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Tony Khan

Building AEW into a Billion-Dollar Brand and Competing with Wrestling Giants

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EPISODE #
106

In this episode...

Tony Khan was captivated by sports and wrestling from a young age. After immersing himself in sports analytics, he joined his father’s ventures, using his expertise to build a data-driven team at the Jacksonville Jaguars. Witnessing Fulham’s struggles, Tony saw an opportunity to apply his skills to improve the team and took it. His passion for wrestling ultimately led him to launch All Elite Wrestling (AEW). Despite initial skepticism, Tony’s vision and perseverance allowed AEW to thrive, becoming a major disruptor in the wrestling world. In this episode, Tony joins Ilana to share the power of taking bold actions and seizing opportunities.


Tony Khan is the founder, president, and CEO of All Elite Wrestling (AEW), a leading professional wrestling promotion. He also holds executive roles with the Jacksonville Jaguars in the NFL and Fulham F.C. in the English Premier League.


In this episode, Ilana and Tony will discuss:

(00:00) Introduction 

(01:56) His Early Passion for Sports and Wrestling

(04:52) Shifting from Engineering to Finance

(08:35) Building a Data-Driven Sports Team at the Jaguars

(14:24) Overcoming Setbacks at Fulham FC

(18:41) The Birth of All Elite Wrestling (AEW)

(22:22) Earning Trust and Disrupting the Wrestling World

(28:55) Navigating AEW Through the Pandemic

(35:53) Acquiring Ring of Honor to Preserve Its Legacy

(38:21) Honoring Wrestling Legends and Their Impact

(41:10) Thriving in a Highly Competitive Industry

(43:03) The Key to Breaking into Media and Entertainment

(46:36) Making the Most of Opportunities in Life


Tony Khan is the founder, president, and CEO of All Elite Wrestling (AEW), a leading professional wrestling promotion. He also holds executive roles with the Jacksonville Jaguars in the NFL and Fulham F.C. in the English Premier League. With a background in finance and sports analytics, Tony has revolutionized the business of sports entertainment, positioning AEW as a major competitor to WWE. He was awarded "Promoter of the Year" and "Best Booker" by the Wrestling Observer Newsletter for three consecutive years.


Connect with Tony:

Tony’s Instagram: instagram.com/tonyrkhan 

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YOUR TURN

Inspired Is Good. In Motion Is Better.

If this episode hit close to home, let's talk about what your own leap could look like, and whether Leap Academy is the right vehicle for it.

Full transcript (if you like reading instead of listening)

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