Tony Khan On AEW Dark’s Expansion

[markymark]

AEW President Tony Khan recently spoke with the PWTorch and reflected on All Elite Wrestling‘s first year, AEW Dark’s success as a developmental program, and more. During the conversation, Khan spoke about AEW Dark’s success as a developmental program, noting that it had a very different look prior to the pandemic and explained how it’s helping people find work and develop talent for the future.

“The pandemic changed Dark a lot. Dark was always supposed to be something of a developmental show for us, but it was also a much shorter show, and we taped it in front of a live crowd. And we would do a Dark before Dynamite started, and then we would tape two or three Dark matches after Dynamite, and it changed a lot.”

“I wanted to give [independent wrestlers] work, and I was thinking, in the beginning of the pandemic, you have all these independent wrestlers, especially around Florida and Georgia that aren’t really working, and they would kill to have this opportunity to wrestle on Dark, and we could do a bigger version of Dark. It could be more of a developmental system for us than it used to be.”

“We’ve developed a lot of talent through the show. Will Hobbs has become an important part of the show and an important person on Dynamite and he is probably the best developmental success story I have through the pandemic. Our women’s roster’s got a lot of young women who have not wrestled on TV a lot before Dynamite, and now I think Dark is a great place for them to get experience and get ready for TV matches, so we’ve got a great show there.”

[toodarkmark]

I agree. Love seeing all the indie talent, love seeing Will Hobbs get signed out of it, and I enjoy seeing people get a shot to wrestle, because 2 hours is not enough time to get everyone on the roster matches. Plus Excalibur and Taz have been a lot of fun.

["Evil Brood" Jackson Vanik]

It's become a really fun show. I get why it might seem absurd but I never got why people complained about how many matches are on the show. It hasn't really decreased how many people see the show and it just gives everyone an opportunity to get some work in including those under contract and those who are looking for one.

[ronin705]

The only negative so far is some of the showcases jumping at the first look New York gives them (Mercrdes, Ben Carter, nearly Thunder Rosa). Makes me wanna close the gates a lil

[Cyno]

The length of the show is irrelevant unless you want to watch the entire thing live. The individual matches get uploaded separately after-the-fact. And it's more for the benefit of the greener talent as well as indie wrestlers looking for a decent paycheck during a tough economic period. Treating it like a developmental show is a good idea.

[toodarkmark]

Nov 18, 2020 14:37:31 GMT -5 ronin705 said:

The only negative so far is some of the showcases jumping at the first look New York gives them (Mercrdes, Ben Carter, nearly Thunder Rosa). Makes me wanna close the gates a lil

I understand, but I would hate for them to stop giving these pay days and national attention to so many indie people just because a Seth Rollins trainee signed with WWE. Let them sign, let AEW keep them, let them get better paydays on the indies, it's good for everyone.

[Dr. Bolty, Disaster Enby]

Nov 18, 2020 14:37:31 GMT -5 ronin705 said:

The only negative so far is some of the showcases jumping at the first look New York gives them (Mercrdes, Ben Carter, nearly Thunder Rosa). Makes me wanna close the gates a lil

Honestly, of those three, Mercedes was probably going to hold out to see if WWE made an offer anyway; Carter was practically locked into WWE because of his visa issues; and Rosa is a living power move in pro wrestler form right now, whose demands would be unprecedented in WWE but not even a big deal for AEW. I feel like all of these situations would have played out as they did regardless of the Dark tryouts, and AEW got a first career-defining match for one of their young prospects (Lee Johnson) out of the Carter run.

[The Dark Order Inferno]

As good as he can POTENTIALLY be, AEW will survive without Ben Carter. Pulling up the ladder because one or two talents took a different offer is an absurd overreation, one that would put off talent from taking their tryouts if there are strings attached. there is more than enough talent for both promotions, AEW don't need to start adding caveats to dark.

[eJm]

Nov 18, 2020 14:51:29 GMT -5 The Dark Order Inferno said:

As good as he can POTENTIALLY be, AEW will survive without Ben Carter. Pulling up the ladder because one or two talents took a different offer is an absurd overreation, one that would put off talent from taking their tryouts if there are strings attached. there is more than enough talent for both promotions, AEW don't need to start adding caveats to dark.

I mean, it'd be like saying WWE shouldn't do squash matches anymore with enhancement talent in case someone signs them to a contract afterwards. Or even something like the Cruiserweight or Mae Young Classics since those were full of free agents.

[ronin705]

There's worlds of difference between enhancement squashes, and "getting your shit in" in a showcase spot on DARK. Yes, the roster is deep enough to survive, but especially Carter and Rosa, AEW was investing time in them. Thats f***ery in my book, but luckily we got bayleys hubby Aaron Solow, and sean meluta (until he gets the call by the chief lol) as the true journeymen wholl make the most of their time.

