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Tony Khan shares his thoughts on the launch of WWE Independent Development, or WWE ID for short.
WWE announced the launch of the program in October. Since then, the company has announced several independent wrestlers as WWE ID prospects. More are expected to be revealed moving forward.
Speaking at the AEW Full Gear post-show media scrum, Tony Khan was asked about WWE ID and whether he thought it would hinder how he goes about business on the independent scene. He noted that it would have an affect on the independent scene.
“It’s interesting. I don’t really know how it’s gonna work. I understand there’s some kind of first right of refusal aspect of it. We haven’t really come up where it’s been a conflict yet. But I do think it’s definitely going to affect the independent scene in some ways. We’ve had a really great experience here over the years bringing in young wrestlers. Through the pandemic, the best place for independent wrestlers to get work at AEW and on AEW Dark and Elevation.
“Sitting here with somebody who’s now the TNT Champion, sitting with Garcia, somebody who came into Daily’s Place and was working on Dark and working on Elevation…to see now Daniel Garcia is the TNT Champion, somebody who was a top independent wrestler, came in, wrestled on Dark, and has now worked his way to the top…somebody who’s had incredible 2024 and is now the TNT Champion, it’s a really exciting thing.”
Tony Khan: WWE Hasn’t Created Major Conflicts Yet
After noting that AEW had many wrestlers work their way up from the independent, Tony Khan said that AEW would likely continue to sign independent wrestlers. He also stated that WWE ID would likely influence the independent scene.e
“I expect we’ll keep signing great talent off the independents,” Tony Khan said. “I do think it’s a different mechanism. So it’s something to keep an eye on. It hasn’t really created any major conflicts or anything yet, yet I imagine it will definitely influence the independent wrestling scene. It’s definitely something to keep an eye on.”
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