Former WCW Senior Vice President Eric Bischoff believes AEW President Tony Khan and former WWE Chairman Vince McMahon share one important characteristic despite their different approaches to professional wrestling.
Eric Bischoff, who has frequently criticised AEW and Tony Khan’s management of the promotion, acknowledged that both executives possess a deep passion for the wrestling industry and expect similar enthusiasm from those working alongside them.
On his 83 Weeks podcast, Bischoff discussed the similarities between Khan and Vince McMahon, particularly their dedication to their respective companies.
“Yes, I think Vince was proud of his passion for the product and expected everybody around him to be as passionate as him,” Bischoff said.
“My impression was Vince would not understand if you’re working in WWE, in particular, and you don’t have a passion for the product. I think he would have a hard time understanding or even being willing to tolerate you being a part of WWE.”
Bischoff suggested that Khan approaches his responsibilities at AEW with a comparable level of enthusiasm.
“Tony probably is of similar nature. We know he is, based on…anecdotal information that we’ve all heard from people that we know and respect. He loves what he’s doing.”
Eric Bischoff Highlights Similarities Between Tony Khan And Vince McMahon
Although Eric Bischoff recognised their shared passion for professional wrestling, he suggested that the similarities between Tony Khan and Vince McMahon largely end there. McMahon spent more than five decades working in professional wrestling, transforming WWE into a global entertainment company before departing the organisation in January 2024.
His resignation from WWE and its parent company, TKO, followed allegations of sexual assault and trafficking made by former employee Janel Grant. McMahon has denied the allegations, while the civil lawsuit brought against him moved into private arbitration in June 2026.
Khan, meanwhile, continues to oversee AEW, which he founded in 2019 and has since developed into one of WWE’s leading competitors. The AEW President recently expressed enthusiasm about working with Skydance, although questions remain about the promotion’s long-term television future.
AEW’s current media rights agreement is expected to expire sometime after the beginning of 2028, leaving uncertainty over what the company’s broadcasting arrangements could look like beyond that point.
Despite their contrasting backgrounds and management styles, Bischoff believes Khan and McMahon have at least one thing in common: an intense commitment to the wrestling business and the product they present to audiences.
