Tony Khan is bringing the world of professional wrestling together, and Canada has been an important part of that coalition.
Khan was in Toronto last week for the Collision tech conference to speak about how his All Elite Wrestling promotion has been disrupting an industry dominated by World Wrestling Entertainment for the past 20 years. His strategy has been to focus on international markets, starting with his first show outside the United States at Toronto91裸聊视频檚 Coca-Cola Coliseum in 2022.
91裸聊视频淐anada is such a great market for us and I take a lot of pride in some of our biggest live events, being there91裸聊视频� said Khan, noting that AEW hosted the biggest-ever wrestling event at England91裸聊视频檚 Wembley Stadium last summer when over 81,000 fans attended All In.
91裸聊视频淰ancouver, we debuted in that market this year and we91裸聊视频檝e had great shows in so many places across Canada.91裸聊视频�
AEW will continue its global marketing strategy this weekend at Forbidden Door, when stars from New Japan Wrestling, its sister promotion World Wonder Ring Stardom and Mexico91裸聊视频檚 Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre will face each other at UBS Arena in Elmont, N.Y.
The card will feature several Canadians as Winnipeg91裸聊视频檚 Chris Jericho and tag team partner Big Bill join Jeff Cobb in a trios match against Samoa Joe, Hook and Katsuyori Shibata. Luther, from Calgary, will accompany 91裸聊视频淭imeless91裸聊视频� Tony Storm as she defends her AEW Women91裸聊视频檚 World Championship against Mina Shirakawa.
Toronto91裸聊视频檚 Renee Paquette and RJ City of Richmond Hill, Ont., will be two of the pre-show hosts.
Last year91裸聊视频檚 Forbidden Door in front of a sold-out crowd at Toronto91裸聊视频檚 Scotiabank Arena was critically acclaimed and Khan said he was excited to continue to bring together different wrestling promotions from around the world.
91裸聊视频淲e91裸聊视频檝e had a great partnership with New Japan. Pro Wrestling and this year we91裸聊视频檒l introduce wrestlers from CMLL,91裸聊视频� said Khan. 91裸聊视频淭hey91裸聊视频檒l be starring in Forbidden Door, in important parts of the show, and have more championships and wrestlers participating from all over the world.91裸聊视频�
One name that Khan won91裸聊视频檛 be adding to his coalition any time soon is Scott D91裸聊视频橝more of Windsor, Ont.
D91裸聊视频橝more had been the president of TNA Wrestling, a rival promotion owned by the Toronto-based Anthem Entertainment and Sports, until his contract was terminated on Feb. 7. Online speculation had D91裸聊视频橝more joining Khan91裸聊视频檚 creative team in some capacity, but the AEW owner said he hadn91裸聊视频檛 heard those rumours.
91裸聊视频淚 liked Scott a lot and rarely ever talked to him about anything like that,91裸聊视频� said Khan. 91裸聊视频淏ut I always had good experiences with him. I think he91裸聊视频檚 a great guy.91裸聊视频�
D91裸聊视频橝more did not respond to an interview request made through Border City Wrestling, his Windsor-based promotion. TNA Wrestling as well as Anthem Entertainment and Sports also did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
John Chidley-Hill, The Canadian Press
