Tony Khan Talks WWE Competition, Forbidden Door, Alex Windsor’s Rise & More

All Elite Wrestling President Tony Khan hosted a media call on Thursday to preview this weekend’s AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door. He touched on everything from WWE scheduling shows opposite AEW to the future of pay-per-view, why this year’s card leans more AEW-heavy, and which stars are rising in 2025.

Khan acknowledged WWE stacking shows against AEW but said his focus is squarely on AEW’s growth. He highlighted increases in TV viewership for Dynamite and Collision, boosted by the simulcast on HBO Max. “At our best, we’re focused on what we’re doing, not on trying to be the only wrestling company in the world. We’re trying to be the best. I know we have the best wrestlers, the best TV shows, the best pay-per-views, and the best fans,” Khan said.

While not giving away exact numbers, Khan confirmed Forbidden Door 2025 will go down as one of AEW’s top five events of all time in ticket sales, attendance, and gate revenue. He also pointed out that three of the company’s top four gates have happened in London, proving once again that the UK is one of AEW’s strongest markets.

When asked if the traditional pay-per-view model is on the way out, Khan dismissed the idea. He pointed to AEW’s consistently strong buy rates and live event turnouts and teased that HBO Max could soon join the PPV lineup. “I can’t wait for HBO Max to join when it’s ready to go,” he said.

This year’s Forbidden Door features more AEW vs. AEW matches than usual. Khan explained that the event’s later date in the summer meant NJPW and STARDOM talents were tied up with the G1 Climax and Grand Prix tournaments, making them unavailable until right before the show. He emphasized that the priority is always delivering the best matches possible. He pointed back to a previous year where he passed on using NJPW’s Yota Tsuji and instead booked Will Ospreay against then-champion Swerve Strickland, calling it the right move for the fans and the title picture.

When asked about Alex Windsor, Khan had nothing but praise. He described Windsor as a huge part of AEW’s future and said she has already proven herself to be a star right now. Injuries to other talent opened the door for Windsor, but Khan stressed that she made the most of every opportunity, impressing in key matches on both Dynamite and Collision. “I think Alex Windsor could be a top star in AEW in the future and I think she’s a top star in AEW right now,” Khan said.

On the gaming side, Khan admitted he’s not a gaming expert but said AEW learned a lot from its first video game, Fight Forever. He believes those lessons could help create a much stronger sequel if the company moves forward with one.

Forbidden Door 2025 is already shaping up to be one of the biggest nights in AEW history. Stick around with us—we’ll have a watch-along and a post-show breakdown to cover everything that goes down. See you then.