Jim Cornette on Recent Reports About Tony Khan's Behavior

From Episode 256 of Jim Cornette's Drive Thru
Artwork by Travis Heckel!
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[@fwef7445]

I hate the way Tony acts like he's one of the guys, he's the son of a billionaire, he's never known true hardship, the fear of losing his job, not being able to pay the bills, feed the kids. He's got everything, he will never be relatable to the normal folk no matter how hard he tries

[@durden2480]

He’s the definition of a mark

[@russphilbrook9719]

Couldn't agree more guy needs to go

[@darensparks]

@@russphilbrook9719 Needs to go, it's his company, unless you mean as a booker only.

[@kennethallen3843]

@@russphilbrook9719 he doesn't need to go dude, some of us want to enjoy the car crash.

[@russphilbrook9719]

@@darensparks yeah I mean as day to day someone else can do that he just needs to supply the money

[@segagenesis7708]

Let's clarify some things. He is not taken seriously in Fulham FC. Nor is he taken seriously within the Jacksonville Jaguars. He has an analytics role and is the sort of guy who tries to apply analytics to human life, while either trying to quantify the human element, or completely minimizing it. He can't communicate. He can't handle confrontation. From his media scrums that is clear.

[@allmyteamssuck2706]

#1 The Sega Genesis is the greatest system of all time! Clearly PlayStation 5's or 4's or 3's or even 2's are technologically superior to the Genesis that's going to be the case as time goes on with any system. For its time the Sega Genesis was the absolute greatest gaming system ever. #2 the spoiled silver spoon little bitch boys that inherit the world from their daddy are typically very insecure for obvious reasons. What I don't understand is if they feel insecure about being a little silver spoon that gets looked at as someone that couldn't take a leak without his daddy helping him why take the money and work for your dad? If you feel like you don't have an identity leave the family cocoon and go create your own legacy. No they want to take the free hand out and still be taken seriously and it doesn't work that way.

[@charlest5604]

So basically he's the movie Moneyball?!!?

[@Hatchbasic]

The jaguars are so pathetic I’m a Jets fan and feel bad for them

[@yogafire646]

@@allmyteamssuck2706 Genesis is the #2 console of all time!

[@awesomebeast7509]

@@Hatchbasic They have a brighter future than the Jets Lmao

[@SharkTooth57]

Everyone in AEW: "We are the alternative to WWE".... Also AEW: "Say this, this, and this on commentary"....

[@BeyondDaX]

Everyone has double standards, especially Tony Khan

[@TheLibermania]

I think that WWE could change that now since they unban words.

[@MrSniperfox29]

Everybody to AEW - You're not an alternative TO the WWE, you're an alternative WWE

[@michaelbreen7865]

@@MrSniperfox29 Everybody in AEW: (total silence)

[@euge2175]

Even tho Jim is critical of Tony and his booking (rightfully), nice to hear he’s still genuinely concerned about his mental well-being and that he really needs to take a step back. Feel like AEW would be better if Tony wasn’t micromanaging every segment

[@TheLibermania]

Isn't Jim a person who does charity for mental health? I need to look if that was a thing. Edit: He sold signed copies of his Restraining Order and donated the money to "Crusade for Children". I don't know how much that was, but the pure gesture is good.

[@budwyzer77]

He likes Tony as a person. Jim just knows he's in *way* over his head as a Director of Football Operations (or its equivalent) for two professional sports teams AND a wrestling promoter. Each one of those jobs is supposed to take 70+ hours a week so it's impossible for him to succeed at any of them even if he had the requisite experience. Right now Tony is just making a fool of himself while the subordinates do all the real work without the prestigious job titles. He needs to take a sabbatical and sort himself out. He'll still own AEW when he gets back. Fulham and the Jags would also benefit from him staying off of Twitter.

[@renafan3333]

@@TheLibermania It was $9. I bought one.

[@TheLibermania]

@@renafan3333 I meant it's total. If it were 500 Dollar or 5000 Dollar. And that it doesn't matter because the gesture is nice and unexpected since Jim feels like a strict businessman to me. Are you happy with the copy? Because i thought of getting one too. 🙂

[@martinkipp848]

@@TheLibermania The only ad spots that don’t derail into hilarity is the ones for Better Help. Not that he doesn’t appreciate the other ads, but that also tells me how serious Jim is on the subject of mental health awareness.

[@jessycruz2465]

Problem with khan is that he rushed everything and was very quick to expand without hiring the proper people first to help him with the expansion and the overbloating roster. The workload, pressure, and stress is probably too much for him right now.

[@el-youtub3r402]

its because hes an ADHD freak who should be locked up instead of doing this

[@ian0143]

So his expansion was as rushed and poorly planned as his booking!

[@TheMrAlgoh]

Then he'll make another major announcement and he's buying Impact wrestling.

[@mattb.2740]

Well, his cocaine addiction probably doesn't help.

[@TheNotSure]

There's a phrase I remember when I start to rush, "Undue haste leads to waste". Tony the tiger needs to breathe lol.

[@rofbagging9749]

Watching Tony is like seeing an addict spiraling out of control. Especially compared to 3 years ago, you can see his descent into madness

[@Sevenduece]

Cocaine's a hell of a drug

[@frankuraku5622]

I can imagine him as a Tony Montana wrestling kingpin sniffing coke everywhere while he slowly falls down into madness. Of course, Kenny Olivia as his own Gina.

[@Sevenduece]

@@frankuraku5622 lol I could seriously see omega in his nighty saying "fuck me Tony" 🤣🤣🤣🤣 while Kahn is coked out in his office

[@segagenesis7708]

Tony is the fan who had enough money to start his own wrestling company. He, like most of us would, wholly underestimated how much actually goes into running a full-fledged wrestling company. The pressure is now getting to him. Now, I'm not completely sure of all of this report. But this is something I've felt for a while.

