Tony Khan: ‘2024 is the next 2021’ for AEW

AEW head Tony Khan’s confidence in 2024 continues to grow, taking to X Friday to say that 2024 “is the next 2021” for AEW.

He didn’t elaborate specifically why he felt this way, but it continues a recent trend of Khan publicly espousing that this year will be especially strong for AEW.

Part of that confidence could be from the impending signing of two major stars in Kazuchika Okada and Mercedes Mone. Okada’s NJPW deal is up in February while Mone is currently a free agent.

In this week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Dave Meltzer said the belief is both wrestlers will be starting soon and with Mone, “there is talk her debut will be played up extremely big and that announcement could be soon.” Conversely, Meltzer stated the last word he had heard on Okada is that he had not made up his mind yet between AEW and WWE.

He also added in this note about Khan’s particular confidence about this year.

“But we do know that Tony Khan has been especially enthusiastic about 2024, between new signings and returns over the next few months of MJF, Adam Cole, Kenny Omega (hopefully), Bandido, Rey Fenix, PAC and Britt Baker.”

2024 is an especially important year as it’s the final one on AEW’s current deal with Warner Bros. Discovery. The exclusive negotiating window between WBD and Khan hasn’t been made public yet, but Khan has previously stated he would like to remain with WBD out of loyalty but feels that there will be a lot of interest in both AEW and Ring of Honor TV rights.

Some of AEW’s notable highlights in 2021 included the signings of CM Punk, Adam Cole, and Bryan Danielson, the kickoff to their relationship with NJPW, the launch of Rampage on TNT, Dynamite moving to TBS, the debut of the Blood & Guts cage match, a post-pandemic return to touring, the first-ever Grand Slam at Arthur Ashe Stadium, and Christian Cage, Malakai Black and Andrade El Idolo also signing deals.