Tony Khan Reflects on His Initial Concerns Over Cody Rhodes’ AEW World Title Stipulation

Tony Khan recently spoke about his reservations concerning Cody Rhodes’ AEW World title stipulation.

This Wednesday on AEW Dynamite, Kenny Omega is set to take on MJF for the AEW World Championship, with a stipulation that a loss would permanently bar Omega from future title contention.

Hangman Adam Page faced a comparable stipulation when he squared off against MJF earlier this year and fell short. Likewise, former AEW EVP Cody Rhodes encountered a similar scenario, losing to Chris Jericho in 2019 under the same conditions.

In a recent interview with Case Lowe on Q101, Khan discussed Rhodes’ stipulation and acknowledged his own reservations about it.

“In Cody Rhodes’ case, it was his idea to implement that stipulation. I did have some reservations at the time, but he felt strongly about it, and that’s how it came to be,” Khan said.

“I supported it because I understood his motivation, and it added unpredictability to the event. It created intrigue, resulting in a great show and match, though the aftermath presented some challenges.”

“Soon after, the pandemic struck, and I conceived the TNT Championship. I believed Cody would excel as the inaugural TNT champion, defending the title on television. Although I had reservations about him not receiving a world title opportunity, he was adamant about the stipulation, so I agreed.”

Tony Khan Discusses the Increase in AEW World Title Matches on Free Television

In the same interview, Khan elaborated on his decision to feature more AEW World Championship bouts on free television.

“We’re delivering at the highest level, and it’s fantastic to showcase these championship bouts,” Khan replied. “When AEW is at its peak, fans can anticipate top‑star showdowns in major matches and intense rivalries.”

“By presenting these high‑profile championship matches on Dynamite, Collision, major events, and premium pay‑per‑views, our fans get the best of both worlds,” he added.

Despite the rise in free‑television title matches, Khan maintained that AEW’s premier events remain exclusive to pay‑per‑view.

Shounak Chakraborty

Shounak Chakrabarti is an experienced sports journalist with a lifelong passion for athletics and storytelling. He holds a Master’s Degree in International Journalism from the University of Leeds and joined F4WOnline in 2025.
Shounak takes particular interest in soccer, closely following top clubs like Real Madrid and Arsenal. Beyond sports, he enjoys fiction writing, photography, gaming, and cinema.

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