Ahead of tonight’s sixth anniversary show for AEW Dynamite, Tony Khan spoke to Forbes reflecting on what he feels has been a record-breaking year for the company. Below are highlights:
On tonight’s sixth anniversary show
“It’s going to be an exciting show tonight, and the milestone it represents—six years—is an incredible accomplishment. To have a six-year celebration with the company in such a strong position, with so many stars doing the best work of their careers, and so many wrestlers at the height of their powers, makes this moment very special. AEW is having a great 2025. If you’ve never seen AEW, or if it’s been a long time since you checked it out, I think tonight is the perfect time to watch.”
On AEW’s success in 2025
“The fans have united this year, and the shows have been excellent. AEW has been delivering great pay-per-views for years, but I think 2025 has been our most consistent run of both TV and pay-per-views. That’s my opinion, but I know a lot of fans share it. We’ve grown the television audience, and that’s a fact, especially with HBO Max coming on board. Some thought that Dynamite on TBS and Collision on TNT might lose viewers to HBO Max, but in 2025 our viewership has actually gone up compared to where we ended last year. If you look at Q4 of 2024, and then all of 2025—first quarter, second quarter, and now as we wrap up the third—we’re ahead of where we finished 2024. It’s been a really great year.”
“That doesn’t even factor in the new viewers or the lapsed fans who came back through HBO Max. Over the past six years, some of our viewers likely cut the cord, and now they have a way to watch again, which is very exciting. We’ve accomplished so much, but there’s still so much more ahead. I think tonight’s going to be a fantastic event.”
On AEW’s future
“As we head into the six-year anniversary show tonight, AEW is still making great memories, maybe more than ever. This year we had our highest U.S. attendance at All In Texas, which I believe was the greatest show we’ve ever done. That kind of success is only possible because AEW has the best wrestlers in the world, an incredible staff, and the most loyal fans we could ever hope for.”
“I’m very proud that we’re celebrating six years tonight on TBS and HBO Max. I always look forward to these anniversaries, both as milestones and as opportunities to think about the future. Ten years from now, at the 16-year anniversary of Dynamite, I believe AEW will still be going strong. Our goal is to continue as the place where the best wrestle for many years to come, and I think tonight’s show will demonstrate exactly that.”
To read the whole interview, click here.
