It has been precisely one week since AEW stirred controversy by broadcasting previously unreleased backstage footage from AEW All In, spotlighting the intense confrontation between CM Punk and Jack Perry.
Addressing the criticism and inquiries surrounding the decision to air the footage, AEW owner Tony Khan has offered an explanation.
During an appearance on “The Chris Russell Show,” Khan disclosed that the primary motive behind showcasing the All In footage was to intensify the rivalry between The Young Bucks and FTR.
“Well, I think it made a lot of sense,” Khan stated. “First of all, [there’s the] FTR/Young Bucks ladder match coming up at AEW Dynasty for the World Tag Team Championships.
This is the fourth chapter in FTR vs. The Young Bucks…the last time they wrestled, Young Bucks/FTR III, was at Wembley Stadium, AEW All In. And a lot happened that day.
They were the third match on the pay-per-view, and at one point, it looked like we were going to have to call them up, and they were going to have to wrestle the first match.”
“And then they ended up going on in the spot they were in, but the Young Bucks said, the whole day, everything that happened, it really affected their mental preparation, they weren’t able to pray before the match, they were very stressed out.
They slipped on the banana peel and lost the match but they blame FTR, they blame what happened at Wembley Stadium, and that’s why, in hindsight, that’s why they refused to shake FTR’s hand.”
One aspect that many have concurred on regarding the release of the backstage footage was its positive impact on Perry.
“The Scapegoat” witnessed a surge in his t-shirt sales following the video, and the AEW star garnered an electrifying response at New Japan Windy City Riot last Friday in Chicago, Punk’s hometown, where he faced Shota Umino and came up short.
Khan, who was backstage at Windy City Riot to witness Perry and fellow AEW star Jon Moxley, who clinched the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship in the main event, acknowledged the notable reaction Perry received.
“It was fascinating to see after that tape played, the reaction that Jack Perry got at New Japan Pro Wrestling this week,” Khan remarked.
“He got the reaction of a superstar. That is not altogether unexpected and it’s something very interesting, perhaps a side effect of this.
Jack Perry [is] already a big star in wrestling, really the way the crowd connected with him in Chicago, that was interesting to see.”