Paul Heyman believes AEW carries the same spirit that made ECW special, and Tony Khan was more than happy to hear it. For years after WCW closed in 2001, WWE was the only major wrestling company in the US. That changed in 2019 when Tony Khan launched All Elite Wrestling.
Now, Paul Heyman has praised AEW’s impact on wrestling and compared it to ECW. While appearing on the Insight podcast with Chris Van Vliet, Heyman was asked if wrestling is better because of AEW.
Heyman said AEW has helped wrestlers earn more money by giving them another major company to work for. He described Khan as “a wolf across the river” with a “billion-dollar checkbook,” saying AEW changed the business in a positive way for many wrestlers.
Heyman also praised AEW’s wrestling style. He said the company has a different feel from WWE, but he can clearly see ECW’s influence throughout the product. He compared Jon Moxley’s character to The Sandman from ECW and said AEW’s fast, physical matches remind him of the famous Rob Van Dam vs. Jerry Lynn rivalry from 1999.
Paul Heyman added that this style later influenced Pro Wrestling Guerrilla (PWG), which also helped shape the wrestling fans see in AEW today.
Rather than criticizing those similarities, Heyman welcomed them. He said having another major wrestling company is good for both wrestlers and fans because competition pushes everyone to improve.
Tony Khan appreciates Paul Heyman’s praise
Tony Khan responded positively to Heyman’s comments.
Speaking on 107.7 The Bone, the AEW President said he was grateful for the compliments. He explained that Heyman had a massive influence on him as a wrestling fan growing up, making the praise even more meaningful.
“Well, I appreciated what he said. I thankfully grew up as a big wrestling fan and I appreciate that he had some kind things to say about AEW and when I was growing up he was a major influence on me and a lot of people in pro wrestling. So that was gratifying,” Khan said.
He also laughed about Heyman calling him a “wolf” and said he took it as a compliment.
“I also appreciated that he called me a wolf. That’s a nice thing to be referred to,” Khan said.
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