During a conversation with Jon Alba on SI’s The Takedown, Tony Khan, the President and CEO of AEW, underscored his commitment to listening to fans, both in arenas and at home, highlighting a central philosophy guiding his promotion. In his remarks, Khan explained how fan responses actively shape AEW’s direction, a principle central to his leadership and the company’s approach.
Yeah, a lot. I put a lot of merit into that feedback. I really like to hear what the fans think in the arenas and at home. And sometimes I’ll have people in wrestling if I mention these things, say, ‘Why do you care?’ Because it’s the fans, I do care. And I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had people who work in pro wrestling tell me that I listen to the fans too much, or spend too much time thinking about what the fans think. Not the case. You always should be listening to the fans. And there’s always, always good insight from listening to the fans.
—Tony Khan, AEW President and CEO
Diverse Opinions Shape Decisions in Wrestling
Khan further elaborated on the wide range of perspectives present among wrestling fans, emphasizing how no two opinions are exactly alike when it comes to favorite wrestlers. He pointed out that even a large-scale survey among fans would likely yield nearly as many different answers as respondents, underlining the passionate diversity that exists within the wrestling community. This diversity, he suggests, is a testament to the significance of continually consulting with the audience to guide decision-making in AEW.
Insights Drawn from Fan Reactions and Ratings
From current wrestling fans, I think I learned a lot of things. One thing is who they don’t want to see, and who they like. And ‘who they don’t want to see’ doesn’t necessarily mean who they boo. But I think I learned all different things from the fans. One of the most interesting things to do is to study TV ratings patterns. And that’s fans at home, and that’s different sometimes from the reactions of the fans in the arena. You might see somebody that gets a really good reaction in the arena that doesn’t always get ratings. That’s something that can be interesting to look at. And the flip side. You can get people that do really well in the ratings but don’t get the biggest reactions in terms of the volume hearing them in the arena. And that’s interesting too. So I think studying the fans, listening to the fans, it’s really important.
—Tony Khan, AEW President and CEO
Khan described how analyzing both live reactions and television ratings offers rich insight into fan engagement. He noted that there are instances when a wrestler receives strong crowd reactions in arenas, but their presence may not reflect similarly in audience metrics. Conversely, some individuals who deliver high ratings might not evoke significant noise from the live audience. By examining these patterns, Khan assesses both public sentiment in-person and from viewers at home to better align the product with fan demand.
Why AEW Leans Heavily on Audience Input
The AEW President’s remarks highlight why the organization invites ongoing supporter interaction and places high value on the various perspectives offered by wrestling fans. By committing to this approach, Khan believes AEW can cultivate more meaningful connections with its fan base, leading to a more dynamic product. With Tony Khan on fan feedback, AEW continues to adapt its strategies, paying close attention to all segments of its audience to ensure lasting enthusiasm and relevance within the wrestling world.
