Tony Khan’s Relentless Top Talent Signing Still Leaves AEW With a Lot to Prove

On the most recent episode of the Wrestling Observer Radio podcast, wrestling journalist Dave Meltzer spoke about three top-tier free agents recently in the wrestling domain – Kazuchika Okada, Mercedes Mone, and Will Ospreay. While the three superstars have made big names for themselves working at NJPW, AEW owner Tony Khan isn’t feeling a sense of confidence despite bagging Ospreay and having been rumored to be at the head of the line for Okada and Mone.

AEW has doubts despite three top-tier superstars interested in their roster

Reports suggest that AEW has finalized the deals for both Okada and Mone, while having signed Ospreay to a multi-year contract in November 2023. While WWE was trying to sign back Mone and Ospreay, AEW has seemingly managed to close both deals, with Banks more than likely to join AEW. However, according to Meltzer, the buys will be wasted if Tony Khan does not use them properly.

Meltzer said, “Of the three big free agents – Will Ospreay, Okada, and Mercedes – they got all three in this run, and yet, it’s like, the perception of the company is such that… if this was a year or 18 months ago and they signed these three people it would be like, ‘Oh my god, it’s gonna turn around’, and it may – not turn around but just get bigger.”

Tony Khan is infamous for acquiring talent from other promotions, mostly WWE, instead of grooming superstars from his own promotion. Hence, Meltzer stated that the general sense among the common fans was to take such signings as a major deal. However, over the years, most talents have been put on the back burner despite showing huge promise earlier.

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The tables have turned and the fans do not feel the same about AEW anymore. Meltzer further explained, “But now, the perception of the company is such, they’ve got to do something about that perception. Because it’s down.”

One of the biggest things, however, that Khan has managed to do with the signings of more famous talents is to improve ticket and merch sales. AEW is struggling with booking their shows while many of their weekly TV shows recorded sales of less than 3000 tickets per show. Hence, the addition of the three free agents is crucial, especially Sasha Banks.

Meltzer said, “Mercedes, the Boston show, I think is at about 5,700 tickets sold on the first couple of days, which is, obviously for an AEW show, that’s very good. It’s not through the roof. I don’t think it’s gonna be a sellout. It’s only a couple weeks away actually.” Well, this can be a good start for AEW in trying to compete against WWE. 

What do you think will change this time around with the signing on of Mone and Okada as well as Ospreay preparing to make an appearance this year?