AEW President and CEO Tony Khan recently appeared as a guest on Busted Open Radio, where he discussed having some good long matches in the show every week are very important, even though he knows that not every match can be twenty or thirty minutes long.
Khan also said AEW doesn’t have three or four PPV’s a month as their PPVs are quarterly and they are big events, so he would be remiss if he didn’t tell people you get to see great, long matches on Dynamite.
This is what Tony Khan said:
“I get that not every match can be twenty or thirty minutes.” “But having some good long matches in the show every week is very important. You know, we don’t three or four PPV’s a month. Our PPV’s are quarterly, they’re big events. And I’d be remiss if I didn’t tell people you get to see great, long matches (on Dynamite). You’re going to see ten, fifteen, sometimes twenty, twenty five minute matches.”
“Last week the Young Bucks with PAC and Fenix went close to a half an hour and had one of the best matches you’re ever going to see. And that was totally free on Dynamite. And every Wednesday, on TNT, we try to offer people that promise, that guarantee that you’re going to see quality wrestling on this show.”
Khan then talked about paying attention to ratings when putting a match card together, including this week’s show, with so many tough matches on the card, it was really tough slotting the matches, but on the other hand, based on the way a lot of the stars are performing, you know the show rating was very consistent last week.
Khan also said he is not really sure it really matters in the 2-hour card where you are as long as you get some good time because it’s all prime time.
Tony Khan then said when he was putting the match card together for last Wednesday night’s show, yeah you want big stars in those spots and AEW has people who have delivered in those spots, consistently.
This is what Tony Khan said:
“Yeah, I do.” “This week with so many tough matches on the card it was really tough slotting the matches. But on the other hand, based on the way a lot of the stars are performing, you know the show rating was very consistent last week.
So we’ve gotten to a point, on TV wrestling, I’m not really sure it really matters in the two hour card where you are as long as you get some good time. Because it’s all prime time. 8 to 10 Eastern, 7 to 9 Central, these are prime hours. Anything you get in there is good. So I think everybody’s really clamped onto that real estate and we were able to maintain a great audience throughout the show. There wasn’t a lot of flipping in and out.”
“When I was putting it together (last night’s show), yeah, you want big stars in those spots. And we have people who have delivered in those spots, consistently. Hangman has gone out, time and time again, and come out and opened the show with some great, great matches and started us out with some big ratings.”
“Ricky Starks, same thing. Both guys have been in segments coming out of the gate that have done a million. That’s a huge, huge match for us.”
Khan then talked about people asking him why he hasn’t gone out and spent a lot of money on promoting the Kenny Omega vs. Rich Swann Match set to take place at Rebellion and Khan said he thinks it’s when he has gone to IMPACT to promote cards that he had to pay and buy ads, so that’s kind of on IMPACT.
This is what Tony Khan said:
“I think people have asked me why I haven’t gone out and spent a lot of money, Tommy, on promoting it (Omega-Swann).” “And I think it’s when I’ve gone to your guys shows (Impact) to promote cards, I’ve had to pay and buy ads. So that’s kind of on you guys.”
“But here’s a little free ad from me, that this weekend Kenny Omega is coming up to Impact Wrestling. And he’s going to be wrestling for the world title. It’s possible Rich Swann could be the AEW World Champion next week. It’s also quite possible Kenny Omega will be the Impact Champion, the AAA Champion and of course the AEW World Champion. But we’ll see next week.”