[Cyno]

Carter's was a financially-motivated decision in a weird-ass time for both international travel and the economy. For whatever reason, WWE could handle everything with his work visa while it's implied AEW couldn't.

Carter's also extremely young, so either he becomes a star in WWE or worst case scenario, he leaves after a few years and ends up back in AEW.

[eJm]

Nov 18, 2020 15:58:19 GMT -5 ronin705 said:

There's worlds of difference between enhancement squashes, and "getting your shit in" in a showcase spot on DARK. Yes, the roster is deep enough to survive, but especially Carter and Rosa, AEW was investing time in them. Thats f***ery in my book, but luckily we got bayleys hubby Aaron Solow, and sean meluta (until he gets the call by the chief lol) as the true journeymen wholl make the most of their time.

Again, going by that logic, WWE were wrong in investing time in Kota Ibushi, Zack Sabre Jr., Meiko Satomura, Big Swole, Priscilla Kelly etc. At best, you make your place look like somewhere you want to go and at worst, you can spend the money you would have on that person to someone else, which they did.

[ronin705]

Nov 18, 2020 16:10:01 GMT -5 eJm said:

Nov 18, 2020 15:58:19 GMT -5 ronin705 said:

There's worlds of difference between enhancement squashes, and "getting your shit in" in a showcase spot on DARK. Yes, the roster is deep enough to survive, but especially Carter and Rosa, AEW was investing time in them. Thats f***ery in my book, but luckily we got bayleys hubby Aaron Solow, and sean meluta (until he gets the call by the chief lol) as the true journeymen wholl make the most of their time.

Again, going by that logic, WWE were wrong in investing time in Kota Ibushi, Zack Sabre Jr., Meiko Satomura, Big Swole, Priscilla Kelly etc. At best, you make your place look like somewhere you want to go and at worst, you can spend the money you would have on that person to someone else, which they did.

Oh believe you me, im STILL hot they didnt catch on to Ibushis non committal ass sooner, i thought he was a lock!! Lol him and ZSJ work so much better in NJPW so in glad they didnt pull the trigger

[The Dark Order Inferno]

Nov 18, 2020 15:58:19 GMT -5 ronin705 said:

There's worlds of difference between enhancement squashes, and "getting your shit in" in a showcase spot on DARK. Yes, the roster is deep enough to survive, but especially Carter and Rosa, AEW was investing time in them. Thats f***ery in my book, but luckily we got bayleys hubby Aaron Solow, and sean meluta (until he gets the call by the chief lol) as the true journeymen wholl make the most of their time.

Investing? They had a handful of matches between them and none of them were put in angles. They got a showcase, AEW got a good match or two for the library and things didn't go further than that. It wasn't some betrayal, didn't make AEW or the talent look bad, it was just business. I could understand the objection if it were like how Impact used to bring guys in without contracts, put them over AJ Styles or Christopher Daniels and have them wander off to go job on WWE TV, but that just isn't what happened.

It was no more a betrayal than a guy who got a gest spot in a TV series going off and starring in a rival show, it'd be like the people who make Supernatural or The Good Wife deciding not to have guest stars because Jeffrey Dean Morgan signed on to do the Walking Dead.

[ronin705]

Nov 18, 2020 16:23:34 GMT -5 The Dark Order Inferno said:

Nov 18, 2020 15:58:19 GMT -5 ronin705 said:

There's worlds of difference between enhancement squashes, and "getting your shit in" in a showcase spot on DARK. Yes, the roster is deep enough to survive, but especially Carter and Rosa, AEW was investing time in them. Thats f***ery in my book, but luckily we got bayleys hubby Aaron Solow, and sean meluta (until he gets the call by the chief lol) as the true journeymen wholl make the most of their time.

Investing? They had a handful of matches between them and none of them were put in angles. They got a showcase, AEW got a good match or two for the library and things didn't go further than that. It wasn't some betrayal, didn't make AEW or the talent look bad, it was just business. I could understand the objection if it were like how Impact used to bring guys in without contracts, put them over AJ Styles or Christopher Daniels and have them wander off to go job on WWE TV, but that just isn't what happened.

It was no more a betrayal than a guy who got a gest spot in a TV series going off and starring in a rival show, it'd be like the people who make Supernatural or The Good Wife deciding not to have guest stars because Jeffrey Dean Morgan signed on to do the Walking Dead.

