Tony Khan Calls Out WWE’s “Predatory Business Practices” | Top AEW Name “Exploring His Options”

Tony Khan has called out WWE's "predatory business practices" dating back to the 1980s, we have a spoiler, with a WWE title having changed hands and a top AEW name is reportedly "exploring his options" amid contract reports.
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Cultaholic provides video coverage of professional wrestling - including WWE (including WWE Raw, WWE SmackDown, and NXT), AEW, TNA Wrestling (formerly IMPACT), NJPW, ROH, and more with daily news updates, reviews, lists, highlights, predictions, reactions, podcasts and much, much more.

[@mrswhite3513]

Just cause Meltzer says it, doesn't make it true. EVERYONE should know that by now.

[@GojiEm]

This podcast episode Maffew was talking about how he made a video on twitter that Meltzer thought was legit. It was the reaction meme of the bar going mental but edited with Okada revealing his pants or something, I forget lol.

[@liveanddieinchicagoliveand7074]

Dave meltzer on Aew payroll anybody with common sense can see that.He makes up stories for aew and shield all negative press towards aew.

[@DragonHeart613]

People need to wake up & realize that Meltzer's opinion doesn't actually matter.

[@D2Kprime]

It's probably a safe bet that if Meltzer says something it is probably NOT true.

[@JoeKozak]

Jeff Jarrett can't let anyone know he's screwing his cousin

[@matthewalexander8307]

Reporting anything Dave meltzer says has to be taken with a grain of salt. Just saying…

[@enterprisedavidcain]

The day he retires will be the best day in wrestling

[@CulEdz]

Exactly. Throwing shit to the wall. Also Tony wants to go to war but when they’re getting hit, bro cries like a bitch.

[@Jamieb1994]

I do that with all dirtsheets, including Fightful.

[@franklingoodwin]

@@Jamieb1994 Fightful are credible, Most of the things they are report to turn out to be true. Dave Meltzer just speculates and is basically an AEW mouthpiece at this point.

[@TimeBomb014X]

Grain, no, a full ocean of salt

[@EllieNotSoSmelly]

Tony Khan trying not to mention WWE Challenge (IMPOSSIBLE)

[@SpaceLizard1049]

Wrestling media needs to check their own work.

[@Meastroooo]

Can he please focus on his own company.

[@bashamd96]

You have to be competent to do that

[@Al7249]

Yeah like I get taking shots but he's literally talking about stuff from the past and bringing up shit. It's kinda sad, focus on your own lane.

[@Meastroooo]

Like it would be fine for him to be calling them out on this but atp it's hard to take him serious when he talks about w WWE all the time amd how evil they are. It just sounds like AEW is the little brother to WWE and they're crying that they're cheating in the video game.

[@Venemofthe888]

​@@Al7249 it's like he can't help himself to get involved when nobody asked him to.

[@BetterCallJamie]

@@Al7249 like the conservatives here in the UK look at your own issues and help your own problems out before looking at others.

[@belzey1341]

Can't believe you guys are reporting about anything Meltzer says

[@TheBlaqSpiderman]

Tony, instead of constantly bringing attention to a company doing better than you, FOCUS ON YOUR OWN COMPANY WITH WORLD CLASS TALENT

[@MrWebweaver]

Why didn’t AEW just put out the real number?

[@tntbigshow4826]

They do with Discovery.

[@THE_Dodge_Morningstar]

That's a very good question. Most stories can't be summed up in a sentence. There's more to it

[@zacthebuzzkill]

Where is the proof that WWE did this? Tony said it happened other than that I’ve seen no reputable source. Still they are reporting it as fact.

[@liveanddieinchicagoliveand7074]

Alot excuses instead of making aew better he has Dave meltzer on the pay roll making up stories and shielding why Aew so bad.WWE don't need to fabricate Aew numbers anybody with eyes can see empty seats in most shows they be in and Tony khan beg in the ppl to stay on microphone

[@GavinFromAutoglassRepair]

Isn’t it WrestleNomics (or however it’s spelt) that normally publish the AEW viewership numbers for both Dynamite, and Collision?

[@emperor_23897]

Tony, shut the hell up and book...wait actually don't do that.

[@allsaltdownhere]

If the talent just went out and booked on the fly they would probably have better results .

[@buzzkill980]

Can this guy just shut up about WWE already. ffs Tony.