[@darensparks]

@@Sevenduece Hilarious 😆

[@maceomaceo11]

As a lifetime NFL junkie that absorbs all NFL content from anywhere and everywhere, I can assure you Tony Khan's name has never been mentioned ever in all my decades of consuming the league's content, Papa Khan is barely talked about. Tony's role for the Jaguars is the classic "my kid needs a job, find something for him to do that isn't going to really be anything". Trent Baalke is the guy making the football decisions, and the people he hired. Tony has an office and a salary.

[@81ghale]

Yep never not once. I don’t think either were mentioned during the scandals they had. Now that’s bad. Lol

[@jaylong4705]

So glad you wrote this. I have followed NFL for 40 years and no one talks about the Kahn's unless they are ragging on them.

[@savharris5702]

Whenever Jim says "Here's the thing..." Know that you're about to get a gem

[@shannonmoore3282]

Or his big sighs lol

[@savharris5702]

@@shannonmoore3282 lol for real

[@VivanLaMNWA]

I was at Quake at the Lake on Wednesday. Tony came out to cut promos twice to hype the fact that Rampage was being filmed later in the night. It’s been three years and he still comes across as someone who was just handed a microphone to address an audience for the first time in his life. It’s beyond cringey, it’s embarrassing and sad.

[@markfroman738]

He’s such a weird dude

[@jhonviel7381]

well he just represents the common wrestling fan so...

[@MrMarcodarko]

90% of wrestling fans are cringey, embarrassing and sad Man children....so maybe you hate what is a reflection of you

[@2400jets]

He did the same thing in Atlantic City lol

[@henrygvidonas9573]

"Quake at the Lake". Awesome name. Straight outta 1982. Quiver in the River. Pee in the Sea. Poop in the Soup. Just kidding, it's better than "All In", "All Out", "All Off", "All Gone", and all the WWE-ripoff names they use for their events, like "Full Gear" or "Revolution".

[@pauladams1915]

Judging by Tony's outburst at a recent media scrum with CM Punk, the way he hugs grown men like a child hugs a giant teddy teddy and that time he came out on Dynamite and tried to tell Kenny off, I think immaturity is a big factor. Also, as much as he tries to spin the viewing figures, it must be a constant reminder that he's not booker of the year. You've got all these ex WWE stars and some great young talent and you still can't make it work. He needs to swallow his pride and employ a booker.

[@MrMarcodarko]

compared to what? WWE behind the scenes shitshow?

[@pauladams1915]

@@MrMarcodarko ?

[@Ted_Bell]

Tony Khan will mature nine days from tonight!

[@MrMarcodarko]

@@Ted_Bell Khan is the messiah, and maybe even God if the wrestling scripture is correct

[@flynnwalker5737]

LIVE ON DYNAMITE! LIVE ON DYNAMITE!

[@theghostofthomasjenkins9643]

tony khan isn't a promoter. he's a fanboy.

[@matthewnewman6039]

He's literally 2nd best promoter in the world...

[@reggiedidszuhn5173]

@@matthewnewman6039 That contextually means absolutely nothing lmao

[@jamesn151]

@@matthewnewman6039 simp

[@theghostofthomasjenkins9643]

@@matthewnewman6039 no, he's pumped the 2nd most amount of money into a promotion with middling results.

[@fatalsniper3413]

@@theghostofthomasjenkins9643 sounds like 99% of businesses. People with the money rule the world and since they rule the world, they rule and spend the most money on their businesses.

[@Madashell1200]

I hope I live long enough to see the behind the scenes of AEW documentary someday.

[@rizkyanandita8227]

​@@BJORNArtist If that the case, Jericho is definitely going over.

[@Jhoncena22]

You’ll probably live 3 more years so I’m confidant you’ll get to see the rise and fall doc

[@segagenesis7708]

@@Jhoncena22 Aw, that's cold. 😆

[@RoreyG]

I could see it now- "Dynamite- The Implosion of AEW", A WWE Films Production. Narrated by Cody Rhodes.

[@cishansen4162]

@@segagenesis7708 Sad, but true.

[@landsverkchristian]

I do think a lot of what’s causing Tony’s recent freak outs is with what’s going on at Warner Bros Discovery, and the realization that they may not get a good tv deal the next go around with this new management.

[@segagenesis7708]

This is an interesting perspective. It would mean that not only is he nervous about HHH improving the WWE product (Despite what he says publicly), wrestlers asking for their releases to go work for HHH and having to step up his own product for that reason, but also because he's not cemented into this next tv deal.

[@williammitchell4417]

Or could it be that Tony is becoming the next Jim Herd???

[@madringking1119]

No. Tony is becoming the next Herb Abrams. Jim Herd dismantled WCW's success, whereas TK is gonna end up crashing and burning

[@lracseroom8286]

...and the obvious AF drug problem.

[@al5306]

@@segagenesis7708 Good point. I think what hurt AEW the most was Vince McMahon stepping down and Triple H coming up. Tony is no longer the "good boss" when Triple H is on top in WWE. Triple H is going to make Tony look more and more inept every day.

[@aeso3555]

Let's be honest, Jim is right here. Running a wrestling promotion has to be one of the most stressful ventures. It's like running theatre every week but every actor/actress is in it for themselves and wants to be the main lead. Add to the constant yes men or anti management rebels, plus a multitude of PR work, production, merchandise, touring, booking etc and I think I'd go certifiably insane running even a tiny indie promotion let alone possibly the second biggest in America.

[@el-youtub3r402]

he's gonna end up like Herb Abrams but without the hookers

[@Squirtketchupallovermyhotdog]

He chooses to do all the roles himself rather than have others take them over. He should choose 1 and stick to just that. Diverting your time and attention between more than 1 task? Means all of them will be done to a sub par-bad standard and He's getting worse not better. He's cracking under the pressure and his public appearances/media scrums are embarrassing now.

[@aeso3555]

@@Squirtketchupallovermyhotdog As the millionaire businessman that he is, I really though he'd know how to delegate and hire a team of PR consultants to manage his online presence but nope, guess not. But to be fair, if your options for delegating were Kenny Omega and the Young Bucks, I'd rather run the whole thing myself rather than trust it to the Bucks (it'd become being the elite show 24/7). At least Cody seemed to know what he was doing.

