AEW news: When Did Tony Khan Learn That Okada Was Joining AEW

“Well, I was really excited to have him there. It was an honor to meet him in person finally. It was a huge honor."

Kazuchika Okada in a file photo [Image-NJPW]
By Blesson Daniel | Jun 26, 2022 | 2 Min Read follow icon Follow Us

Tony Khan, president of AEW, mentioned NJPW star Kazuchika Okada making his AEW debut on “Dynamite” last Wednesday at a recent media call for AEW X NJPW Forbidden Door. Khan admitted that he had always liked Okada even before he realised he wanted to be in professional wrestling. He said, “Well, I was really excited to have him there. It was an honor to meet him in person finally. It was a huge honor. Huge honor to have him on AEW ‘Dynamite’ and for him to be making his debut to some extent in an AEW ring. It was an honor to have him step into an AEW ring for the first time on AEW Dynamite.’ That is something that I’m been looking forward to for a long time. I have so much respect for Okada. I’ve admired him for many, many years. Long before we launched AEW or before I knew I was going to be in the wrestling business.”

READ MORE: AEW Dynamite results – Bryan Danielson speaks, Kazuchika Okada debuts

Tony Khan speaks up on IWGP championship match

Khan said that Jay White defending the IWGP Heavyweight Title against Okada, Adam Cole, and “Hangman” Page will be anticipated by fans all around the world.Khan said, “He’s still a relatively young man. What a top prospect at a young age he was. It’s going to be great to see him compete. I think fans all over the world will look forward to that match. Seeing Okada in the same ring, wrestling for the IWGP Title. Trying to win it back this weekend from Jay White. Also having a couple of other great champions from pro wrestling. Adam Cole has won titles from all over the world. And has competed in NJPW Pro Wrestling. He’s one of our top stars. ‘Hangman’ Adam Page, the former World Champion, one of the top stars in AEW. Also, former Tag Team champion here. Somebody who has been a winner here and in ROH. Also won a lot of NJPW matches himself and dreamt of winning the IWGP Title for a long time.”

The president of AEW also acknowledged that he wished he had had more time to get to know everyone who appeared in the IWGP Title Match on television. Khan admitted that he didn’t find out Okada was going to be on TV until a week before and that he had expected him to go on TV sooner. Tony Khan admitingly said, “Would I have liked to have all the people involved on TV longer? Yes,” admitted Khan. “That was one of the challenges, I knew that I was going to face going in. While back, I didn’t know that. I thought we could get Okada in sooner. I found out he wasn’t coming till the week before. I had to deal with it.”