferences Suggest for Wrestling’s Future
Tony Khan’s candid sharing of his favorite non-AEW wrestlers signals a forward-looking approach to talent scouting and storytelling within professional wrestling. His keen interest in both established veterans and rising stars from across the globe may influence future AEW collaborations and acquisitions. Fans can expect Khan’s passion to drive the promotion toward integrating a wide array of wrestling styles, reflecting his appreciation for technical prowess and legacy performers alike.
As AEW grows, Khan’s expansive wrestling knowledge and respect for talents beyond his roster could impact the company’s direction, offering fans fresh matchups and innovative wrestling experiences inspired by his eclectic favorites.