[@maklame3318]

​@@el-youtub3r402 Ah finally a Herb Abrams reference.

[@el-youtub3r402]

@@maklame3318 Finally? I see the reference everytime, whenever Jim talks about TK 😄

[@MatrixUnlockedPlus]

AEW should be paying Cornette for the great FREE consulting that he gives on his podcast each and every week, ON THIS VERY PODCAST.

[@thedogcalledno]

Jim gives away so much great advice, for free, I hope someone is taking it. He should charge a fee.

[@nikolajovic6119]

He does, you pay by clicks.

[@retrokoh]

Jim gets that ad revenue.

[@lilgenx8361]

That’s why he’s been fired everywhere

[@o.w.omarquito2047]

@@lilgenx8361 True, and looked how well those businesses turned out after that. ROH is now in the hands of TK. Truly a great decision

[@mage1439]

@John Williams Yeah, but he's the king of the ad read.

[@DillyDilly13]

It’s so funny to me how the report came out about Tony Khan being an ass backstage. And then Tony goes on to say “oh no everything is fine.” Talk about damage control.

[@al5306]

He always says that nothing bad ever happens. Exploding barb wire fiasco? "It was the heel's fault." Criticism about AEW? "WWE hired bots to attack us."

[@bigsteve8921]

Tony Khan is basically Nicolas Cage's character from Matchstick Men

[@zachscott5420]

Few will get that comparison. I respect it.

[@julioalvaradojr]

Such an underrated movie

[@kidwaryodproduction]

His eyes in cover picture always remind me of Nicolas Cage meme scene in "Vampire Kiss" hahaha.

[@zachscott5420]

@@julioalvaradojr as great as cash is in it. Sam Rockwell was a sneaky better in it

[@williammcmillan-johnstone3962]

More like lord of war l

[@joshuafrederich]

"The candle that burns twice as bright burns half as long." ~Herb Abrams, 1993

[@lracseroom8286]

Tony's on a Herb speedrun.

[@bostonbrown6496]

@@lracseroom8286 double entendra 😵‍💫

[@GraveMemories]

@@lracseroom8286 khan may get the world record honestly Maybe Karl jobst would make a video on it

[@lracseroom8286]

@@GraveMemories or Summoning Salt, haha.

[@richardconwayy259]

Who is listening to this 1 year into the future and being proven right?😂

[@dallas317]

Yes

[@namelessjedi2242]

Did we ever learn who the high ranking backstage name was?

[@430quiet]

Tony is starting to feel the heat from HHH taking over

[@bileductable]

Now that HHH is in charge, Tony can't rely on his booking being 'better' than the abysmally low standard of a senile Vince McMahon...and a lot of AEW wrestlers (not named Young Bucks and Kenny Omega) are going to take notice

[@big2033]

Nah it's business. These wrestlers need to realize there's no coddling in business unless you equal ratings and money. Vacation's over.

[@goomerdoctor9479]

Meltzer too he is just miserable now when talking about wwe

[@thesupervisor3270]

Why? WWE is still gonna be WWE. What a few ppl that can’t draw a dime WWE released last year will come back? 🥱 Or a few wrestling terms will change and they probably can say “shit” in a promo now that Vince is gone? Yeah no thanks I don’t feel HHH is this 2nd coming of Jesus like everybody does. WWE roster is still trash, boring and overrated. Even when Jim review WWE I don’t listen because I have 0 interest in WWE and I’m not alone

[@segagenesis7708]

Much like when Cody returned at Wrestlemania and Khan started talking about Bots.

[@nox7282]

I knew this was the case when he reacted so unprofessionally to Big Swole 😂 She wasn’t good, but he handled that like a petulant child, not a seasoned employer.

[@segagenesis7708]

Right. What he should have done was simply and calmly inform Swole, face to face, that he doesn't have anything for her and that she needs a lot of work. Swole still would have been upset, but the rest of the world would have understood. Instead, he smiled in her face, and then ghosted her. THEN, after she went public, he went on the defensive.

[@segagenesis7708]

@@Autisticwanderer While I agree that she was wrong for that, that was all after he ghosted her. Had he been upfront with her from the beginning and she tried to pull that card, the heat would have come down on her.

[@WickedCool23]

@@Autisticwanderer How did Swole “play the race card?” She was asked a question and stated her opinion. An opinion that was shared by others in the fandom. She was gracious of Tony, and her time there and said what she thought would improve the product. In what way is that the race card? Tony Khan was completely out of line, not to mention unprofessional as hell for how he came at Swole. The hatred,insults,vitriol, threats, misogyny, open racism directed towards Swole by the fans was nothing short of disgusting

[@coldnightmare199]

@@WickedCool23 surprise surprise

[@dustin6528]

Imagine a world where Cornette and Russo finally do their one on one showdown but they both end up laughing about Tony Kahn instead

[@AWX_Wrestling]

If they did, I think it would be a shoot Buried Alive match.

[@kidwaryodproduction]

I would not surprise if one day Cornette and Russo settle their difference because Their viewpoint about Tony Khan.

[@AWX_Wrestling]

@@kidwaryodproduction Hell would freeze over first.

[@trahapace150]

@@kidwaryodproduction bull fucking shit....jim doesn't hate Tony so much as to side with Russo gtfoh....he finds Tony dumb but he had said many times he doesn't dislike the guy

[@MrSniperfox29]

@@kidwaryodproduction Didn't Cornette bond with Bischoff over their mutual hatred of Russo?

[@MrDesmondPot]

AEW honeymooner here… it’s getting pretty tough to watch. Rampage is already dumped. Dynamite has a couple of weeks left. It’s getting really bad.

[@BJORNArtist]

That reads like a letter from Nam.... 'tell mamma, I love her, I'm going to catering'

[@MrDesmondPot]

@@BJORNArtist “…Wardlow, he was a good kid, was left in the mud. We all feel it.”