[@DragonHeart613]

Oh boy here we go all over again. tony khan is like an obsessed ex-girlfriend. & people wonder why aew is stuggling big-time to fill arenas, come up with compelling enough storylines & why they're having problems negotiating new TV deals. tony khan is way more focused on WWE than he is about his own promotion. He's like Ahab at this point & we all know how that story ultimately ends.

[@bigdaddykush1830]

An honest to God literary refrence...well played.

[@thatguywade5384]

Remember when Swevre said 'now's the time for WWE and AEW to work together?'

[@liveanddieinchicagoliveand7074]

I bet he doess want wwe to work with aew lol Nxt right there catching they number 1 show.All thoses million dollar contracts to Osprey,Okada, Sasha, Edge 700 thousand view its sad lol

[@juggalo4life785]

Idk how anyone that reports anything Dave Meltzer says takes it like it's a fact when countless times Dave have been proven wrong and anyone that takes his as fact should have absolutely no credibility at all

[@emperor_23897]

They just need content really. There's not a lot of credible sources for Wrestling. They know mentioning TK and Dave gets them views.

[@ville4090]

Trusting Meltzer on anything wrestling is like trusting Kotaku or IGN on anything gaming.

[@williamhild1793]

Poor ol' Unca Dave. He finds it harder and harder to keep his marriage to Tony Khan going.

[@reygonzalez4719]

​@@ville4090I haven't been keeping up. Has he really fallen that far from grace to deserve that comparison.

[@adamalexander8367]

Sam just interrupting Fraser EVERY time he talks smh 😂😂😂

[@chriscortez4729]

Tony no longer having Vince as the super villain of the wrestling world that he is saving everyone from has left him in a complete identity crisis 😂

[@GojiEm]

He's slowly becoming the thing he once fought against 😂

[@reygonzalez4719]

You either die the hero or live long enough to see yourself become the villain.

[@goldboy150]

You know what I’d love? If the Cultaholic guys just once thought that the company a wrestler signed with wasn’t the right choice… Seems like whether it’s AEW or WWE - or even TNA - whenever any wrestler signs somewhere it’s always the best place for them.

[@BawlsMahoney]

Welp, its another day ending in y. Time for TK to focus on anything else but his own cpmpany again.

[@AxeGaijin]

TK once again trying to be the underdog, when in fact he's the beaten dog.

[@Bxbymoon14]

“Tony Khan does another bump of coke”

[@gnarly9299]

uncle dave has officially influenced this two idiots.

[@dngn4774]

Literally every entertainment industry is predatory to some degree.

[@7Evolved7Shadow7]

Tony has yet to disprove Jericho allegations LOL. Yet he still insists on wanting to yap about Vince who's no longer in the company.

[@Giraffe-on-a-kite]

@@7Evolved7Shadow7or Lethal or Flair or Allin or Sammy. There’s an argument AEW has more shady people on the books than WWE does and it’s starting to get harder to defend them.

[@wanderlustwarrior]

I can't tell if it's always the same photo of Tony in the thumbnail or if he just always makes that face, but it's so funny.

[@franklingoodwin]

It's the same one they use whenever he's angry with WWE (which is all the time). They also have "sad Tony Khan" and "happy Tony Khan" pictures they use.

[@mustafizur123]

LMAO not him having Flair, Jay Lethal on his company

[@EAZY_CHEF]

Darby Allin Too

[@msbigredmachine]

Sammy Guevara mentioned assaulting a woman that is now part of his company.

[@TheGeekBox]

Key word here is the sheet wwe 'supposedly ' sent out but noones actually been able to put a name to who said it as such

[@clickphasegang]

I love how the first story’s about WWE's unfounded shady business practices with the fast nationals that AEW could release themselves, but they gloss over AEW obviously tampering with Ricochet's contract negotiations with WWE by having Ospreay call him out every hour on the hour.

[@grahamwebb1367]

surprised you noticed with how subtle it was 🤣

[@clickphasegang]

@@grahamwebb1367 it’s pitiful, on everything 😂

[@leightonpearson1407]

Again not illegal. We shouldn’t be complaining. Honestly; as much as I think Ricochet is cool; he kinda never did anything in the ring for me. For contrast let me tell you absolute naturals but awful people. Brock Lesnar (still to be seen) Shawn Michaels (formally though; reformed now) Velveteen Dream Drew Gulak (though again; we have no proof of Rousey’s claims; not even a released investigation; just one that was inconclusive because it’s kinda a he said/she said) Just because you are a cool person doesn’t mean you are good in the ring. Ricochet is great at acrobatics; but after a while; after you’ve seen the flippy crap for a long time; there is just absolutely nothing of substance. I am bored of Ricochet now.

