Images via: Explosion-New Scientist, AEW-Pro Wrestling Tees, WWE-Reddit
In the wake of the massive success of Forbidden Door, in which AEW and NJPW successfully put on a joint PPV, many are wondering just how far the ‘Forbidden Door’ of professional wrestling will open…going even as far to wonder if WWE and AEW will ever work in tandem much to the same effect as we just saw at the aforementioned event.
An interesting question indeed, and one posed to AEW President, co-owner and CEO, Tony Khan himself. He had this to say on the possibility:
“I’m not sure if that’s gonna happen (AEW and WWE doing a joint show). But, I would be open to talking about that type of thing. It’s not crazy but it’s a bold prediction.”
WWE and AEW have worked together in small part in the past…mostly permissions and allowing AEW talent to be featured on Raw…like what happened at the John Cena 20-year celebration on Raw last week. Many AEW wrestlers and talent had sent in video messages to congratulate John, but to put on an actual show together?
In the past and now, Tony Khan has always been very respectful when talking about WWE. At times he’s been aggressive and/or critical, but in a way that is understandable. He has an alternative product from what the pro wrestling fans have gotten over the last two decades, so for him to be hungry to grow his business and yes, even at the expense of his rivals, is perfectly natural in business…. As they say: “All’s fair in love and war,” right?
The question that I would have here though, and a potential problem I see with them working together, is in their contrast of styles.
via Forbes /YouTube
They are so different, specifically McMahon and Khan themselves. The way they operate and write the show differs in so many ways. Khan went into the way he writes and criticized the way WWE writes shows, and how Vince McMahon will scrap a whole idea moments before they go on the air! Here’s some of what he said:
“When it came to practical TV writing experience, I didn’t have it. So I did lean more on people around me and I would try to trust my instincts but it’s hard when you don’t have as much experience. And I do take a lot of pride in the booking. I work with a lot of really smart people…
What I think I do a good job of is being organized, dealing with a lot of different people, and going to for ideas. I have a lot of great creative minds that are in the company that I can have full time access to like Chris Jericho and Christian Cage, and Jon Moxley has great ideas. And now CM Punk and Bryan Danielson, Adam Cole have come in with great ideas…
I try to keep it all organized and balanced, and I’ve found it’s helped me a lot writing the shows myself. I don’t really understand the idea of having a lot of different people write the show and then a person would go in the day of and rip it to pieces and try to come up with new ideas…
To be honest, when I hear about somebody going in and they have a TV show on Monday that they rip up, my first thought is, ‘What were you doing all weekend?’ Because I work my ass off on the weekends…
So, I don’t do everything myself but I do make the final decision on everything. I put the format together, I put an outline of what the show is going to be for Dynamite and Rampage. I write it by hand. And I don’t understand why you’re gonna come in and rip up a show that you should have a pretty good idea what it is, you should have approved it where Monday we know what we’re doing…
Things change on the day of the show, not that I never change my mind on the day of — I do. But not where I’m gonna change everything. I might change one or two things around on instinct or because something happened…
But for the most part, I like to have a good idea of what is going to be on a show next week, and the week after. I really believe that the fans like that we try our best not to insult their intelligence. I do try to make the shows compelling, and also logical. And I think that’s one of the challenges, because a lot of times people come to you with ideas and it’s hard because everyone’s got their own approaches and their own philosophies, but there’s a tone to the show…
So I really just want people to go out and make the points and keep the stories going. But I’m not so autocratic that I want to control every word somebody says on television. And I think that’s also why some of our interviews, our storytelling, and promos are really strong, I believe.”
So yeah…they’d never agree on anything it would seem.
But a joint show can shine a light on both companies and both rosters that obviously get along very well anyways…. So in pro wrestling, dear readers…never say never.
