Tony Khan Fuels Rivalry With WWE by Roping in Former WWE Executive as Potential COO

Currently, the world of pro wrestling is dominated by two behemoths. The presence of both WWE and AEW is something that cannot be ignored. Due to this, the two promotions are always considered to be at war with one another. While WWE came into existence almost four decades ago, Tony Khan’s AEW is relatively new. As the company is still trying to get a footing in the industry, they do rely on experienced individuals to help them out.

According to the latest update, Tony Khan has hired a former WWE official. Would this start a new chapter in the rivalry between the promotions?

Tony Khan employs former WWE official

According to Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful Select, the current word at AEW is that Kosha Irby will be joining the promotion. If the sources are to be trusted, he would possibly take the role of Chief Operating Officer (COO) at the Jacksonville-based promotion. Irby would be bringing a lot to the table at AEW, as he was a former Regional Director of Live Events for WWE. Apart from that, he has an impressive portfolio as he has worked with the Memphis Express and Clemson Tigers in the past.

Both AEW and WWE have lost significant executives since December 2023. AEW Executives such as Dana Massie and Rafal Morffi decided to part ways with Tony Khan. Both the execs have been working with Khan since the company’s inception. WWE, too, suffered a severe blow on the first day of 2024.

It was revealed by Nick Khan that one of the company’s oldest employees, Kevin Dunn, departed from the company. Dunn has been with the company way before it ventured into the Premium Live Event scenes. While Triple H might have found a replacement for Dunn, Khan has not announced any replacements yet.

Read More| Major Update Suggests WWE May Have Made a Decision on Kevin Dunn’s Replacement After His Sudden Departure

It could be assumed that Irby’s inclusion in the AEW workforce might change things for the promotion. However, an industry veteran believes that AEW’s fate is sealed.

Are things going to change for AEW and Tony Khan?

In the past, many WWE veterans have joined AEW, either as a part of the roster or in a backstage capacity. Irby is going to be a new addition to the list. However, industry veteran and former Raw General Manager Eric Bischoff believes that AEW’s fate is sealed. While talking about Sasha Banks’s possible AEW debut, he shared his thoughts on the Jacksonville-based promotion‘s possible future.

According to him, no matter who AEW brings on board, the company is destined to slowly turn into TNA/Impact. He also added that apart from CM Punk, no other former WWE employee has brought any significant changes to the promotion’s image. While he did not comment on other backstage staff, it could be assumed that Bischoff believes only a miracle could save AEW now. Do you think Kosha Irby will be that miracle for AEW?

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