Tony Khan, the president and owner of AEW, is involved in yet another high-profile spat on X.
This time it involves the USA Network, the WWE, superstar Jinder Mahal, Eric Bischoff and observer Jonathan Coachman.
It seemed this post by whomever supervises the official USA Network X account triggered Khan. The comment refers to Khan’s admission that he factors in fan ratings on the Cagematch site when determining his success as a booker.
What was the cagematch rating?
— USA Network (@USANetwork) January 9, 2024
Khan responded with:
A moral victory for USA is one win more than their World Title challenger Jinder Mahal has in the past 364 days… because it's been literally a full year since he won a match.
You really put AEW in our place getting Jinder Mahal in a big match on your tv show. Do it more often https://t.co/0kpuUsvkm1— Tony Khan (@TonyKhan) January 9, 2024
A double standard:@730hook 28-1 career record, on winning streak calls out the Champ, a logical challenge sparks online outrage
Jinder has literally lost every single match he's in for the past year, immediately gets title shot, where is the rage#AEWDynamite TOMORROW on TBS
— Tony Khan (@TonyKhan) January 9, 2024
While it is true that Mahal’s last win was against Humberto on the March 6th, 2022, episode of Smackdown, pro-wrestling, except for AEW, doesn’t hinge on or factor in wins and losses in their angles.
Eric Bischoff responded simply with a clown emoji to the statement.
Khan replied with:
#AEWDynamite pic.twitter.com/yq2fdbNi9v
— Tony Khan (@TonyKhan) January 9, 2024
Bischoff then posted this question to Khan:
Hey @TonyKhan is this true or is it a bot? https://t.co/5KCfOyTJ5W
— Eric Bischoff (@EBischoff) January 9, 2024
Khan replied:
No @EBischoff, not true at all.
Abadon returned to AEW + then they won a 4 way match on TNT against other great wrestlers to earn a title shot, which is completely different than someone going a full year losing every match they're in + getting a title shot without a single win https://t.co/tmo8TzuBAy— Tony Khan (@TonyKhan) January 9, 2024
Khan and Bischoff then traded insults:
Oh kid, my reading comprehension skills are wizard like. By the way, that was one of @davemeltzerWON wicked comebacks whenever he’d get called out on his bs. Coincidence or are you really that deep? https://t.co/hDDxIii4gN
— Eric Bischoff (@EBischoff) January 10, 2024
Former WWE announcer Jonathan Coachman, who now works for the NBC Sports Group, entered into the fray saying:
We also used to get amused at fans who counted wins like wrestlers “earned” them. Hell if Vince wanted I could have been world champion. But the storyline didn’t support it. It’s about the story clearly not wins in a predetermined space. Thought a boss would understand that. 🤷🏾♂️ https://t.co/lj9jEM4I9M
— The Coach (@Thecoachrules) January 9, 2024
Coachman responded to a fan by writing: “Vince always taught us the audience dictates the matches and who wins. We always had babyfaces win the main event at house shows. Once I became a heel I would ring announce. Allows different endings and sometimes heels would win and the babyfaces would beat me up and everyone goes home happy. The audience determines everything in the wrestling business. Wins and losses are immaterial.”
Fans then began to throw in their two cents as well:
He points out that Hook has a win loss record but dismisses Abadons win loss record and her 2 year absense because she won a contender match. So everything would be fine for him if Mahal would have defeated some jobber for a contender match? Is this how wrestling works?
— JB ™ (@JBonthemovehere) January 10, 2024
Why does he think W/L records matter in a worked sport?
— Brandon (@Bleeazy) January 10, 2024
I dont understand the importance of récords when wrestling is scripted. I love Wrestling, but this is just pathetic.
— Juan Bellik (@NGolfo41267) January 10, 2024
Over a month ago it was reported that AEW is now scrutinizing and has doled out fines to employees who are unprofessional on social media.
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