[@nikolajovic6119]

Oh, a couple of weeks, is that from the same source which told us AEW will die in 2019, then in 2020, then in 2021?,

[@natebaxter9551]

@@nikolajovic6119 you're trying too hard. How are you trying to tell this guy how to feel?

[@BJORNArtist]

@@MrDesmondPot "...Nikola and Nate where at each others throats in the in-between quite, you know they'll be hugging as brothers again after the next wave of flaming barbed wire coffin matchs... Lord have mercy on our souls"

[@nedschneebly5424]

I was at the show in Minneapolis on Wednesday and at one point during commercial Tony came out just to try and hype of the crowd for the Rampage taping after and me and the guy next to me could not stop laughing cause he seemed like he was completely wacked out on coke

[@Mrderful]

🤣 he did the exact same shit in Savannah. He came out TWICE and yelled so awkwardly. He's jumping around and raising his hands in the air and he looks like he's been taking bumps (not in the ring) all day. A bunch of people in the crowd started laughing.

[@ScarletDuke]

Same thing happened in Atlantic City back in February.

[@hanshotfirst2363]

"The football team as we call it over here"--sir that is a very generous compliment for the Jaguars

[@BiggieTrismegistus]

😆

[@dcb_75]

Jim nailed it at the end - AEW was the big budgeted anti-wwe company so people supported it as a screw you to Vince. Wrestlers that were tired of Vince left and found a guy who was willing to pay them a lot, everyone was happy except Tony is clueless on how to book and now that is really exposed when you have some legit top talent and yet the ratings are not reflecting that. Even when it was AEW vs NXT, a lot of people were saying NXT had the better talent all around and that was because of HHH, him in charge of the main roster now suddenly makes people think twice about staying at AEW.

[@kengpen583]

"Well who are you to doubt H. Jenkins?" I laughed for 5 straight minutes

[@nickhughes8179]

Watch H Jenkins actually turn out to be El Dandy.

[@JUnitGaming]

Just coming back here after his Twitter meltdown 😂 #cmpunkwasright

[@mr._muji]

Ever since Triple H became Head of Creative, Tony is becoming Vince slowly and surely.

[@frankuraku5622]

The wrestling booker curse has taken a turn. When Vince retires, Vince's soul and insanity takes on another host.

[@Sam1c9797]

Becoming Vince. Are you slow, he'll never mount to 1% of what Vince has done in the business

[@segagenesis7708]

A pattern has shown in Tony's behavior, in response to significant adversity within wrestling. The first one that I can remember taking notice of is when Cody left. Tony started talking about Bots. When Vince was first shown the door, Khan mocked it, until he realized that this meant the WWE product would be better and that HHH has a far better relationship with talent than Vince and that many would want to go work for him.

[@Sam1c9797]

@@segagenesis7708 khan is a rich daddy's boy fool, can't handle any constructive criticism

[@blakemaxfield4267]

He should do roids and started getting like a bodybuilder who thinks he's a wrestler

[@davidjsaul]

Tony needs to stop hugging employees, especially in light of the Vince McMahon scandal.

[@LostInOhio75]

I think my favorite thing the past couple of weeks has been Uncle Dave & those like him who have spent 3+ years burrowing up TK's ass painfully & begrudgingly praising WWE & being critical of AEW.

[@segagenesis7708]

Bryan Alvarez painfully trying to claim that Summerslam dragged. Lmao. I almost fell on the floor.

[@ronniesables9686]

Tony needs a real friend who isn't a Yes man or a user. Unfortunately he's made a business where every Tom, Dick & Harry will take advantage of him. He can't even fire people without feeling guilty. Your the boss Tony! You should act like it.

[@mage1439]

If he could find a couple of good people and then learn to delegate, he'd be doing a lot better.

[@walrusonion]

sounds like Punk and him have a genuine relationship.

[@forgottenmma3694]

He needs a partner like the Hannah Barbera guys or the southpark guys. A partner like Ollie Anderson whose a scumbag but does it in the best interest of the organization

[@LordRaptor]

My god! how can AEW, at a time where Vince McMahon had to QUIT over a scandal, manage to get so much bad press and reputation that it overshadows what's going on in WWE?! get your sh*t together Tony! lol.

[@cornelioust2165]

Because what's going on in WWE is a rebranding with triple h at the helm of creative which is a positive thing there's nothing else to bash WWE about at this point the benefit of the doubt has restarted because Vince is gone what are you talking about?

[@Narrate918]

WWE has always had the good fortune of their competition melting themselves down (Crockett, WCW, TNA, AEW)

[@nikolajovic6119]

Overshadows? Can you send the link to the article talking about Tony in the wallstreet journal? I know wrestling fans like saying things which are way over the top but damn...

[@Hizzoner21]

Just curious, aside from Cornette, where else is the 'bad press' coming from? Rampage ratings wouldn't necessarily be considered bad press, there's just minimal viewers during a shitty time slot. I haven't seen much else.

[@markabboud4855]

Tony looking like El Topo is hysterical.

[@michaellyden2580]

It's funny how now that Vince is gone, we're finding out just how much Tony is like him.

[@WaldoBagelTopper]

Vince McMahon in no way is a trust fund baby.

[@robertnapier624]

Vince’s soul taken possession of khan? I know vince isn’t dead but he was the evil soulless chairman.

[@DatBoiChris420]

Lmfao TK isn't anywhere near Vince senile level

[@AWX_Wrestling]

Except when he says "That's good shit pal!", he's talking about cocaine.

[@Paugose]

They were after Vince, now he's down, and Hunter is an Internet's favorite, the audience AEW seek is Internet, so they need another Devil, and Tony Khan fits perfectly. We you galvanised a crowd against an ennemy, you need to give them another when the first one got taken down.

[@TwistedNaut]

The way Tony hugs people is way weird. He like clings onto them for dear life like they're the second coming of The Messiah. His lips quivering. Just look up images of him hugging Cesaro. Its when you truly realise he's a mark with a lot of money just making his dream roster.

