Tony Khan claims former World Champion was unhappy in WWE before joining AEW
AEW has welcomed several former WWE Superstars and World Champions to the company since launching in 2019. Tony Khan has just made a bold claim about one major name and how he felt before coming to his company.
Sting is widely regarded as one of the greatest pro wrestlers ever. The Icon was the face of WCW and the biggest name to not join WWE when they shockingly purchased the competition in 2001. He later held a prominent role with TNA and finally joined WWE in 2014 for a brief run and Hall of Fame induction.
Khan brought the 14-time World Champion to All Elite Wrestling in 2021, and he retired this past March while holding the World Tag Team Championship with Darby Allin.
Khan recently spoke with Bleacher Report and claimed that Sting came to AEW for something different as he didn't have a great experience with WWE. The All Elite President doesn't think the 39-year veteran imagined what his All Elite run would become.
"When he had previously competed in WWE, I don't think he had a great experience with WWE. He was looking to do something very different. When I first talked to Sting, he was interested in having a comeback, but I don't think Steve [Borden] ever imagined it would lead to a three-year run in wrestling that would become legendary," Tony Khan said.
Sting retired from AEW with an undefeated record. The Vigilante worked all 28 matches with partner Darby Allin, and some of those were multi-man bouts with names like CM Punk and Hook.
Tony Khan hypes big AEW Collision match
Saturday's AEW Collision episode will see Continental Champion Kazuchika Okada face CMLL star Ultimo Guerrero in an Eliminator Match. Guerrero will earn a future Continental Championship match if he wins.
Tony Khan took to X to hype Saturday's match, noting that a vignette on Guerrero will air during tonight's Rampage. Khan said this is one of his all-time favorite wrestlers.
"If you're unfamiliar with Ultimo Guerrero, that's ok! He's one of my all-time favorites, + we'll have an informative video package about this legend from @CMLL_OFICIAL this Friday Night on #AEWRampage on TNT, before Ultimo Guerrero collides vs @rainmakerXokada Saturday on TNT!" Tony Khan wrote.
Saturday's taped Collision will also feature Will Ospreay defending the International Championship vs. Brian Cage, plus tag team action with Private Party vs. Chris Jericho and Big Bill, and trios action with Hook, Samoa Joe, and Katsuyori Shibata vs. Tony Nese, Ariya Daivari, and Josh Woods.