While generally remaining in agreement with Jeff Jarrett that pro wrestling isn’t going to eliminate high-risk spots that could send a performer head-first to the mat or floor, I will say it’s good to see
the conversation William Regal started after AEW Worlds End is still going almost two weeks later. If we’re going to see positive change on the wrestler safety front, it will require that discussions continue, and not just pop-up after someone’s just suffered or narrowly avoided a serious injury.
The latest person to chime in could theoretically take some concrete steps to make wrestling safer, although doing so would probably hurt his revenue. It’s AEW president and head of creative Tony Khan, who was asked about William Regal’s remarks during his appearance on the Mark Hoke Show Pro Wrestling Radio Show / Podcast yesterday (Jan. 6). Asked for his thoughts on talent attempting high-risk spots, Khan replied:
“Pro wrestlers are always taking hard-hitting and high-risk chances. That’s one of the things that makes pro wrestling so exciting. In AEW, we’ve been able to have all of these great events, and we’ve never had a career-ending injury like that from our wrestling,
“I don’t think that AEW is any different than any other wrestling promotion in the world. The wrestlers want to do their very best, and sometimes a promotion will step in. AEW and I have at times stepped in and said, ‘I can’t do that. I don’t think that’s a good idea.’ I don’t want to do that every day or every match, but there are times where it comes up, and that’s okay.
“Everything you talk about, these are things you constantly balance in sports. Not just AEW, but all sports. Taking care of your athletes and doing things to protect the health and safety of the athletes to make the sport work.”
Later in the interview, Khan also praised the Jon Moxley/Kyle Fletcher match at his Dec. 27 PPV, which contained the spot most believe Regal was reacting to with his Dec. 28 warning.
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