[@stevenman013]

Critiquing the owner of a wrestling company's hugging game? Wrestling fandom in 2022 is wild.

[@Mrderful]

i.e Herb Abrams without all the money.

[@Mrderful]

@@stevenman013 body language speaks volumes.

[@Clamfaced]

Just compare pictures of Tony from 2019 at the start of AEW to now.

[@perrywilchiuk6012]

He wants to be a young buck sooo badly. The hair, the beard, the style of dress shirt. We're far gone from the white dress shirt and skinny black tie.

[@NickCorvello]

That point Cornette had about even the most calm, centered people turning into lunatics once becoming wrestling promoters is spot on. Entering a carny business dealing with carnies all around, not to mention worrying about tv deals, is insane.

[@micahjohnsonboxing6409]

I always thought wrestling destroyed Dixie Carter

[@jovanss2361]

When he documentaries and shoot interviews start coming out on Tony, life is gonna be so much better

[@Cruising_On_Lake_Havasoma]

I feel like calling the Jaguars a football team is an insult to the other 31 teams. I was about to type "Except the Bengals", then I remembered they were just in the Super Bowl.

[@Drollpanther]

The lions are worse. Always

[@Mrderful]

@@Drollpanther absolutely not. The lions are pretty bad but the jags are a joke. They've had a pretty good squad for the past couple of seasons but they're not managed well.

[@chrisstoecker7189]

@@Mrderful How can you put a team that hasn't won a playoff game in 30 years, a few years before the team you're putting them ahead of was even founded, while the team you're claiming is worse has 7 playoff wins and 2 AFC Championship game appearances? The Lions are arguably the worst run organization in all of North American sports & have been for decades. I've watched countless guys hang around for too long in the NFL or retire trying to...I've seen less than a handful of super star players step away with tons left in the tank and 2 played for the Lions. Coincidence? Absolutely not

[@Cruising_On_Lake_Havasoma]

@@Drollpanther Yeah, true. They're so shit that I totally forgot about them!

[@TheWillisShow]

Thinking the Lions and Jets are worse organizations when you look at them over the long term than the Jags, but that’s just me.

[@rl318]

People knocked Cody, but now it seems clear what he did backstage with AEW. He was the buffer between Tony Khan and the real world.

[@teddy90636]

He was the fall guy

[@segagenesis7708]

Cody is the guy you can point to, as to when this started going downhill. Not only have they struggled more to reach 1m viewers since he left, but more and more issues backstage have come out, Khan started talking about Bots, MJF wants his release, Gresham was ghosted by Tony until the day of a ROH PPV, and he was the ROH World Champion. Rosa was unhappy. Shida blasted the company over miscommunication about the Owen Hart tournament. It's been a mess.

[@segagenesis7708]

@@teddy90636 That too, I think Cody took a lot of heat that wasn't on him. Brandi was cringe and Cody should have turned heel, but I can see why he didn't, because he knew the writing was on the wall for him to leave. Cody put over MJF at the end of their feud. He put over Malakai Black multiple times to help establish him in the company. He did a lot for that company. Only for Tony Khan to essentially tell him that he wasn't worth CM Punk money. Now, not only is Cody making that money, but he's elevated himself above Punk and the vast majority of WWE talent. He's pretty much at 'Will beat Roman for the title' level.

[@NickCorvello]

@@segagenesis7708 this tracks so accurately when you think about it. And many of those people you listed were all people who either respected Cody or made fast friends with him. As an AEW fan, I actually get so annoyed when people on reddit or otherwise try to excuse Shida's twitter and media posts as "miscommunication/language barrier" issues causing misinterpretation of her statements or the "keeping kayfabe" argument, when it's clear as day she's been unhappy with how Khan has treated her. At this point only the most diehard AEW fans excuse it and believe she's actually happy. I saw her answer a question or two about it on her Livestream autograph signing session, and she said firmly that she's still an AEW girl despite her recent ventures, and while she can confidently say she's sticking with them, a lot of that is due to either Japanese culture in regards to company loyalty, or no other alternative for her to wrestle on a mainstream US network while keeping her Makai gig in Japan. Guaranteed if Triple H contacted her about signing with them, and promised her the freedom to do Makai (which she holds at equal importance to AEW), then she would definitely consider it. She wants to be Hollywood level in acting and the best way for any wrestler to do that is through WWE But anyway, the point is it's gross that people are insinuating, almost in a racially determined/racist way, that she's just happy and there's miscommunication. Bullshit, because her English has improved so much that it's easy to understand what she's saying, and lately she's been calling out AEW and Khan on bs carnie practices (pulling her off the Owen tournament was bs too because she made time specifically for that)

[@segagenesis7708]

@@NickCorvello There is tribalism within that company. That's nothing new in wrestling at all. There was tribalism in the WWF and WCW and ECW. But because of the way Khan and this rabid fanbase tries to portray an atmosphere so different from the WWE, they'll catch more heat as more details come out. The Joshi girls saw time thanks to Omega, but he just didn't book them well. So, instead of blaming himself, he blamed the fanbase. Since Omega's gone, we haven't seen them. Then, you have Jericho, who is really out for himself, but has a subset of guys who were smart enough to realize that they were in the main 'in' group and need to latch onto him. Thus, the JAS. The largest and most powerful group is the UE. Cole, Page, Bucks, American Red Dragon, Cutler, Britt and anyone connected with Britt. They have the stroke. MJF, Wardlow, Rosa, they were all with Cody and Cody did his best to look out for them while he was an EVP. Soho is in with Kingston, who doesn't have any powerful allies. FTR was floundering after they first lost the tag titles, until Punk showed up. Moxley and Danielson don't need groups. They have too much star power to be largely affected. But this is why we see Team Tazz badly misused, while we get yet another UE storyline. Why when Britt was the Champion, she was booked like a star, but when Rosa became Champion and since, she's been booked like an afterthought.

