During Wednesday night's AEW Dynamite, Tony Khan was attacked by The Young Bucks and Jack Perry in one of the most awkward in-ring segments in recent memory.
While the angle has created intrigue for AEW's product as ratings continue to decline, Khan proved that even five years into running this company, he doesn't have anything close to the charisma of the McMahon family (who similarly inserted themselves into WWE storylines during the Attitude Era).
Of course, if we've learned anything over the years, it's that "Tony Khan" and "awkwardness" go hand-in-hand.
That was evident from this week's 2024 NFL Draft which saw him appear in a neck brace...moving his head around as if nothing had happened. It's embarrassing for pro wrestling fans (particularly when the hosts in the video below are clearly mocking the product), and it's turning AEW into the same sort of car crash TV as WCW and TNA during their respective low points.
Still wearing that neck brace, Khan is making headlines today for taking yet another shot at WWE with an unflattering, insulting comparison.
"AEW, we've been doing this for five years, we are the most successful sports start up since the AFL, pre-merger," he claims. "There has not been a challenger brand that has gained as much market share as AEW in many many years."
"We are like the Pepsi of pro wrestling. We're up against an evil juggernaut. WWE is our competitor, that's who we're facing. AEW, like the Pepsi of pro wrestling. WWE is like the Harvey Weinstein of pro wrestling. I'm really proud of what we do down here."
Harvey Weinstein is a Hollywood producer and sexual predator currently spending time behind bars for rape. While Vince McMahon has recently been accused of some undeniably horrific sexual abuse, this feels like a cheap, petulant shot on Khan's part.
Of course, we're talking about someone who continuously tears into WWE - calling Triple H and Shawn Michaels "bald assholes" - despite them largely ignoring him.
Needless to say, pundits aren't impressed by Khan's attempts at selling his supposed injuries.