Tony Khan: “This Isn’t a Public Company, I’m in 100% Control of Everything”

[Kemo]

Tony Khan has a strong team surrounding him in All Elite Wrestling, but the buck stops with him.

It’s no secret that Khan is the President of AEW. He is active on social media about all things AEW, but (mercifully) does not appear on television as an authority figure.

Earlier this week, Tony Khan tweeted that he signed Ricky Starts to an AEW contract after an impressive showing on this week’s Dynamite.

Wrestling statistician Craig from Pro Wrestling Musings noted that Tony Khan said “he” personally signed Starks, not “we” – as in, the company or the wrestlers who serve as AEW Executive Vice Presidents.

Craig wrote, “‘I signed’ not ‘We signed’. Be aware of what you are watching. Yes, it’s a great product. Yes, it’s better than WWE morally. But it is not the same product as All In. Be aware of what you are watching. ‘For the wrestlers by the wrestlers’, it is not.”

Tony Khan responded to Craig taking issue with him stating that he personally signed Ricky Starks. AEW’s lineage and genesis are linked to the [independent] All In event, but Khan never claimed it’s the same product.

“I’m transparent on how we work,” he replied. “We have a great group of execs in leadership roles, many are star wrestlers, & I work closely with them, & I’m accessible for all staff & wrestlers. This isn’t a public company, I’m in 100% control of everything.”

We never said it’s the same product. I’m transparent on how we work. We have a great group of execs in leadership roles, many are star wrestlers, & I work closely with them, & I’m accessible for all staff & wrestlers. This isn’t a public company, I’m in 100% control of everything

— Tony Khan (@TonyKhan) June 18, 2020

Craig clarified that he is mostly supportive of AEW as a game-changing company. He was simply objecting to the idea of “the at the top being deified.” He then asked Tony Khan to help him with all the backlash he was getting on Twitter for his remarks. Khan replied:

Craig buddy, I never intended for anyone to pile on you or attack your mental health. I was just responding to a tweet in which *you tagged me*. If you don’t want a response, don’t tag me & then it’s less likely. You do great work with stats, please don’t let tweets get you down!

— Tony Khan (@TonyKhan) June 18, 2020

[John]

I don't think it matters the percentage of AEW that Tony Khan owns. Despite the company being a private one, they still have to adhere to society's values and considered norms.