[@MIKELIN8]

Vince was such a micro-manager, it was well-known that Vince was in the ear of every announcer in WWE. In fact, Vince is the reason why Mick Foley had such a short career as a WWE comentator. If Tony is doing the same thing, it merely magnifies the idea that everything in AEW is a copy of WWE.

[@WyattHolliday]

Tony thought it was all fun and games when he viewed his competition as a senile old man who still thinks fart jokes are funny. Now it’s going to be a different game. Pun slightly intended.

[@AWX_Wrestling]

I thought for some reason Travis drew Khan with Dunn's Bucky beaver teeth

[@TVindustries5000]

Jim is right. I gotta imagine how stressful this stuff has become for someone who hasnt really had to deal with a groundfloor backstage enviroment. He needs to start hiring people to make it more proffesional, who have Tony's best interest in mind and not wrestlers who are only looking out for themsevles and have no concern for the future of the company. AEW was the alternative to WWE but now WWE is gonna be the alternative to WWE. things are definetly changing their way. AEW has to actually get good now, the honey moon period as jim said is waning. its been years now and AEW still hasnt gotten their stuff together in terms of presenting a consistent TV show. I knew it would take them a while to work out the kinks, but its been years and theyre not getting better than they have been. sure theres some hits every now and then, but its not enough. I can bet you that the Bucks will eventually get X Pac heat and no one will want to see them. Despite wat Jim thinks about Kenny, I think he has potential still, but he needs to get his head out of his butt and realize he needs to evolve. He knows it a bit too, but also the ignorant way he talks about the AEW audience not giving the joshi wrestlers enough adoration when its his job to get them over, tells me hes not the most self aware guy in the world. Mox he needs to reel in. they gotta stop doing blood and violence every week. I like deathmatch wrestling but so much american deathmatch wrestling is just trashy. Jon thinks this is FMW but its more like CZW. scratch that. its XPW. scratch that its IWA Mid South. deathmatches should be built up to end heavy rivalries, thats how iv always felt they could be used in a professional atmosphere. they tried that a little and then they opened the flood gates. Now Jon gets to bleed every week and no ones going (hey maybe we cool it down on this stuff) because after a while it just gets repulsive with how mindlessly self grandizing it is "look at me guys im bleeding!! thats makes me cool and tough!! i just jumped into barbed wire wasnt that hardcore and im a badass?"

[@segagenesis7708]

This would all require Tony putting the lid back on the jar. That's a longshot.

[@zachadams6660]

I think kenny is a fine mid card wrestler

[@aeso3555]

FMW took things too far imo. It started feeling less like wrestling and more like a grindhouse show. There was one match that's still stuck in my mind where a dude gutted another guy in the stomach with a sickle and twisted it . Made me sick to my stomach🤮

[@goodfriend9200]

Bucks already have xpac heat. People want that melodramatic cornball shit gone. It’s Busch league vibes every time I see them

[@coldnightmare199]

no ones reading all that

[@fhqwgads5000]

I bet JR was like, 'Vince yelled in my ear, and I'm not doing that again thank you very much'

[@stevehogan9958]

Did I just hear Last say Bill Watts was maybe the greatest commentator of all time? In a world where Gordon Solie and Jim Ross have lived? I've watched every episode of Mid South Wrestling on the WWE Network, and Watts is lousy. He spends half his time on the mic complaining about celebrities in wrestling and Communism

[@fatalsniper3413]

Brian is in love with Bill Watts. He is a mark for Big Bill.

[@stevehogan9958]

@@fatalsniper3413 I agree with you, and I think it's because Cornette loves Watts, and Last agrees with almost everything Cornette says

[@NorthJerseyJabroni]

It's arguable whether Bill Watts was even the greatest commentator in Mid South Wrestling, let alone of all time. Brian says some really stupid things at times.

[@stevehogan9958]

@@NorthJerseyJabroni You're 100% right, especially considering J.R., who I personally think is the second best ever, is also on a bunch of those shows!

[@playing_with_mike349]

Maybe Last meant that watts was the best commentator who was also a promoter? But even than, vince mcmahon comes to mind first.

[@azazaeldevile2506]

Herb Abrams

[@daveconte9884]

I worked in New York City retail for over 20 years and constantly heard stories from coworkers and others about what a dick Rick Moranis is to retail people! Very rude, nasty and one of those people with the “don’t you know who I am“ line

[@81elpedro]

T. K. is like the kind of guy when you talk to him too loud and give him the bad eye, that starts almost to cry and hide behind his bodyguards!!

[@umbrasunbro2142]

Well, heck, I’d be livid backstage of a PPV too if the champion telegraphed his loss so much to where he not only came out dressed like he was going to practice and leaves his manager to walk out alone…

[@segagenesis7708]

Well in defense of Gresham, I have never, in the history of modern wrestling, heard of a World Champion of a promotion not even being able to get a meeting with the promoter until the day of the show. I can list a dozen former World Champions who wouldn't have even showed up if the promoter did that to them.

[@Mrderful]

@@joegreene7619 so...uhh... You do know Rey is maybe a inch taller than him, right? Not to mention A FUCKING CHILD won a world title... AT WRESTLEMANIA!

[@carloslozada470]

He's freaking out because summer slam beat his azzz

[@thedoctor3528]

Tony is almost 40 and doesn't know how to deal with people. He's probably isn't good socially so he should get someone else to deal with talent, that will be easier for him.

[@fatalsniper3413]

No one can handle 30 plus millionaires in their 20-40s. Bill Watts couldn’t handle Buddy Landel and others when they were making probably $100,000. Now imagine giving these guys millions of dollars.

[@Hakeem990]

That's what happens when you try to purchase friends as proven by his award winning cameo in Tay and sammy's wedding video

[@z216ghost]

I know it gets joked about, but I am slightly concerned that TK might have a substance abuse problem, because from what I know from my parents, other family, and friends being addicts he shows lots of those signs

[@Mrderful]

If its not coke then its Adderall for sure. He's way too wired and from his booking he's into instant gratification. He doesn't know how to let things build, marinate, or breathe.

