WWE Legend “The Undertaker” Mark Calaway Doesn’t Think Tony Khan Is Fit To Run All Elite Wrestling Despite His Good Intentions

Khan-I Will Bury You
Tony Khan on AEW Dynamite in 2024 & Undertaker on WWE RAW in 1999

All Elite Wrestling has had five years to get to a place where the organization can be competitive against World Wrestling Entertainment, and they still have yet to reach that point.

Samoa Joe wins and retains gold at AEW's Full Gear PPV (2022)
Samoa Joe wins and retains gold at All Elite Wrestling’s Full Gear PPV (2022)

RELATED: AEW Announcer Tony Schiavone Defends Controversial Writer Vince Russo Who Is Blamed For Killing WCW

Whether they can or not, some people are pulling for them and hope AEW one day becomes a viable competitor to the number-one wrestling brand in the world.

One of those folks is the icon that is The Undertaker, known as Mark Calaway away from the ring, who had a lot to say about All Elite’s current state on an edition of Six Feet Under Q&A.

Laying the smack down
Undertaker and Triple H lay the smackdown on The Rock on Raw, June 14, 1999, via WWE YouTube

RELATED: WWE Champion Cody Rhodes Cast In Paramount’s New ‘Naked Gun’ Starring Liam Neeson And Pam Anderson

“Hopefully, one day, AEW gets their crap together and genuinely creates some competition,” Taker began (via WrestleZone/Yahoo!). “That’s probably not a popular take from most WWE insiders, but from the way I look at it, competition is only going to make you better.”

Spirited competition helped foster the hottest boom periods in wrestling during the Territory days and The Monday Night War between World Championship Wrestling and WWE in the 90s.

Undertaker vs. Kane
The Undertaker faces off with Kane at WrestleMania XIV (1998) in Boston via WWE YouTube

AEW’s co-founder and owner Tony Khan has the money that could bring about such a period again. However, despite his funds and ambition, Undertaker doesn’t think Khan has the vision to lead his company into that promised land.

“I don’t think there’s a really true leader in the locker room. I have nothing against the man, but I don’t know if Tony [Khan] is the guy to run the company,” he said. 

Tony means BIG BUSINESS
AEW CEO & GM Tony Khan announces BIG BUSINESS in Boston! | Feb. 7, 2024, AEW Dynamite via AEW YouTube

RELATED: NWA Champion EC3 Says AEW Owner Tony Khan Has Done More Damage To Wrestling Than Former WWE And WCW Head Writer Vince Russo

“His heart is in a good place and he wants to do something, but I don’t know if he has the acumen to run a wrestling company against the juggernaut that is the WWE,” Undertaker continued.

“I could be wrong. There was that one other time I was wrong [laughs]. I hope they do get it together and we do have some competition. It’s better for the wrestlers. It’s better for the audience, the fans, everything.” the Hall of Famer added.

Ministry Taker and Paul Bearer
Undertaker with Paul Bearer making way to the ring for Triple Threat Match vs. The Rock vs. Triple H on Raw, June 14, 1999, via WWE YouTube

AEW had a strong start and goodwill behind it when it started in 2019. However, they are having a tougher and tougher time keeping a hold of talent – not to mention viewers – despite Khan’s deep pockets.

NEXT: Former WWE Creative Member And Manager Jim Cornette Shared His Unused Ideas For Glenn Jacobs’ Kane Character

Mentioned In This Article:

More About: