Tony Khan is considering a lasting adjustment to the Tony Khan AEW PPV schedule after AEW All Out shifted its start time to an earlier slot on September 3, 2025, to avoid conflicting with WWE Wrestlepalooza. This change, influenced largely by WWE’s programming decisions, affected viewing patterns across North America and the United Kingdom, prompting discussions about adopting this timing regularly.
Scheduling Shift Made to Avoid Clash with WWE Event
AEW All Out 2025 took place with a revised kickoff time ahead of its original schedule to prevent overlap with WWE Wrestlepalooza, which deliberately programmed its event against AEW. Despite lacking several top stars like Kenny Omega, Will Ospreay, Swerve Strickland, and Jay White, the show still delivered a strong lineup. The main event saw Adam Page, known as “Hangman,” defend the AEW World Championship successfully against Kyle Fletcher. Meanwhile, Toni Storm’s impressive reign as the Women’s World Champion came to a close, and fans were surprised by the return of Jack Perry, who reunited with his former tag team partner Killswitch during the event.
Tony Khan Open to Making Early Start Times a Permanent Feature
Following the event, Tony Khan spoke at a press conference with Davey Portman of Poisonrana about the potential permanence of the early start times. Khan indicated that the new schedule, particularly for Saturday events, might become standard due to its success over the past three pay-per-views.
“It’s definitely something to think about, especially on Saturdays with the way the schedule works and what we’re doing. I do think there is something to it,” Khan said. “It’d be something to consider on some of the Sundays. It’s been tremendous for three straight pay-per-views. It’s something I would take into consideration.” – Tony Khan, AEW President
Khan emphasized that hosting pay-per-views earlier also benefits international viewers, particularly those in the United Kingdom, by allowing events to begin during prime evening hours rather than the early morning. This adjustment has led to improved engagement from the UK audience.
“It’s the third straight pay-per-view with an early start time on the East Coast and in the prime time in the UK, and we’ve had great results in the UK. That’s a huge consideration to us, and that’s a big part of it. Whether it’s Saturday or Sunday, it’s something to think about.” – Tony Khan, AEW President
Upcoming AEW Events and Continuing Developments
AEW’s next major show is WrestleDream, scheduled for October 18, 2025, in St. Louis, Missouri. As the company adapts to new scheduling pressures, Tony Khan’s statements suggest that the company may continue experimenting with showtimes to maximize viewership across regions and avoid conflicts with WWE programming.
These developments come amid broader changes in professional wrestling, with WWE veterans and AEW stars alike navigating the evolving landscape. Wrestlers such as Brody King have publicly shown appreciation for Tony Khan’s policies, while others are already planning retirement storylines as the industry shifts.
The ongoing scheduling adjustments highlight AEW’s strategic efforts to grow its audience and strengthen its position against WWE’s counterprogramming, underscoring the complex rivalry between the promotions and their impact on fans worldwide.
