In 2022, Tony Khan acquired Ring of Honor (ROH), a wrestling promotion now aligned as a sister company to All Elite Wrestling (AEW). This acquisition has positioned ROH prominently in the wrestling world, highlighted by Bandido holding the ROH World Championship. Concurrently, former WWE star Athena has been making history as the ROH Women’s World Champion, demonstrating the promotion’s growing prestige under Khan’s oversight.
ROH recently hosted the Death Before Dishonor event at the 2300 Arena in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The main attraction featured Athena defending her title against Mina Shirakawa in an intense and physical contest. Following the event, Athena disclosed during a media scrum that Tony Khan has been actively assisting her with Metroplex Wrestling’s Who Runs The World? shows, signaling his hands-on approach to supporting emerging wrestling ventures.
“But yes, it is going to be a very regular thing and Tony’s been very awesome with helping me with that as well so, we’re working on it. I promise I’m a little late because I was a little busy traveling the world and defending my championship and trying to win championships. But I promise you it’s a regular thing so, please stay tuned. I know by Monday, we are gonna be releasing the full talent list, and then we will start doing matches because I’m very excited to announce a few myself…” said the former Ember Moon. —Athena
Athena, a co-founder of Metroplex Wrestling (MPX), continues to expand her influence in wrestling beyond the ring. The inaugural Who Runs The World? event took place on August 9th, with a second edition already scheduled for October 25th, reflecting growing momentum for the project.
Jake Hager‘s Public Criticism of Tony Khan
In contrast to the support shown to Athena’s initiatives, Tony Khan’s relationship with former AEW star Jake Hager appears strained. Hager, who was part of AEW from 2019 until early 2024, recently spoke openly about his negative experiences with Khan during an interview on Insight with Chris Van Vliet.
“I always find a way to say this every day, so I think everyone should too: say, ‘Fuck Tony Khan.’ I could tell that he didn’t want me there,” said the former World Heavyweight Champion. —Jake Hager
The blunt criticism suggests a deep rift between Khan and Hager, making a future professional reunion uncertain. Observers will be watching closely to see if the two can eventually reconcile or if this marks a definitive end to their working relationship.
The Growing Influence of Tony Khan in Professional Wrestling
Tony Khan’s expanding role in professional wrestling is evident through his investment in ROH and backing of talent like Athena. His involvement in supporting new projects such as Metroplex Wrestling’s Who Runs The World? shows underlines his commitment to fostering emerging wrestling stars outside of AEW’s direct sphere.
While he faces public backlash from some former talents like Jake Hager, Khan continues to build an influential presence shaping wrestling’s evolving landscape. How this dynamic will affect the broader wrestling community remains to be seen, but Khan’s hands-on approach is certain to have lasting effects on the industry.
