Tony Khan recently paid tribute to a WWE Hall of Famer by honoring him with a Hall of Fame induction after the AEW Dynamite show. However, many fans noticed that the ceremony did not air live on AEW television, prompting Khan to clarify the reasons behind this decision.
The motive behind moving the Hall of Fame induction off AEW broadcast
AEW commentator Tazz was inducted into the 2300 Arena Hardcore Hall of Fame during a ceremony held after AEW Dynamite had concluded on TV. This timing was not accidental; Tazz himself requested that the induction not take place during the broadcast so that the All Elite wrestlers could receive more focus and screen time at the event.
In a detailed explanation provided on the Battleground Podcast, Tony Khan revealed that Tazz had sent him a message asking for the ceremony to be held off the air. Khan expressed deep respect for Tazz’s selfless request, which aimed to spotlight today’s wrestlers rather than dwelling on his own celebrated career. Khan shared:
“He shot me a text message and said, ‘Can we do this off the air?’ for all the reasons he said later in the video we did together, he said he wanted to really give the screen time to the wrestlers today, focus on them, and not spend the TV time on honoring his legendary career, which I was excited to do, but I understood Taz’s perspective.” —Tony Khan, AEW President
Tony Khan discusses the addition of Bryan Danielson to AEW commentary team
In other AEW news, Tony Khan announced that Bryan Danielson would join the AEW commentary team full-time starting this week. Danielson had impressed fans as a special guest commentator on the previous episode, prompting Khan to make his role permanent.
During the same podcast interview, Khan highlighted how fans were enthusiastic about seeing and hearing Danielson on screen, noting that his thoughtful and knowledgeable commentary adds value to AEW programming. Khan emphasized:
“People want to see Bryan Danielson on television and hear Bryan Danielson on television. And thankfully, he’s got very intelligent, insightful things to say when he does talk.” —Tony Khan, AEW President
Khan further praised Danielson’s extensive wrestling expertise, predicting that his involvement will bring a fresh perspective and enhance the quality of AEW’s broadcasts moving forward.
Significance of the choices and what to expect next
Tony Khan’s handling of Tazz’s induction reflects a thoughtful balance between honoring wrestling legends and promoting current talent, reinforcing AEW’s commitment to its roster. Additionally, integrating Bryan Danielson into the commentary team demonstrates Khan’s intent to enrich AEW’s presentation with expert insight, likely boosting fan engagement.
These developments suggest AEW is focused on evolving its show by respecting its history while highlighting its present stars, signaling promising growth for its future broadcasts.
