Tony Khan All In/Supercard of Honor Media call, addresses absenses and injuries

[Chris]

AEW News: Tony Khan on Mercedes Mone, Britt Baker

Tony Khan addressed some rumors about Mercedes Mone’s creative control, the status of Britt Baker, and more during his AEW media call appearance.

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At the starting point of a busy week, AEW & Ring of Honor head Tony Khan spoke to the media for more than an hour Tuesday to help promote All In and ROH Supercard of Honor.

He also addressed some Internet rumors about Mercedes Mone’s creative control, the status of Britt Baker, and some required changes for Supercard of Honor due to injuries.

Here’s some of the key talking points with full audio at the bottom of this post.

Mercedes Mone’s AEW creative control (or lack thereof)​

Khan was asked to address the narrative that the reason Mone is featured so much on AEW TV and wins so often is that she has creative control. Khan denied that, reiterating that he is the only one in AEW with creative control before retelling how he took control back heading into 2020 and again into 2025 which resulted in a better product.

Khan said he’s worked with Mone, Jen Pepperman, Toni Storm and RJ City on this angle, but he has the final say. He said the idea of anyone getting a push because they have “a creative control card” isn’t how it works in AEW. He puts Mone over as a great person to work with backstage and a great star.

“This is the most focused and best AEW in many, many years because there are less voices,” he said.

Where’s Britt Baker?​

Khan was asked to address the recent reports Baker has requested her release so she can go to WWE. He said he’s never had a conversation about her leaving AEW and that he likes her a lot. He then launched into a sports analogy about only being able to use so many players as starters and how they have been running a tight, focused show with a focused crew. He said they have a lot of talent on their bench if they need it which applies to both men and women.

The former AEW Women’s World Champion hasn’t been on TV since last November with no storyline explanation.

Continental & International titles not being retired​

Khan made it a point to say the AEW Continental and International titles are not being retired and that the new Unified Champion (decided this Saturday between Kenny Omega and Kazuchika Okada) may carry around all three belts.

Khan said the Unified title is new to AEW, was made to represent the importance of this match, and that the lineage of both titles will be “intact.” He also verified the Continental Classic will be back, but didn’t mention what the winner will get.

Red Velvet, Jamie Hayter injured, new interim ROH Women’s TV title coming​

Khan said that a number of injuries changed plans for this week’s Supercard of Honor with Queen Aminata being “called up” to replace Jamie Hayter whose latest injury has taken her out of action longer than expected. She said reigning ROH Women’s TV Champion Red Velvet was injured during her CMLL match last month and while she is expected to push through it, she will be unable to defend the title and thus, a new interim champion will be crowned on Friday. No further details were provided.

For more on all that plus other news and notes from the 70+ minute call, listen below.

Click here to listen (free)

 

[O-Blaze]

I'm not fully sure how I'd feel about the Unified Champion carrying all 3 belts around. Just doesn't seem needed? I don't know.

 

[Chris]

I thought that unified title was more of a prop for winning the Okada/Omega rivalry but I've been confused since it was announced lol

 

[Switchblake]

I’m also confused about the unified championship because the wording implies the unifying of the championships but I’ll be honest I hated that concept because the continental and international titles are the two better midcard titles that they have at least the international. I was livid that they were gonna get rid of the international championship so if this is more of that continental crown where they just do it for like a couple months and then they get rid of it. I’m fine with that.

 

[Comrade Khan]

Gotta say I'm not sure why people are confused.

Unified means the lineage of both merge. But they aren't going back to either belt. Pretty cut and dry unifications like this have happened plenty.

Then he says the c2 will continue and news on that will come later. They'll , to me, obviously just make it for a title shot for a belt like the g1.

At least that's how I immediately understood it. A belt you defend for winning a tourney was always weird and then the triple Crown confused ppl more.

Only part that's a bummer is losing the int title but the new belt is nicer so I'm cool

 

[Comrade Khan]

I'm not fully sure how I'd feel about the Unified Champion carrying all 3 belts around. Just doesn't seem needed? I don't know.

Didn't roman do this for like 3 fucking years lol

And tna Kenny too

 

[Switchblake]

Gotta say I'm not sure why people are confused.

Unified means the lineage of both merge. But they aren't going back to either belt. Pretty cut and dry unifications like this have happened plenty.

Yeah, this is what I assumed was gonna happen because it did sound cut and dry but then he said this that they’re not being retired and then they may carry all three belts. They did the exact same thing happen with the continental crown and then we wind up going back to the previous belts and we never referred to the continental crown again.

 

[Switchblake]

Didn't roman do this for like 3 fucking years lol

And tna Kenny too

I will say they may as well carry around all three as long as they can really drive home how big a deal it is and that the rivalry is finally over.

 

[Comrade Khan]

Yeah, this is what I assumed was gonna happen because it did sound cut and dry but then he said this that they’re not being retired and then they may carry all three belts. They did the exact same thing happen with the continental crown and then we wind up going back to the previous belts and we never referred to the continental crown again.

I think not being retired simply means the lineage isn't ending. I want to believe this is them fixing the entire mess of the continental belt here. Just as usual TK over explained it instead of simply saying "yes it's replacing those two titles "

 

[Comrade Khan]

I will say they may as well carry around all three as long as they can really drive home how big a deal it is and that the rivalry is finally over.

At least for a few weeks ya

 

[Chris]

In fairness, the carrying around 3 belts thing fits perfectly in Jeff's explanation if you factor in the assumption that Tony just loves his belts and doesn't want to retire one visually lol

Usually both lineages don't merge in unification tho, I agree they should, but sadly one of both is always retired officially and the actual lineage continues as one or a new belt. WWE was actually doing it the first way after Cody beat Roman, still recognizing him as both champs just with one belt, but then they retconned it for the Cena record to not be confusing to be the same as usual lol can't say I blame them in that case tho, it was a mess

 

[Chris]

Just in a perfect world, the Continental belt should have never existed and this would be for the international title lol

But the belt being designed for the rivalry also leads me to believe once whoever wins this match loses it, that one will probably disappear, the international will keep going, and the Continental will be brought back as it has always been for the tournament (maybe they do something different here but probably not tbh). Would also be a reason why you don't disappear the two original belts when the unified one is actually the temporary design

 

[Switchblake]

I mean to be fair and no offense to Jeff saying he thinks the unified belt is better. I think the international championship is the best looking AEW belt to have and on that point alone I definitely would want someone to still carry it.

The Unified is definitely an improvement on the Continental not that I disliked it.

 

[Comrade Khan]

Just in a perfect world, the Continental belt should have never existed and this would be for the international title lol

But the belt being designed for the rivalry also leads me to believe once whoever wins this match loses it, that one will probably disappear, the international will keep going, and the Continental will be brought back as it has always been for the tournament (maybe they do something different here but probably not tbh). Would also be a reason why you don't disappear the two original belts when the unified one is actually the temporary design

Certainly agree the continental title was a dumb idea and it should just be a trophy. Or a briefcase *hides*

 

[Switchblake]

Certainly agree the continental title was a dumb idea and it should just be a trophy. Or a briefcase *hides*

Should’ve been a trophy or a briefcase and not even called the continental title at all. It should’ve just been something you won for winning the continental classic and then you were able to use that to get a title shot at revolution.