Why Tony Khan Decided to Show CM Punk & Jack Perry Fight on TV

If one were to ask Tony Khan, they would find that he believed airing the CM Punk and Jack Perry backstage fight footage from AEW ALL IN 2023 at Wembley Stadium in London, England was a strategic move in promoting the upcoming AEW Dynasty 2024 pay-per-view.

Stick with Tony, he has his reasons.

In a recent appearance on The Chris Russell Show, the AEW and ROH President elaborated on the decision to air the footage, citing the narrative of The Young Bucks facing challenges, including the inability to pray and other distractions before their loss to FTR at the same event.

“I think it made a lot of sense,” Khan expressed. “First and foremost, the Young Bucks-FTR ladder match is set for AEW Dynasty for the World Tag Team Championships. This match marks the fourth chapter in the FTR-Young Bucks rivalry. I truly believe they are the best tag teams in wrestling, the top two in the world. During their last encounter at Wembley Stadium, AEW All In, a lot unfolded that day. The Young Bucks were initially scheduled as the third match on the pay-per-view, and there were moments when it seemed they might have to wrestle as the opening match. Despite eventually maintaining their spot, the Young Bucks revealed that the events of the day impacted their mental preparation. They were unable to pray before the match and felt stressed. This affected their performance, resulting in their loss to FTR. In hindsight, they hold FTR accountable for what transpired at Wembley Stadium. This is why they refused to shake FTR’s hands.”

Khan went on to highlight the transformation of the Young Bucks, noting their darker demeanor during Sting’s retirement storyline and how they have evolved even further. The decision to air the tape of the backstage altercation had unexpected consequences, particularly the overwhelming positive reception Jack Perry received at New Japan. Perry, already a notable figure in wrestling, garnered the superstar treatment from the crowd in Chicago, indicating an intriguing development leading into AEW Dynamite and AEW Dynasty.

For the full interview, listeners can head to Apple.com. Credits to Fightful.com for transcribing the above statements.

So, it appears that Tony Khan’s strategic move in showcasing the backstage drama has set the stage for an intense and captivating build-up to the upcoming AEW pay-per-view event. The twists and turns in the ongoing saga between the Young Bucks and FTR, alongside the emergence of Jack Perry as a crowd favorite, promise an exciting and unpredictable future for AEW fans to look forward to.