Tony Khan Says WCW Taught Him "What Not To Do" With AEW
AEW's President speaks...
Since All Elite Wrestling launched back in January 2019, the young promotion has been widely praised for producing compelling professional wrestling which has attracted a loyal fanbase across the world as the alternative to WWE. AEW has even gone head to head with the wrestling behemoth in the Wednesday Night Wars.
This is, of course, not the first time two wrestling promotions have faced off in a ratings war as from 1995 to 2001, WCW Monday Nitro faced off against Monday Night Raw in the Monday Night Wars.
Ultimately, WCW folded in 2001 after being bought by WWE, but the writing had been on the wall for Ted Turner's promotion for some time.
During a recent interview with the Financial Times, AEW President Tony Khan was asked about starting the promotion and the lessons he had learnt from the Monday Night Wars. Khan explained that WCW ultimately taught him "what not to do" when running a wrestling promotion and went on to criticise the company for teasing their audience with matches that never happened and for wasting millions of dollars on talent who just sat at home.
Khan said: "I'm not taking positive business lessons from other companies. Most of the lessons I'm taking are examples of what not to do...WCW was badly mismanaged. They teased audiences with matches that never materialised and lost tens of millions of dollars on talent, some earning six figures without ever working. It was a real disservice to fans."
This is, of course, not the first time two wrestling promotions have faced off in a ratings war as from 1995 to 2001, WCW Monday Nitro faced off against Monday Night Raw in the Monday Night Wars.
Ultimately, WCW folded in 2001 after being bought by WWE, but the writing had been on the wall for Ted Turner's promotion for some time.
During a recent interview with the Financial Times, AEW President Tony Khan was asked about starting the promotion and the lessons he had learnt from the Monday Night Wars. Khan explained that WCW ultimately taught him "what not to do" when running a wrestling promotion and went on to criticise the company for teasing their audience with matches that never happened and for wasting millions of dollars on talent who just sat at home.
Khan said: "I'm not taking positive business lessons from other companies. Most of the lessons I'm taking are examples of what not to do...WCW was badly mismanaged. They teased audiences with matches that never materialised and lost tens of millions of dollars on talent, some earning six figures without ever working. It was a real disservice to fans."
Written by Aidan Gibbons
Editor-in-Chief of Cultaholic.com Twitter: @theaidangibbons
