Celebrity Jobber Podcast with Jeff Zito – Tony Khan

Release Date: October 1, 2025
Guest: Tony Khan (Owner/President of AEW, part-owner Jacksonville Jaguars & Fulham FC)
Host: Jeff Zito

Episode Theme & Purpose

This episode explores Tony Khan’s journey from his upbringing in Champaign, Illinois, through his lifelong passion for professional wrestling, to his role as a sports executive and billionaire. The conversation revolves around the show's central question: what was his first job, and what paths might his life have taken without the big break? The episode provides an in-depth look at Tony Khan’s early inspirations, first jobs, family influences, and the creation and growth of All Elite Wrestling (AEW).

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Tony Khan’s Childhood & Introduction to Wrestling

• Growing Up in Champaign, Illinois

  • Born and raised in a college town, home to the University of Illinois.
  • Early memories of going to Illini football and basketball games, sparking a lifelong love of sports.
  • First exposure to wrestling:

    “I saw the Ultimate Warrior versus the Undertaker. My dad was not a wrestling fan… It was really very cool with him to take time out of his schedule to take me to wrestling.” (02:36–03:40)

  • Early dream: Inspired to “start a pro wrestling promotion… dreamed up in Champaign, Illinois.”

• Wrestling Origins & Favorites

  • Began watching in 1990 after seeing Sgt. Slaughter on GI Joe and Hulk Hogan on The A-Team.
  • “It wasn’t any one wrestler or part of it… it was the whole thing. I got very excited about it and I started reading and watching as much wrestling as I could.” (04:49–05:16)
  • Became a student of wrestling history, studying classic wrestlers and matches.
  • Major influences and all-time favorites: Ric Flair, Ricky Steamboat, Steve Austin, Sting.

    “I think [Steve Austin] is the greatest wrestler of all time.” (06:13)

  • Pride in working with his childhood idols, notably Sting’s AEW retirement run.

The Genesis of AEW

• Early Vision and Learning
  • By age 8 or 9, dreamed about being a wrestling promoter.

    “I wanted to start a wrestling league and I didn’t have all the ideas… but I first thought of wanting to be a wrestling promoter long before I really understood the ins and outs.” (08:01–08:36)

  • At 12, discovered insider wrestling terminology searching “Is Wrestling real?” and the RSPW FAQ.
  • Started writing “Saturday Night Dynamite” at age 12, which would evolve into AEW’s “Dynamite” over 30 years later.
  • “To be honest, I look back at them sometimes… and I’m pretty impressed. I think there’s some good stuff in there to this day.” (11:08)

First Jobs & Work Ethic

• First Non-paying Job

  • Assistant basketball coach and stats keeper in high school; coached his friends when coach was ill.
  • The “Tony Khan Award” for basketball dedication was named after him after his graduation. (12:09–12:59)

• First Paying Jobs

  • Bartender in college:

    “I was a bartender in college and it was a great gig and I really enjoyed it.” (13:33)

  • Engineering company intern during the day; bartender at night.

Path to Sports & Wrestling Executive

• No Typical Workday

  • Describes the unpredictable pace of his multiple roles:

    “There is a cadence that comes with a game day or AEW show day… it really depends on what is happening that day.” (14:23)

• AEW’s Breakout & Growth

  • Big break was the launch and immediate sellout of AEW’s first pay-per-view in Las Vegas.

  • “The fans embraced it and then it really went to the next level… when we started doing Dynamite… AEW has been running strong ever since.” (15:19–16:53)

  • Hasn’t missed a show week since 2019; displays passion and work ethic.

• AEW’s Differentiator

  “AEW has the best wrestling and we put on the best shows… the quality of the wrestling stands above all else.” (17:11)

  • Value of myth-busting misconceptions, preferring to let shows and fans speak for the company.

