Tony Khan has quietly offered significant help to an injured AEW star, Eddie Kingston, enhancing hope for fans awaiting his return. On May 11, 2024, Kingston broke his leg during a New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) match against Gabe Kidd and has been sidelined since, focusing on recovery and preparing to rejoin the Jacksonville-based promotion.
Kingston, the former AEW Continental Champion, has been training with Cezar Bononi as part of his comeback plan and frequently appears in Bononi’s YouTube content. Recently, Kingston revealed that despite facing insurance denials for surgeries related to his injuries, AEW President Tony Khan stepped in to cover his medical expenses, a gesture Kingston described as both “heartwarming” and “unbelievable.”
Eddie Kingston Details Tony Khan’s Intervention on His Medical Bills
Kingston shared the challenges he faced with his insurance provider, which refused to cover critical surgeries. He recounted two occasions when coverage was unexpectedly denied on the day of his procedures, including hernia surgery three years ago and recent knee surgery. With the surgeon’s assistance, Tony Khan intervened to ensure his bills were paid.
“When I had hernia surgery three years ago, my insurance at the time said they would cover it. The day of the surgery, they said they couldn’t cover it. Thank God other people took care of that one. It happened again, same insurance, with the knee surgery. The day of the knee surgery, they said, ‘No, we’re not covering it.’ The surgeon knew, because he’d seen this before with this insurance, he was like, ‘Let me make a couple of calls.’ Tony took care of it. Thank God. That was it.” —Eddie Kingston
This support from Khan reflects his commitment to the well-being of AEW talent, something frequently praised by AEW employees and wrestlers alike. Veteran commentator Jim Ross, for example, recently renewed his contract with AEW citing Khan’s exceptional treatment of staff as a key factor.
Tony Khan’s Commitment to AEW Stars Beyond Injury Support
Beyond assisting injured performers like Eddie Kingston, Tony Khan has also openly expressed his desire to retain iconic stars such as Chris Jericho, whose AEW contract is rumored to expire in December 2024. Rumors about Jericho possibly leaving AEW for WWE have persisted, but Khan remains optimistic about Jericho’s return to the promotion.
Speaking on the Torg And Elliott podcast, Khan praised Jericho’s long-standing contributions to AEW, affirming his hope that the wrestler will remain part of AEW’s future.
“Chris Jericho has been here since the very beginning. I have so much great respect for Chris Jericho. I would love to have Chris in AEW any time. We absolutely want Chris Jericho back in AEW, and hopefully soon. He’s been great with us and been with us since the first event. The very first AEW World Champion, and Chris is a huge part of the history in AEW and is still in great shape and a great wrestler.” —Tony Khan
“Stay tuned to the show. That’s one of the reasons you watch the wrestling show, to see the returns.” —Tony Khan
The Broader Impact of Tony Khan’s Support for AEW Talent
Tony Khan’s actions underline his dedication not only to ensuring AEW’s growth as a wrestling brand but also to fostering a supportive environment for the performers who help build its success. His financial help during Kingston’s medical struggles and his public backing of key figures like Jericho emphasize a leadership style focused on loyalty and care.
This approach not only bolsters talent morale but also strengthens AEW’s reputation across the wrestling community, likely encouraging performers to commit long term. Fans interested in AEW can anticipate continued surprises and returns, reinforcing the excitement surrounding AEW shows.
