Many pro wrestling fans have publicly wished for Tony Khan to hand over AEW creative duties. Well, the man behind WCW’s temporary dominance of the industry believes there is an excellent choice to replace him on staff and it may not be who you think.
There is no doubt that AEW is the No. 2 wrestling promotion in the world. In just five years of existence, the company owned and run by Tony Khan has done many impressive things. And a few years ago, they had serious enough momentum to become a real threat to WWE.
However, things have changed greatly since 2023. WWE has caught fire with Vince McMahon gone and Paul “Triple H” Levesque running the creative side of the company. And unfortunately, the AEW product has slipped a lot in the eyes of fans in that time. The brand’s declining ratings and ticket sales over the last year are proof of the promotion’s recent downturn.
While there may be various causes for the recent issues, many believe it is Tony Khan’s role overseeing creative for the company that is most to blame. Stepping away from the position and handing it over to someone else has been a topic of conversation in fan circles in recent months.
Eric Bishoff says Jen Pepperman should be Tony Khan’s replacement as head of AEW creative
On a new edition of his “83 Weeks” podcast, WWE and WCW legend Erick Bischoff claimed Khan has someone on staff who would be perfect for the job. But it isn’t wrestling legends like Bryan Danielson and Chris Jericho. Two men who have long had the ear of their boss and are popular choices to take over creative control.
“It’s just a matter of time before Tony is going to have to make a change. He’s got unlimited financial resources. That’s a big part of it. But he’s got the human resources right there under his nose — Jen Pepperman,” Bischoff said.
“If he gets that renewal [from Warner Bros./Discovery], and it’s the same product that continues to lose [its] audience, it’s just a matter of time. He’s got Jen. If I was Tony, I would sit down with Jen Pepperman today, before the sun goes down, and say, ‘Jen, I want you to build the new AEW creative system,” he added.
Pepperman was a long-time member of the WWE writing staff who has a background in TV and was hired by Tony Khan earlier this year. Bischoff revealed that he has met and spoken with Pepperman in the past and was always impressed with her understanding of storytelling. When she was hired by AEW it was viewed in the industry as a very good addition.
Also Read: Ricochet Speaks Out On Reason Behind Decision To Leave WWE For AEW
