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All Elite Wrestling currently have partnerships with NWA, IMPACT, and NJPW, however a company they have yet to mix with is WWE.
Since AEW’s inception, both WWE and AEW have taken several shots at each other, some more obvious than others. The ‘Wednesday Night Wars’ was created after AEW’s Dynamite and WWE’s NXT began to run at the same time each week.
AEW founder Tony Khan, and EVP Cody Rhodes both have no issues working with WWE. In separate interviews, both speak on their feelings towards a potential partnership in the future.
During an interview with WrestleFetish podcast, Tony Khan says the “forbidden door” is open, and he would be willing to let them in.
“They’re (WWE) more than welcome. As I’ve said the forbidden door is open, anytime come and knock. If they were to knock on the door, then I would certainly be willing to let them in”
When the host mentioned how this would differ from DX invading WCW Nitro during the Monday Night Wars, Khan said he would love for WWE to come to Jacksonville.
“Eric wanted them to come inside, I feel the same way, come in. I would love that, come to Jacksonville, I’m begging you”
AEW President Tony Khan on the potential of #AEW vs #WWE in the future! #wrestlefetish 1.12.21
— WrestleFetish Podcast (@wrestlefpod) February 15, 2021
Check out full episode here: https://t.co/vHjEGsIe5n pic.twitter.com/6wvw27DVb0
During an interview with New York Post, Cody Rhodes discussed the possibility of a future WWE and AEW partnership.
‘There’s no reason that there couldn’t be a potential WWE crossover one day. And I don’t mean that’s a thing that’s been discussed or happening, but none of those rules that exist for other places exist for us. Wrestling is really this universal industry. The territory reference that you made, that’s fairly accurate, but the part of it that’s most accurate was there was a genuine trust.’
‘Eddie Graham and Vince (McMahon) Sr. they traded people all the time and made prolific pieces of business out of it and they did it in a way where they introduced these characters in New York and then next thing you know they introduce these characters in Florida and it kept things fresh because above all, Wednesday Night War or not the main thing we have to do for fans for the rest of this run – and I want this company to be around forever — is keep it fresh. It can’t ever get stale.’
‘Our doors are open if the business is right, if the moment is right, if the time right. Our bridges are down. I’ll be the one curmudgeon AEW guy to make sure it’s all good.’
Check out Tony Khan’s full interview on the WrestleFetish podcast below.