Bully Ray Decodes Tony Khan’s AEW Booking Strategy

One big thing: AEW’s week-to-week focus

WWE Hall of Famer Bully Ray believes AEW CEO Tony Khan is prioritizing short-term, weekly storytelling over long-term narratives in AEW’s booking strategy.

The details:

• Khan recently discussed his approach to storytelling on “Busted Open Radio”
• Bully Ray analyzed Khan’s comments on “Busted Open After Dark”
• Ray described Khan’s strategy as a “grip it and rip it” mentality
• This approach prioritizes weekly excitement over extended storylines

Why it matters:

Understanding Khan’s booking philosophy provides insight into AEW’s creative decisions and helps fans and critics align their expectations with the company’s direction.

By the numbers:

• AEW Dynamite has been on air since October 2, 2019
• The show averages around 800,000-900,000 viewers weekly

The big picture:

This strategy marks a departure from traditional wrestling storytelling, which often relies on long-term narratives and character development.

Case in point:

The recent Bryan Danielson vs. Nigel McGuinness match at AEW Grand Slam:

• Built on years of history but contained to a few weeks of TV build
• Danielson was absent from TV during the build-up
• Match received praise, particularly for McGuinness’ performance
• In-ring action reportedly fell short of pre-event expectations

The bottom line:

While Bully Ray doesn’t necessarily agree with Khan’s approach, he appreciates the clarity it provides in understanding AEW’s booking decisions.

What do you think about AEW’s focus on short-term storytelling? Is it the right approach for modern wrestling audiences? Leave your thoughts in the comments below.