Tony Khan Compares AEW to AFL, Calls It ‘Unprecedented Success’

One big thing: AEW’s rapid rise in pro wrestling

AEW President Tony Khan likens his company’s growth to that of the American Football League (AFL), calling it an “unprecedented success story” in professional wrestling.

• Khan made these comments during the AEW All Out post-show media scrum.
• He compared AEW’s market share to that of the AFL in the 1960s.
• AEW has become arguably the second-biggest wrestling promotion since its 2019 launch.

Why it matters

Khan’s comparison highlights AEW’s significant impact on the wrestling industry in a short time, challenging WWE’s long-standing dominance.

By the numbers

• AEW sold over 50,000 tickets for its 2024 All In pay-per-view event.
• This marks the second consecutive year AEW has surpassed this milestone.

Khan’s perspective

“The last time that a challenger sports league in this continent had the percentage of the market that AEW has in their industry would be the AFL,” Khan said.

The big picture

While Khan didn’t suggest a merger with WWE (as happened with the AFL and NFL), he’s confident in AEW’s potential to become the second most profitable wrestling company in history.

What’s next?

As AEW continues to grow, industry watchers will be keen to see how it further challenges WWE’s market dominance and shapes the future of professional wrestling.

What do you think about Tony Khan’s comparison of AEW to the AFL? Do you see similarities in their growth stories? Leave a comment below with your thoughts!