[@badmoon710]

It’s meth bro. As a functioning meth addict for 5 years I assure you, this is exactly what you become

[@GraveMemories]

@@badmoon710 I'd say Adderall man considering it's about the same as meth And easier to obtain large amounts of

[@ziskokid1]

Moxley blading 4 weeks in a row on TV is the death of aew. What nonsense.

[@henrygvidonas9573]

But he "needs it to feeeeel sooo aliiiiive" or whatever... Ever hear him blather about "the deep bond between men when we spill our blood together"? I wonder what "bond" his laughable fake flailing forearms and angry baby punches signify? Stupid bloated cokehead! Yes, unless he finally hits an artery and bleeds out right in front of the audience, blading means absolutely nothing in AEW now. Just like the suicide dives out of the ring and all the other stuff they've done a million times totally ineffectively and made meaningless.

[@Voysh2Voysh69]

Who doesn’t know the one & only H. Jenkins?! His accolades & journalistic accomplishments speaks for itself! Lmao

[@TheScience69]

The H is for Hell of a journalist

[@Voysh2Voysh69]

@@TheScience69 the goof sounds like a Dukes of Hazard character lol

[@al5306]

@@Voysh2Voysh69 How dare you speak of H. Jenkins like that

[@easy_nator_gamer8498]

It's Triple H. Jenkins

[@kevincastellitto6988]

I remember listening to Forbidden Door and Kevin Kelly was such an amazing commentator.

[@AnthonyAnalog]

Tony need to dump the Bucks and JeriKKKo if AEW is going to survive.

[@Oleksandr.Derkach]

So Tony is literally the example of "You either die a hero or live long enough to see yourself become the villain"

[@MattyPeq]

Aren't we all? ☹️

[@johnboydojo]

No he's not. Jesus Christ. Tony Khan is the kind of guy that if he was a woman and you screamed in his face he'd run away....crying

[@forgottenmma3694]

Hate this cliche

[@Yurgin764]

Cant wait for the Dark Side of the Ring Episode: the Reincarnation of Herb Abrahams Tony Khan

[@Sparkledash1]

Sounds like the Honeymoon phase is coming to an end with AEW.

[@TheWill1225]

Brian saying they’ve made a lot of revenue and pretending that something called expenses didn’t exist was absurd. That’s like saying that Making 40 million on revenue is impressive but ignore the fact it cost you 65 million to make the 40 million

[@ohjaeciii]

One of the best things about Corny's videos are the always amazing artwork and listening to figure out the context behind said artwork.

[@eldiablo3794]

Tony Kahn cartoon illustration looks like a character from South Park lol

[@jamied4486]

@@eldiablo3794 right he looks like David Blain in the super best friends episode

[@giblet1618]

Could this be the reason why Cody originally left?

[@Pennypackerr]

Funny how Brian is so skeptical when these types of reports come out about AEW and specifically Tony, but hes all in on the sky is falling WWE reports...

[@fatalsniper3413]

Jim was more skeptical. I don’t like Brian but I can’t lie on him. Jim was the one taking it with a grain of salt and then Brian changed his tune a little.

[@JuanchoMetalHeaD]

People out here still believe Brian last is on the aew payroll lmao

[@MrSniperfox29]

@@JuanchoMetalHeaD He was the one who said AEW becomes enjoyable if you're stoned out of your brains

[@JuanchoMetalHeaD]

@@MrSniperfox29 hey alright anything can be enjoyable when stoned out of your mind but sure, thats Tony Khans weed probably that he mails to brian last so he can enjoy both of his products lol

[@bainbridgeomega]

Because the reports coming from wwe are from a credible source such as the wall street journal. I dont know who this guy doing the tony piece is... whoever this guy is... hes putting a hit piece on tony just to have jim critizie on it. Because no other wrestling publication talks about this?

[@al5306]

"They've generated an incredible amount of revenue." Where? And what's their overhead?

[@radical6905]

Tony may need to build a better operation behind the scenes

[@blackjack23able]

You're the help he needs Jim..

[@LLSmoothJ]

I've been saying this for a while now, but Tony Khan is the stereotypical "Nice" guy who says and "does" all the right things. But when things doesn't go his way, his true personality starts to come out (We've already seen some of that when he complained about not getting enough credit for allowing his girls to participate in the NWA women's tournament).

[@romewilliams3526]

They are using the movie as a tax write-off

[@jesterr7133]

Judging by the fact that it was a high ranking official, and combined with the promotions, it sounds like Christopher Daniels to me. All of the new people are basically taking parts of his job.

[@JMFSpike]

Yeah, I think he's perhaps the most likely out of the small handful of guys I can think of who it could be. Another candidate who I think is very possible is Jim Ross. There is also Dean Malenko and Kevin Sullivan to consider. None of those guys need to work. They're only there because they love the business, so I can see all of them just saying "Fuck it!" and leaving if things got bad enough.

[@theboxingboy7422]

Khan is way over his head with this shit. The guy has 170 wrestler on his roster. It doesnt look like he's gonna stop bringing people in. Guys are already frustrated there getting no tv time and when they do there on tv for one week and then off tv for another 3-4 weeks. Then there's shit like buying ROH with no real plan for it the youtube shows the two TV shows then the link up with NJPW that nobody really cared about. The guys gonna end swimming up shit creek without a paddle. I saw somewhere that most of there tv money goes towards paying the 14 highest paid guys there... It's just crazy. The numbers for rampage are way down and dynamite is always just below or just above a million the needle hasn't moved in like 2 years

[@klawstecno2083]

Every story have three sides: your version,my version and the truth. We saw one side of the story on this article, let's see Tony Khan side and the real situation will be revealed after that.

[@segagenesis7708]

Can Tony even eloquently explain his side? Lol. Though, I agree with you.

