Ariel Helwani asks Tony Khan about AEW airing the footage of CM Punk’s backstage altercation with Jack Perry

Khan: “Well, there were so many things.”

Helwani: “Like the playing the footage, did you think that that was the best move in response? Because it felt like that was in response to the interview.”

Khan: “That’s what it felt It’s interesting because I do think that I didn’t necessarily agree with the description of how it all happened.”

Helwani: “That was your way of showing like this is our side.”

Khan: “No, not necessarily. And by the way, I really think you’re a great interviewer, and I very much appreciate because we’ve had a very, very good interview, and I think I’ve been very good to answer all the questions. And now you’ve got me where I’m enjoying talking to you so much. You’ve really got me hooked in. So I want to answer your questions, even the challenging ones. And I didn’t necessarily agree with everything that was said in that interview about how things happened. But also it’s a TV show, and it did a very strong number. For many reasons, I think that it made sense. It was a thing that was advertised, and it got a lot of attention. It did a very strong number. Also, it’s in the eye of the beholder.

Helwani: “Was there anything he said that you want to now refute?”

Khan: “I think the tape spoke for itself, and I think that I didn’t agree with how it happened. Obviously, it was a major part of why things were no longer able to continue with us, even though I would have liked to have been able to. It’s clear that I wanted to reconcile and do those things.”

Helwani: “You wish that maybe by him leaving and then showing up on WWE two months later, that was a huge boost, right?”

Khan: “I think really for us, we’ve had a great run for six years. If you look at the time before Phil [Punk] came to AEW, we were having a great run, and we had some great times together. But we’ve been on a great run, and we’re having this great year right now with this roster. I think.”