[@clickphasegang]

@@leightonpearson1407I didn’t say it was illegal I’m saying it’s hypocrisy at its finest to make a whole story about the fast nationals, while AEW is attempting to poach talent still contract by WWE via other talent PUBLICALLY. Now I actually wrote this before it was made public that Ricochet is leaving WWE, now the issue with this isn’t Will Opsreay tampering with Ricochet, it’s what WWEs going to do next because with this move AEW has lost the moral high ground officially on tampering. And if they thought WWE’s business practices were shady before (which they were more juvenile then anything), they should be lucky if WWE doesn’t create a show just to put them on WBD in the future.

[@leightonpearson1407]

@@clickphasegang lol; I’m down for WWE to get that petty. 😂 Tony just bothers me. I was so excited for AEW and it has just become wrestling high-school. It is so unprofessional.

[@cristiansantillan6861]

If only "journalists" would do their due diligence.

[@Xendrick]

Meltzer truly is a hack

[@kenvenable4129]

He got into the wrestling business looking for a fight and is upset he’s on the receiving end of said fight

[@sk19831000]

Why doesn't khan focus on the talent and storylines in his own business.

[@siem9738]

Is there any evidence that WWE is doing this? Genuinely asking

[@jackadams3587]

Prove that they did release the numbers.

[@jakeyflakes00]

It becomes harder to like this man with every passing day and quote.

[@youngdolo8]

Tony Khan is the biggest reason I don't watch AEW. There are plenty of talented wrestlers, but they're working for a whingy little bitch.

[@noiserocker]

Addict behavior.

[@thegreatestshowonearth7623]

Arn Anderson had the best Spinebuster in the business

[@Deltrottersvan]

Tony's a nutter haha

[@TheCode5150]

Tony Kahn focus on your company and the here and now. 😂

[@Raddadmedia]

Wasn't there something going on with Chad Gable and aew trying to make him an offer?

[@TrocarSlushWeasel]

Why doesn't Tony Khan call out people reporting AEW ratings given to them by WWE instead of just getting them from the legit sources?

[@mmmmmmmhmmmm]

“We’ve got your brother.” Is diabolical 😭😭😭

[@jordanpaul3167]

Breaking: Tony Khan mentions WWE for the 5th time in the last hour Also WWE gotta do everything in their power to keep Ricochet in order to keep Samantha Irvin from wanting to leave 💀

[@BangemJ]

He’s worried about raitings when he has less than 4k at the shows!! Tony worried about the wrong shit!!

[@user-rz1un2sq1y]

I don't really watch AEW much, but due to the fact it is a family business on about the same level WWE was when Vince originally took over from his father.

[@MrZombieTurds]

You guys are forgetting about Nya and Naomi! Both Bloodline as well. Would love to see Usos and Naomi vs Guerillas and Nya. Nya aligning with this new Bloodline would make perfect sense, Especially with her being Queen right now.

[@twinewinder1]

Its only assumed that WWE did this because "who else would." I may be a simple youtube lawyer, but...

[@allsaltdownhere]

They're trying to put you out of business. You knew they were going to before you started.

[@michael_stout79]

Tony khan is a creeper in disguse

[@alifnajmi1997]

As usual, TK always ranting, blasting, taking a shots and etc about WWE every single time but do he really aware that nobody's going to care about his constant rant on WWE even WWE themselves thought the same thing as we were

[@clickphasegang]

"I think AEW is a better fit" should be Cultaholic's tag name, cause there is NEVER a talent that's a better fit in WWE according to them. The Von Erich's will be lost in AEW because they are a very old school style team and Ross isn't going to do any of the moves that AEW fans clamor for. They'll be worse off than LAX.

[@clickphasegang]

HAHAHAHA THEY DID IT TWICE IN ONE VIDEO!!!!! PHUCK OUTTA HERE!

[@GMRay739]

AEW cannot objectively say they are competing with WWE. Other than on salaries. They're worlds away. Just focus on writing better stories and bolstering your numbers. You have the talent available, so use them properly!

[@AlexanderMacAoidh]

AEW is no longer competition. It’s floundered to the point of no return.

[@vb2806]

​@@AlexanderMacAoidhit never was, the "elite" are its faces, they lost right there

[@JoeBauers8]

@@AlexanderMacAoidhcope

[@AlexanderMacAoidh]

@@JoeBauers8 reply to me again when Dynamite reaches 1M again 👍🏻.

