Tony Khan – ‘I Can’t Tell You If CM Punk Will Be On AEW Collision’
During the post-show media scrum after AEW Double Or Nothing, AEW President Tony Khan was questioned whether CM Punk will be appearing on the inaugural episode of AEW Collision.
While Khan refused to comment on Punk’s status, he teased revealing additional information as the Collision premiere gets closer.
AEW Collision premieres on June 17 at the United Center in Chicago.
You can check out some highlights from the podcast below:
On if CM Punk will be at Collision: “I can’t tell you that. I think it’s a great question and I’m not prepared to address that question at this time. […] I think that’s something a lot of people want to know. As we get closer to the launch of Saturday Night Collision, on June 17 on TNT, I think more and more things will come into focus about that show. Tickets are on sale for the United Center right now. We’re off to a great start with the initial sale, and I think it’s only going to get stronger. It could be one of the biggest TV shows of the entire year in terms of revenue, I expect. And also it could be one of the most important TV shows of the year for AEW.”
On what success looks like for him with AEW Fight Forever: “You know, a number of different factors. I think having really good sales, having it be positively received is something that will reflect really well on the company. I think we’ve grown so much as a company that we’re at a point where every step forward we can take, it’s really great. But at the same time we’ve built something that’s so big that everything we can do to enhance it is good. Every success…it’s rare that we have a success that’s so transformative that it transforms the entire company but this is one of those projects that could potentially really be transformative. I think we have a chance to make a lot of new fans. I think we have a chance to make a ton of money and I think it has a chance to really help the business.”
On the Owen Hart Cup and running the finals in Canada: “I’m really excited for that and I think it’s very cool for the company that our Canadian tour will coincide with the Owen Hart cup. I think it’s very fitting that we’ve got Forbidden Door coming up, and Owen Hart is a former IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champion. So there’s a great history that goes with Owen Hart and New Japan Pro Wrestling. He never competed in AEW but he did compete in New Japan. So having the Owen Hart Tournament kick off in Canada, around Forbidden Door, we have this great partnership with New Japan and he has been a great champion for them. So I think it’s very fitting and it adds a new twist to the Owen Hart Cup. Also, to have it in his home country of Canada where he’s one of the greatest wrestlers ever. His family…probably the greatest wrestling family in the history of Canada. I have to say that going back to Calgary in a venue where there’s so much history for the Hart family, it’s very exciting. Dr. Martha Hart is such a wonderful, warm person. My dad met Martha tonight and really enjoyed meeting her and she seemed to really enjoy meeting him. Oje spent a little more time around my family, Oje actually came to the Jaguars game at Wembley last year and Oje has studied in London. Really, really bright young guy and to have Martha and Oje and the Hart Family here, it was great. Dr. Martha Hart deserves the warm reception from the crowd and I was really pleased that she got it. We have great fans in AEW and they gave her a great reception.
“I think people are excited about the Owen in Canada. It’s very fitting, the finals in Calgary. And I’m not sure about this, I’ve had some nice talks. I’m hopeful, I spoke to New Japan Pro Wrestling. I think it would be great and they think it would be great, one of Owen Hart’s great opponents, a rival, they’ve competed, both former IWGP Junior Heavyweight Champions…wouldn’t it be amazing if we could get Jushin Thunder Liger over to Canada? He’s competed against Owen Hart and he’s even competed in Canada in Stampede Wrestling. That would be something really need to coincide with AEW in Canada and Forbidden Door and our partnership with New Japan Pro Wrestling and most important the Owen Hart Cup tournament. I think it’d be great if Jushin Thunder Liger can come over, and I’m optimistic that he’ll be able to.”
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