• Dealing with Public Perception

  • Addresses his “polarizing” reputation:

    “I think I am just a genuine person… This year, I’ve just been a lot more laid back about it… the fans do a lot of the talking for me now.” (18:30–18:59)

On Not Becoming a Wrestler Himself

• Never aspired to wrestle full-time:

  “If it wasn’t being a wrestling promoter, what I really wanted to do was be a manager and talk and take bumps and sell and do stuff like that… I never really saw myself being a wrestler…” (20:11–21:21)

  • Debunks online rumors about his height – he’s taller than the internet claims.

Family Influence & Sports Ownership

• Influence on Father Shad Khan

  “My dad liked football, but going to the games and taking me… as a father, really embraced sports more than he had before.” (22:34–23:53)

  • Believes attending games with his dad led to Shad Khan’s interest in sports ownership.

Building a Legacy

• AEW’s Challenger Story

  • Host Jeff Zito praises AEW’s ability to compete with established wrestling brands and become a household name:

    “When there’s a big brand already in place and you come after the big brand and you don’t only chip away at that brand, you make a big brand for yourself.” (24:12)

• Leadership at Jacksonville Jaguars

  “I’m so grateful for what Liam Cohen is doing at the Jaguars… we have a great group here with the great young GM James Gladstone… and Tony Bacelli, the Hall of Fame legend.” (25:23)

  • Expresses appreciation for his football team’s staff and their combined leadership.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

On Wrestling Inspiration:

“The first main event I ever saw was 1991, summer when I was eight years old. I saw the Ultimate Warrior versus the Undertaker… And that’s where I first dreamed of the idea that became AEW.”
[03:13] – Tony Khan

On Writing Wrestling Shows as a Kid:

“In 1995 when I was 12 years old, I started writing a wrestling show… and I’ve been writing that show now for over 30 years and for over six years it’s actually been on TV.”
[09:37] – Tony Khan

On AEW’s Success:

“The fans embraced it and then it really went to the next level… We haven’t had any time off since Christmas of 2019… I wouldn’t want a week off. I’m very proud that we’ve been going since New Year’s Day 2020, and every single week since then…”
[16:02] – Tony Khan

On AEW’s Strengths:

“AEW has the best wrestling and we put on the best shows… the quality of the wrestling stands above all else.”
[17:11] – Tony Khan

On Family Influence:

“My dad wanted to be in the sports business, and I think because we would talk about it… being a dad and going to all the games really made him want to do it more.”
[22:34 & 23:53] – Tony Khan

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Beginnings in Champaign and first wrestling show: 02:36–03:54
• Wrestling idols & history: 04:49–07:16
• Genesis of AEW & writing wrestling shows as a kid: 08:01–11:08
• First jobs (coaching, bartender, intern): 12:05–13:44
• AEW’s launch and big break: 15:19–16:53
• What sets AEW apart: 17:11–18:17
• Dealing with being ‘polarizing’ and public opinion: 18:30–19:29
• On not wanting to be a wrestler: 20:11–21:41
• Influence on his father’s sports business interests: 22:17–23:53
• Closing thoughts – legacy, overcoming brands: 24:12–26:24

Tone & Language

• Conversational, enthusiastic, candid—Tony exhibits both humility and passion.
• Jeff Zito is lighthearted, curious, and expresses respect and admiration toward his guest.

Takeaways for Listeners

• Tony Khan’s passion for wrestling originated in childhood and was supported, though not necessarily shared, by his father.
• He parlayed that passion into a bona fide wrestling empire despite the existence of massive legacy brands.
• His work ethic was instilled by his father’s immigrant journey and sustained by genuine love for the business.
• AEW’s success is attributed primarily to fan embrace, relentless quality, and a vision that began as a kid’s dream.
• Tony’s first “real” job was a college bartender, but his volunteering and initiative (e.g., coaching basketball) shaped the drive that defines his career.
• The Khan family's sports legacy owes much to shared experiences between father and son, not just financial means.
• Ultimately, Tony Khan is portrayed as someone who leveraged opportunity and a unique upbringing, but who is also relentless in pursuing his own brand of excellence in wrestling, football, and beyond.

End of Summary