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Sonny Kiss Departs from AEW: Tony Khan Explains Decision
September 4, 2023
By Jeff Wolfe, Pro Wrestling Wars
In a surprising turn of events, All Elite Wrestling (AEW) has confirmed the departure of Sonny Kiss from their roster. The news came during a post-All Out media scrum, where AEW President Tony Khan addressed the situation.
Khan acknowledged that Kiss, who had been with the company since its inception in 2019, did not have his contract renewed when it expired. This decision was based on a combination of factors, including limited television time and the discontinuation of AEW’s YouTube shows Dark and Elevation.
“I really like Sonny Kiss,” Khan stated. “We have a roster of over 100 wrestlers now across AEW, and Sonny’s a great wrestler. But with such a big roster and limited TV spots, I can’t renew every single contract. It would be impossible.”
Despite not being re-signed, Khan expressed his admiration for Kiss and his potential as a wrestler. He emphasized that the decision was not a reflection of his opinion of Kiss but rather a consequence of the challenges faced by a growing roster and the loss of Dark and Elevation.
AEW’s exclusive content deal with Warner Bros Discovery resulted in the cancellation of Dark and Elevation, which had provided additional opportunities for wrestlers like Kiss to showcase their skills. Khan acknowledged the difficulty of fitting everyone into the limited TV time available and expressed his willingness to bring back former talents if the opportunity arises.
“One thing that also is a challenge, to be honest, is losing Dark and Elevation,” Khan explained. “It’s put more emphasis on five hours of television, so I think some of that was made up with TV spots. So a lot of people have stepped up, but the roster has grown and grown — there’s more wrestlers than there were when we started.”
While it remains unclear why Kiss hasn’t appeared on Ring of Honor’s weekly streaming show, which AEW now utilizes for former Dark and Elevation talents, Khan’s remarks indicate that he still holds Kiss in high regard and sees potential for a future return.
AEW fans will undoubtedly miss seeing Sonny Kiss in action, but this departure opens up opportunities for other wrestlers to shine. As AEW continues to evolve and expand, the challenge of managing a large roster and limited TV time remains an ongoing concern.
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Source: Cageside Seats