Major AEW Name Calls Out Former WWE Champion’s Allegation About Tony Khan

A former WWE Champion recently criticized AEW President Tony Khan and didn't mince his words. Now, a major name from the Jacksonville-based promotion has hit back at the star and called out his allegations.

When AEW started in 2019, only a few established wrestlers were part of the promotion, and it relied heavily on the star power of performers who migrated from WWE. One of them was Jake Hager, fka Jack Swagger. The former WWE World Heavyweight Champion made his debut as part of Chris Jericho's Inner Circle faction. However, as years went by, Hager fell out of favor with the company and left in 2024.

Hager, who retired from professional wrestling earlier this month, recently appeared on INSIGHT with Chris Van Vliet and addressed his time in AEW, going on to heavily criticize Tony Khan for his management style, among other things. One of the things Hager detailed was a talent meeting that Khan allegedly ruined, as he was angry with FTR for not wanting to be on TV that night. This prompted a response from Dax Harwood on X, who called out Hager for his allegations.

"Cash and I were at the all-talent only meeting that was called by Bryan, Jericho, and Mox. Tony never interrupted.Cash and I have NEVER refused to show up to work and, I’d to dare say, if you look at our schedules since Collision started, we’re the most consistent talent that make BOTH shows EVERY WEEK. Im not really sure where all this is coming from, but it’s mostly not true," Harwood wrote on X.

Is WWE mad at Paul Heyman? Check the story!

AEW Star Dax Harwood Recently Hit a Huge Milestone

A few weeks ago, FTR's Dax Harwood took to X to share a special message celebrating a major milestone in the wrestling industry. The former AEW World Tag Team Champion had completed 21 years since he started his professional wrestling journey.

"Friday, the 13th, 21 years ago today, I began this pro wrestling journey. What a life," he wrote on X.

You can check out his tweet here.

Harwood and his partner Cash Wheeler recently participated in a three-way match for the World Tag Team Title at Forbidden Door, which they lost. It appears their next challenge could be against the reunited team of Cope and Christian Cage.

About the author

Karan Raj is a senior writer in Sportskeeda's AEW division. He holds an engineering degree from Manipal University, but his passion for sports motivated him to pursue an MSc in Sports Business from the University of Liverpool. Karan has been in the sports marketing industry for the past seven years.

As a lifelong WWE fan and enthusiast of wrestling entertainment, he has always been drawn to the industry's unique blend of sports and storytelling. Karan was introduced to the business by his elder sister when he was 10 years old.

Before assuming his current role at Sportskeeda, Karan worked for several reputable organizations, such as Ting Works LLP and Sportz Interactive, wearing different hats. He also wrote the anthem of UP Rudras, a hockey team that played in the Hockey India League. Karan conducts thorough research while writing articles and only relies on credible sources for information.

Karan's favorite pro wrestler is Seth Rollins. He admires The Visionary's versatility as a performer and his ability to play both heel and babyface characters to perfection. Besides Rollins, Karan looks up to Roman Reigns for his storytelling skills and ability to captivate audiences.

In AEW, he enjoys watching Will Ospreay compete inside the ring. Karan loves The Aerial Assassin's technical in-ring ability and athleticism. If Karan could go back to the Attitude Era, he would combine forces with Jericho and promise to elevate his career to the same level as The Rock and Stone Cold Steve Austin.When not writing about pro wrestling, Karan loves to play and watch football. It is a huge part of his life.

He is also a massive fan of tennis and is learning to play the sport. Apart from sports, he also knows how to play the ukulele.

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Edited by Kebin Edwin Antony