Tony Khan Involved in Recent Online Feud with Ariel Helwani

AEW CEO Tony Khan and MMA and sports journalist Ariel Helwani were recently involved in an online spat that originated over Helwani’s appearance at this past Friday’s WWE SmackDown show in Montreal, Canada.

Khan and Helwani previously had bad blood towards each other over issues involving a past interview where Helwani had stated in an episode of his The MMA Hour show that Khan was his worst ever guest to interview due to his refusal to answer his tough questions about CM Punk over the infamous All Out backstage brawl.

Helwani himself was recently involved in online criticisms over issues of his integrity as a journalist due to his growing involvement and paid work for WWE compared to his icy relationship with UFC and work as a MMA reporter. These criticisms also revolved around his hardball handling of his interview with Khan compared to his softball handling of an interview afterwards with WWE CCO Paul “Triple H” Levesque. This interview with Levesque was notable for Helwani not giving any tough questions that could have made Levesque feel uncomfortable to answer, especially the lack of anything related to Vince McMahon’s sexual harassment scandal and departure from WWE at the time.

Khan told Helwani on Twitter that “You’re a fraud @arielhelwani. You’re as legitimate of a reporter as @tonyschiavone24. #AEWRampage.”

Helwani responded stating “Thanks for watching, old friend! Can’t wait for our next chat. (Also, don’t listen to the snowman, Schiavone. You’re a legend in my books.).”

Khan responded back stating “Good luck with the unbiased journalism.”

You're a fraud @arielhelwani. You're as legitimate of a reporter as @tonyschiavone24. #AEWRampage

— Tony Khan (@TonyKhan) February 18, 2023

Thanks for watching, old friend! Can’t wait for our next chat.

(Also, don’t listen to the snowman, Schiavone. You’re a legend in my books.)

— Ariel Helwani (@arielhelwani) February 18, 2023

Good luck with the unbiased journalism.

— Tony Khan (@TonyKhan) February 18, 2023

In an interesting note, Saturday’s WWE Elimination Chamber 2023 event featured an on-air reference by WWE commentator Michael Cole over the recent issues between Khan and Helwani. Cole stated “Ariel Helwani asks all the hard-hitting questions whether you wanna answer them or not.”

Michael Cole: "Ariel Helwani asks all the hard-hitting questions whether you wanna answer them or not."

Was that a dig at Tony Khan?? 💀💀 #WWEChamber pic.twitter.com/JOMEzi3U1w

— 𝐃𝐫𝐚𝐕𝐞𝐧 (@WrestlingCovers) February 19, 2023