WWE has been making significant adjustments to the contracts of its superstars. Concurrently, Tony Khan’s approach to managing AEW stars and their contracts has become a topic of interest.
After the WrestleMania 42 season concluded, WWE released several talented in-ring performers. This latest wave of releases included Aleister Black, Zelina, the Wyatt Sicks faction, and others. In the following weeks, JC Matteo and Tonga Loa also departed the company.
The most surprising turn of events was the departure of New Day members Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods. Reports indicate that TKO’s decision to restructure deals, which included a significant pay cut, prompted both WWE superstars to leave. Kingston’s first post after leaving the company appeared to confirm this decision.
According to Mike Johnson of PWInsider, in both prosperous and challenging times, Tony Khan is known for honoring every financial commitment made to his talents. In contrast, WWE stars who are not on the level of megastars like Roman Reigns might be subjected to changes based on quarterly earnings reports or asked to renegotiate their current contracts, as was the case with Kingston and Woods. This scenario did not favor their interests, leading to their exit from WWE.
Tony Khan clarifies rumors of discord between AEW stars
During a recent interview on MVP’s Marking Out podcast, Tony Khan addressed rumors of a rift with Speedball Mike Bailey. The AEW President dismissed the speculation as false and quickly put an end to the rumors. He emphasized that Mike Bailey is well-liked among the locker room.
“That was that BS rumor that you had some personal problem with Speedball, the stupidest thing I’ve ever seen in my life. I have no idea who made that up. I’ve never seen anybody have a problem with Speedball. Everybody likes Speedball.” [H/T – @TheDrainmaker on X]
Additionally, Tony Khan and his creative team are preparing for AEW’s upcoming pay-per-view event, Double or Nothing 2026, scheduled to take place in New York. Currently, two matches have been announced, and fans can expect more bouts to be added to the lineup in the coming weeks.
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Edited by N.S Walia
