Tony Khan secretly renewed multiple officials' deals in AEW - Reports
An update regarding certain officials in AEW has just surfaced. The report seemingly included contract details and other information regarding the future of certain company personnel.
With a few more months left in this year, the Jacksonville-based promotion has been successful in attracting several big names to the company, including Kazuchika Okada, Mercedes Moné, Ricochet, and, very recently, the Hurt Syndicate.
Fightful Select has just reported that several AEW referees signed one-year deals with the company to begin the year, and now they may be halfway into those deals. It was also mentioned that some of these deals got extended. It goes without saying that some of these contracts were also terminated.
The report also briefly brushed on the topic of some moments where the referees seemed to get involved in matches, pushing the shoulders of some wrestlers down the mat to begin pinfalls. These moments received criticism, and it was mentioned how these instances should be avoided in the future.
Former WWE veteran criticizes AEW referee
At AEW WrestleDream last weekend, an interesting moment occurred during Anna Jay and Harley Cameron's singles match at the Zero Hour Pre-Show.
Jay had already hit her finisher and was about to cover her opponent for a pinfall victory, but the referee hesitated as Cameron's shoulder was still above the mat. He decided to push it down, and officially go for the three-count.
Wrestling veteran, Jonathan Coachman, reacted to this incident on X (fka Twitter), bringing up how a referee like Jimmy Korderas would never do anything like this. He mentioned how if a wrestler isn't down despite going for the finish, they should have just let it continue and have them go for a different finish.
"I literally can’t believe what I just watched. He @jimmykorderas have you ever done this. If her shoulder isn’t down match continues. At this level every talent should be able to put together another 30-60 seconds into another finish. @BehindTheBuckle," he wrote.
It remains to be seen whether this will show an improvement in the quality of officiating for matches, seeing as there has been heavy criticism lately.