You dont have to "betray" to be disloyal, these people gave you a look while new yorks snubbing their noses until AEW makes you look like a shiny enough toy to bully away and leave on the shelf. I personally dont respect that kind of stuff, business or no. I have a "reggie with the pacers" mindset though

[The Dark Order Inferno]

Nov 18, 2020 16:27:09 GMT -5 ronin705 said:

Nov 18, 2020 16:23:34 GMT -5 The Dark Order Inferno said:

Investing? They had a handful of matches between them and none of them were put in angles. They got a showcase, AEW got a good match or two for the library and things didn't go further than that. It wasn't some betrayal, didn't make AEW or the talent look bad, it was just business. I could understand the objection if it were like how Impact used to bring guys in without contracts, put them over AJ Styles or Christopher Daniels and have them wander off to go job on WWE TV, but that just isn't what happened.

It was no more a betrayal than a guy who got a gest spot in a TV series going off and starring in a rival show, it'd be like the people who make Supernatural or The Good Wife deciding not to have guest stars because Jeffrey Dean Morgan signed on to do the Walking Dead.

You dont have to "betray" to be disloyal, these people gave you a look while new yorks snubbing their noses until AEW makes you look like a shiny enough toy to bully away and leave on the shelf. I personally dont respect that kind of stuff, business or no. I have a "reggie with the pacers" mindset though

Do you consider people who've decided not to re-sign with the WWE to make the jumnp to AEW to be disloyal?

[ronin705]

Nov 18, 2020 16:48:19 GMT -5 The Dark Order Inferno said:

Nov 18, 2020 16:27:09 GMT -5 ronin705 said:

You dont have to "betray" to be disloyal, these people gave you a look while new yorks snubbing their noses until AEW makes you look like a shiny enough toy to bully away and leave on the shelf. I personally dont respect that kind of stuff, business or no. I have a "reggie with the pacers" mindset though

Do you consider people who've decided not to re-sign with the WWE to make the jumnp to AEW to be disloyal?

In this "war" any side hoppers will be painted that way, no matter my personal view on them. But again, a UNIVERSE (pun intended) of difference between Rusev being booked into hell and taking a chance with the Miro gimmick, than giving Ben Carter showcase wins on my show to get him over, only for him to run at the CLEAR SLOPPY SHOP we all know wwe to be now. Maybe youre a better businessman than i and can keep it focused, but i would take that super personal, cuz AEW dont have to help the indies for shit.

[Oh Cry Me a Screwball]

I feel like Dark should really split in a one hour Tuesday and Friday show, like they do on PPV weeks. It would make the show a much easier watch. Other than that, I don't mind what they are trying to do with Dark, and Excalibur and Taz's banter is always enjoyable.

[Xxcjb01xX [PIECE OF: SH-]]

Nov 18, 2020 14:06:39 GMT -5 markymark said:

“I wanted to give [independent wrestlers] work, and I was thinking, in the beginning of the pandemic, you have all these independent wrestlers, especially around Florida and Georgia that aren’t really working, and they would kill to have this opportunity to wrestle on Dark, and we could do a bigger version of Dark. It could be more of a developmental system for us than it used to be.”

“We’ve developed a lot of talent through the show. Will Hobbs has become an important part of the show and an important person on Dynamite and he is probably the best developmental success story I have through the pandemic. Our women’s roster’s got a lot of young women who have not wrestled on TV a lot before Dynamite, and now I think Dark is a great place for them to get experience and get ready for TV matches, so we’ve got a great show there.”

This is why I can't hate DARK especially, not only do I see a ton of people I would have NEVER known about before, but I start adding them to my favorites list, because they impress me that much and they grow and develop over the weeks, even sometimes as Enhancement talent like KiLyn King.

Speaking of the girls, I'm glad Khan echoed my sentiments about DARK and some of the women's division. Like people were trying to tell me DARK doesn't matter for the girls, and in reality, it does, it REALLY does, because they're getting invaluable wrestling experience, reps, and matches, to get ready for the TV spotlight. Yes that's not the only problem with the girls right now, but I'm happy to hear from Khan that developing the group of young girls with promise that he has on the mid to undercard is a focus.

[Cyno]

AEW's women's roster is more on the young and inexperienced side, so the more matches they get on Dark the better. Especially if the alternatives are getting exposed on Dynamite, used only as jobbers, or not being used at all. It doesn't explain how poorly they used the actual experienced women on their roster (though tonight was a nice step forward outside of JR's godawful bake sale line). But for the less experienced women on the roster? It's a godsend.

Dark is also a great way to see some independent wrestlers getting a chance to showcase their talent and also to earn a paycheck in a tough time for the industry as a whole. If that leads to bigger and better things, whether that's a contract offer from AEW or ROH, Impact, or WWE offering them a serious look, so much the better. Tony Khan seems to want to pay it forward in this way, and I think he's approaching this from more the mindset of a lifelong fan of pro wrestling as opposed to strictly as a businessman.