[@girldaddividendinvestor]

WWE lives, "Rent freeeeeee...." in Tony Khan's head. 😂😂

[@redtube8667]

TK: Uses predatory business practices Also TK: WWE are trying to kill us I'm scared

[@mistermetalskull3107]

Tony Khan is the Daniel Larson of wrestling.

[@demolitionworm]

What predatory business practices do you speak of?

[@DamonHardin]

I’m still waiting on my check from when TK said WWE was paying bots and fans. I’ve been watching 30+ years. The backpay is gonna be insane.

[@elite_artist351]

If he put this much effort into his own company, he wouldn’t have time to cry about WWE again! You don’t hear Triple H going “AEW AEW this and AEW” almost every month/week, that’s because he’s focused on doing his job. Tony is way too soft, and emotional for this business. He comes off as a child!

[@user-rz1un2sq1y]

I hope Tony retains ownership and is able to overtake WWE one day as the number 1 wrestling promotion in the World.

[@D2Kprime]

This coming from the guy that bought ROH and ran it into the ground. This coming from a guy that successfully launch a major wrestling organization, has _possibly_ the deepest roster of in-ring talent (I know that is *HIGHLY* debatable, but for the sake of argument let him have this one,) and has run IT into the ground. The narrative of "Vince ran everyone out of business" has been a misnomer for almost 40 years. Vince offered to do business with every major wrestling organization around at that time, but because they didn't have the creative vision that he did, they turned him down. Most of them laughed in his face. They understood the "wrestling" business. He understood the "entertainment" business. With cable networks forming along with TV shows, movies, and even cartoons kicking arse all over the place in the 1980s, he knew that he needed to make a product that would appeal to anyone and everyone. Not just hardcore wrestling fans. That's why the territory exploded in 1980s. Vince didn't run them out of business. Those promoters killed their own companies because they refused to change. I can see why Tony Khan would want to bring up these old bones because he has the same brick-stupid mind-set that those promoters had and AEW *WILL* suffer the same fate sooner rather than later. It's a damned shame too. He was gifted the Golden Goose, but Tony manages to do is have it lay rotten eggs.

[@alexbrennan6285]

So you guys are just going to automatically assume Dave is right and that it actually was WWE and not just a troll or someone online spreading BS? It’s not impossible it’s WWE but to say Vince did it nearly 40 years ago so of course it’s them now even though there’s almost no one left from those days in the company including Vince himself? Don’t disbelief Dave out right but at least take it with a pinch of salt.

[@Jamieb1994]

Aside from Sam, I feel like most of the Cultaholic lads believe anything what the dirtsheets say, while Sam does show he keeps an open mind at times.

[@GregMerritt-ws8tq]

I know this is unrelated,but I like to entertain myself with thinking that people still calling X Twitter keeps Elon Musk awake at night.

[@thepunisherclub6442]

And there's people who believes that WWE and AEW will crossover or have some sort of partnership with eachother one day?!

[@NinjasBeTrippin]

I love how this channel just takes everything meltzer says as legit.

[@artvandelayRFC]

With how often uncle Dave has been wrong, especially in recent times, it's baffling how they still worship him.

[@runnerisfree]

This guy is too soft for the wrestling business

[@allsaltdownhere]

He's a nepo baby. He's too soft for anything.

[@MegaMarvelMashup]

He’s going to eventually get sued if he keeps this up

[@TheHockeyDad94]

Do Cultaholic do their own extended research before making videos? Or do they just see a tweet and go "yupp, let's report this as fact!"

[@femtrapta5874]

"How dare they not let me have any wrestler I want!! Tony needs his new fix of stars dammit!"

[@ifgwelf]

Paul Levesque could easily mog Tony Khan irl. Can't respect this rich kid at all

[@deon8517]

OMG Sam stop cutting him off! Let him complete a sentence smh

[@Venemofthe888]

What a surprise Tony mentioning wwe again like I get it but does he need to get involved anytime wwe is mentioned

[@lupinrangerjoker]

If WWE won’t let Kevin Owens use the package piledriver then Penta won’t be able to use it.

[@voidstrudel]

Oh look, he used the favorite word of reditors when they don't like something.

[@crypticcryptid5104]

Not defending WWE, but since AEW and NJPW have been partners AEW have taken Jay White, Kazuchika Okada and WIll Ospreay. They've nearly decimated NJPW's main event scene. So I don't think Tony has much room to talk about predatory business practices. Regardless of whether he views what he's done as predatory.

[@Jaguarsatthecemetery]

Is Sam capable of letting anyone else finish a sentence?