[@SharpSportsTalk]

Dustin Rhodes at #10 had me dying lol

[@williammcmillan-johnstone3962]

Loved it when jr called Tony schavione and excalibur detectives on the dynamite just gone when the lights went out

[@bileductable]

Tony Khan aggressively hugs people when he's mad 😡

[@timewithoutconsequence]

It’s the Yettahhh!

[@user-uo1qr6vn1q]

A Kwai Chang Caine (look it up kids) reference! Just when I start to think Jim & Brian have run out of ways to entertainingly criticize AEW’s product. Honestly though, I think even David Carradine would succumb to his anger and frustration watching Tony’s booking in action.

[@rockybalboa1847]

Kung Fu ... then David Carradine pulled a Tony Khan and went off the deep end

[@dceasedbrickfan74]

I’m old enough to get that reference. Now, if you can snatch this pebble from my hand…

[@deyampert3738]

Humans these days...if you yell at me I will cry, and piss myself....and quit..and sue! 🙈

[@humanomoly9620]

Tony Khan is the 2022 version of Herb Abrams, and you cannot convince me otherwise.

[@matthewsmith2308]

The Batgirl thing is a loophole where they can use it as a tax right off where because they bought WB while it was being made they can get money back if they don't release it.

[@rl318]

They have to keep that slot open for the Flash to capitalize on Ezra Miller eventually being in a stand-off with the police.

[@peterjeter9546]

Rise and fall of AEW

[@segagenesis7708]

😆

[@BryantFinlay]

It wouldn't surprise me if this was true, but the author not even showing his first name is a big red flag

[@taylork7530]

Jim: I wonder if he’s going to start slapping them next. I don’t find Tony to be particularly bright, and he’s very lucky to be born into the family he was. Still, it is humanly impossible for anyone, even Tony, to not know who he can and can’t try that with on the AEW roster. The EVPs and their friends are the easiest targets to not expect retaliation from. The Booker of the Year has at least one functioning brain cell to know who to ABSOLUTELY NOT try that with.

[@SpaceGhost92]

I bet you could bitch slap Mr Punk. He seems to enjoy it looking at his mma career

[@mrpink99]

@@SpaceGhost92 but he wouldn’t have to with Punk, as he’s one of maybe a dozen or so guys on the roster that take the business seriously

[@kingslayer2999]

Tony Khan is a Clueless Money Mark who should Never have bought ROH. Should have just let WWE buy it for the tape library to put on the Network.

[@aeso3555]

Imagine all the good AJ Styles, Samoa Joe and Tyler Black DVDs. Heck, Bryan Danielson ROH tapes would've been awesome.

[@montauk6]

When he started, Tony was like, "I'm gonna learn... the wrestlin' business..." Cut to now, he's more, "i CAN HANDLE THINGS!!!! I'M SMAHT!!!!! NOT LIKE EVERYONE SAYS!!... NOT DUMB, I'M SMAHT AN' I WANT RESPECT!!!!!"

[@josephwalker969]

Poor Freto......😔

[@herbertholland924]

The more things change, the more they stay the same.

[@JaculaDudek]

9 DAYS FROM TONIGHT! DANIEL GARCIA GODDAMMIT! THIS FUCKING GUY! LET'S FUCKING GO! 9 DAYS FROM TONIGHT!!!

[@rob9241]

Tony should have never ever remove Cody from his position. Cody non-champion face of AEW who talked to the talent and knew how to get non-WWE guys over without doing a numero duce, on the up and coming talent. Also goes to show how great Vince is and more or less why the territories were crazy times to me the viewer.

[@segagenesis7708]

Cody is when this all went south. I think that the reason Cody didn't turn heel was, because he knew that he was leaving. Khan's vision of wrestling more closely resembles the Bucks and Omega, not Cody. Now, to be fair, some of Cody's ideas were also bad and you can see where Cody needs a filter. But Cody is the main talent reason that company grew and CM Punk showed up and was made the highest paid.

[@r.levourne148]

@@segagenesis7708 you think cody rhodes brought more attention and helped the company grow more than jericho? Lmao cody is a curtain jerker

[@sgtraytango]

"Even if he was the second coming of Quan-Chang Kane" So, found dead in an auto-erotic incident?

[@PazzoLucas]

waiting for him to go full "Network" on air one day. Remember kids: never go full "Network".

[@619AJ]

Triple H is making Tiny Con go crazy hahahaha

[@TheRustedShackleford]

Tony's blood has to be 50% Adderall at this point. I'm also betting Jericho will be gone soon. With Vince gone, I'm sure he is chomping at the bits to get back to the big show and do some big money for his last couple of years.

[@Vagajammer]

But would Trips want him in his current state?

[@TheRustedShackleford]

@@Vagajammer totally. He'd definitely draw $$$ being back in WWE.

[@cgarciahfcu]

What Jim said at 22:30 and onward describes me. I thought I was a fan of AEW. Turns out I just hated Vince. Now that Triple H has taken over, I really have no interest in AEW. Tony's lack of experience is really showing.

[@lriv.032]

So in relationship terms that means you were just tryna get back at your ex by sleeping with his/her inferior enemy. 🤣

[@cgarciahfcu]

@@lriv.032 I can't say you're wrong.

[@bbaazz17]

Mick Foley is the nicest guy in wrestling even when he’s quitting

[@AcesPlace22]

No.. no he isn't

[@veegob5287]

Jim calling Tony “Rick Moranis” is irony. 😂 Love ya Jim, but if you weren’t in the business or taking pics of it, Rick Moranis Stunt Double is a possibility. 😂

[@romewilliams3526]

Jim missed an excellent opportunity to talk about Raycon earbuds. If only he had the Raycon he could’ve heard everything with something in his ear .

[@supergluehotty]

Is it funny I would love to be a corny employee? I know he can be legendarily angry, but he's easy to read, and he makes sensible choices like don't yell at people when they are talking.

[@Matt-rw9oq]

This is soooooo prescient, pretty much everything Jim states, has come, or is coming to fruition

[@LOSKOSKI]

That was the calmest most sincere take I've heard Jim give in years. Strange but kinda cool.