Vince Russo’s Birthday Message to Tony Khan: Praise, Tough Love, and a Playbook for AEW
Wrestling veteran Vince Russo used this week’s episode of Vince Russo’s The Brand to deliver a rare mix of praise, humor, and hard-nosed advice to AEW owner Tony Khan—as a birthday gift. Khan, who turned 43 on October 10, 2025, was the focus of Russo’s entire show, which he described as “a celebration of the man, the myth, the legend.”
“Tony, Tony, Tony, Tony — happy birthday to you, my friend,” Russo said sincerely. “From everybody at Russo's Brand, we hope you have a wonderful day. We hope you aren’t working bell-to-bell like you usually do. You’ve got billions in the bank, a football team that’s 4–1, Fulham, AEW Wrestling, your analytics company… bro, you’ve got the world on a string.”
🎂 A Birthday Toast with a Side of Tough Advice
While Russo joked about Khan’s “charmed life,” he emphasized that AEW’s leader is far from lazy:
“Tony Khan works his ass off,” Russo said. “He’s not some spoiled rich kid. The guy’s juggling a dozen things and probably gets three hours of sleep a night.”
But after the compliments came criticism — the constructive kind. Russo said that if he were giving Khan a birthday gift, it would be “honest advice” on how to take AEW to the next level, especially now that WWE’s weekly viewership has dipped.
“Bro, this is your chance,” Russo urged. “WWE’s creative sucks. Triple H sucks at creative. You’ve got the window wide open — but you’re not grabbing the casual fan. You’re still trying to please the die-hards who already watch your show every week.”
Russo said the “marks” and hardcore fan base will stick around no matter what. “You’ve already got them. They’re not going anywhere,” he said. “You need to go after the people who stopped watching wrestling. That’s the majority.”
🧠 Russo’s “Birthday Game Plan” for AEW
In his signature direct style, Russo outlined what he believes Khan should do differently:
- “Stop listening to Dave Meltzer.”
“Meltzer’s in the minority,” Russo said bluntly. “He’s never worked in the business and has convinced himself wrestling is real. You keep listening to him, and you’ll keep spinning your wheels.” - “Stop doing every interview yourself.”
Russo argued that Khan’s constant media appearances only reach the audience he already has. “You’re too accessible, bro. Let your talent do the talking. People like Tony Storm or Mercedes Moné — they’re entertaining. Let them sell AEW.” - “Think like an entertainer.”
Russo admitted AEW’s in-ring work is “phenomenal,” but what it lacks, he said, are stories that hook casual viewers. “It’s not about flip-flop and flying. It’s about characters and emotion.”
“Hold focus groups,” Russo advised. “Talk to people who don’t watch your show. Ask them why. Then fix it. You’ll never grow catering to the same 800,000 people.”
🤝 Respect, Not Rivalry
Russo was adamant that his comments weren’t meant as hate — just help.
“People think I’m being sarcastic, but I’m not,” he said. “Tony Khan’s been great for the wrestling business. He gave wrestlers another place to work, and that’s huge. What would Coke be without Pepsi? What would McDonald’s be without Burger King? AEW keeps WWE honest, and that’s a good thing.”
The longtime writer even invited Khan to appear on his Coach & Bro Show with Jonathan Coachman for a serious, respectful interview:
“Tony, you’ve got an open invitation. No softballs, no disrespect. I just want to understand how you think — what makes AEW tick. It would help people see the real you.”
🎉 Happy Birthday from Wrestling.news
Everyone here at Wrestling.news joins in wishing Tony Khan a happy 43rd birthday!
Born October 10, 1982, Khan has built an empire spanning sports, analytics, and pro wrestling — and whether you agree with his booking or not, his work ethic and passion for wrestling are undeniable.
Notice: Please provide proper attribution with an H/t to Randy Marston for the transcript and a link to this article.
💬 Wrestling.news | Backstage Take
Vince Russo’s birthday “gift” to Tony Khan was half roast, half respect — and surprisingly heartfelt. Beneath the sarcasm, his point was clear: AEW’s next evolution depends on reaching outside its core audience.
Russo may be old-school, but his perspective hits home: in an era where both WWE and AEW battle for loyal fans, the next boom period will belong to whoever wins back the casual viewer.
Whether Tony takes the advice or not, the industry is better with both sides firing on all cylinders.
Happy Birthday, Tony Khan — the wrestling world is watching what comes next.