[@sameoldsameold9239]

Funny how this has since been confirmed by multiple sources... but of course there was no follow-up video...

[@leeedwards9068]

WHY would Penta want to remain in obscurity???

[@Steve-zr9wg]

Got a problem, Tony? GET GOOD!!!

[@WeDontHaveCookies]

If the WWE did that i think it's petty but doesn't hurt AEW in any way. The real numbers were coming out as they always do so what difference did it make?

[@IanMSantos]

I love this channel, but their chemistry is off.

[@kyletucker3811]

Dude, guys, quite treating anything Dave Meltzer says as remotely reliable. Also treating putting out false information as the same as what Vince did back in the day is just ... ridiculous. Even if it is true, which there is no proof, thats not the same as what Vince did.

[@criminalmindsgirl2936]

All Tony Khan does is keep throwing anything in regards to "predatory" out there and it's lame. It's like that's all he can really say to grab headlines. Yet, the more he continues to say this unesscesary mess. The more he'll probably won't get that TV deal. All he's doing to putting more nails in the coffin in AEW. Taking these unnecessary shots at WWE when they're not paying any attention to him or AEW is embarrassing. He wonders why the ratings and ticket sales are bad. Just shut up and focus on your company 🙄🤡🤦‍♀️

[@mralpmo]

Happily swap Ricochet for Penta and hopefully Fenix down the line. WWE need more legit tag teams and having them would be awesome, Ricochet should go to Aew or go on an insane indie run

[@cryptmonkey4628]

All whilst having predatory practices himself , pot and kettle

[@ChrisTomson]

I mean… it was run by one for the longest time

[@killingragethrowback]

I will give the new regime some benefit of the doubt. Some. But let's not forget that Vince used to do a lot of these dirty tricks. People are hating on TK for calling it out. Then again, he could be playing the game too. Wrestling is a dirty business.

[@ryanb12315]

if penta goes to wwe and essentially becomes arm snapper lucha underground pentagon we're in for a good time.

[@alincoln25]

Keep it up Tony, the more he complains the better WWE gets.

[@Spiky-gs3eg]

Bro is so obsessed with wwe he wishes his comoant was bringing in veiwers

[@technocrat40]

Good grief. A little gamemanship and TK goes nuts!

[@wikkiddeathlord7372]

This is exactly why Tony Khan is failing in the wrestling industry, he acts too much like a child/toddler. Also these two seem biased when it comes to AEW so yea i dont like theae two.

[@parkerallen8124]

Does Meltzer or Tony have any shred of proof?

[@guardianprinny]

every time i see that picture of TK, i think he's hissing like a cat or something

[@lilpoetat]

Thanks 🎉

[@joelbrown2782]

This is just part of the war. After all, he is quick enough to take cheap shots at WWE, whenever he feels like it. So, his views hold no water.

[@oluwatish]

WWE keeps living in his head rent free🤣🤣

[@gigamike5225]

Tony Khan is the kid doing the bacon on the floor when he doesn't get what he wants He's a human child

[@clickphasegang]

I need your proof that WWE did any of those things, I think we need to normalize Dave Meltzer not being believed.

[@Richothecat]

Exactly, when u think about it, why would WWE bother especially when the numbers are so low anyway. I think this is just meltzer and Khan trying to get fans to turn on the WWE again

[@gtrour4]

(WWE) is predatory business? Nooooo...😆 Some of us grew up during the Gordon Gecko Wall Street era "Greed is Good." Time to grow-up....😅🤣

[@Cactus1052]

Tony Khan pulling a Herb Abrhams over here...

[@TFSRogue-oq8vp]

You guys really think WWE could actually obtain let alone release ratings for another company false or otherwise? Also, The Original Von Erichs weren't known for being "outlaw mudshow wrestlers" and if they did join AEW which itself is an outlaw mudshow, then it would be the biggest mistake of their professional careers.

[@egotripp7368]

to be fair, saying somebody's ratings are lower is not THAT bad when the company struck first calling them sexual predators

[@douglascarter2078]

Tony just heard about "Black Saturday" on Dark Side. 😂

[@GojiEm]

He's gonna have an absolute fit when he watches "Who Killed WcW". 😂

[@javierbrown7795]

Somebody needs to lock Tony Khan up

[@williamdavis1406]

Cultaholic, it's okay you can have a real honest opinion and not always pander to AEW. I'm sure they will give you the access you want anyway.

[@gethinap]

Dear Dave & Tony, where's the evidence? And why would any journalist worth his salt listen to the WWE for AEW ratings?