Kevin Kelly & Tate Twins Defamation Lawsuit Against AEW – Tony Khan Responds to Stephen P. New’s Comments Against Him Ross Calling It “Shocked & Appalled”

As noted before, former AEW commentator Kevin Kelly and former AEW and ROH talents The Tate Twins (Brandon & Brent Tate), former The Boys, filed a defamation lawsuit last week against AEW, AEW CEO Tony Khan, and AEW/ROH commentator Ian Riccaboni. Kelly and the Tate Twins’ attorney Stephen P. New recently responded to comments made by Jim Ross who had called the lawsuit frivolous. In his response, New blamed Ross for being part of the problem dating back to his time as head of WWE’s Talent Relations and insulted Ross’ job effort in AEW.

New’s full comments:

“I need to make a response. JR, Jim Ross, called this lawsuit frivolous. Well, let me tell you something, boola-boola, this is not a frivolous lawsuit. You’re part of the problem. You, Jim Ross, are part of the problem because you fed the guys in WWE as Talent Relations these crap contracts for a quarter of a century. You told these guys that it was the take-it-or-leave-it deal, and that they needed to sign these crap contracts that were contracts of adhesion, that they should have never signed, or they should have lined the arbitration provisions out of. So I’m not shocked in the least that you go on Conrad Thompson’s podcast and you say that this is a frivolous lawsuit. I might lose it, by ‘bah gawd’ it’s not frivolous, I can tell you that. Tony Khan’s paid JR a lot of money to do nothing for about five years now. If I were Jim Ross and I were living at Jacksonville Beach and making a bunch of money to not do much at all, I’d probably come out and call Stephen P. New’s lawsuit also. Everybody’s got a price.”

Khan responded earlier today on Twitter stating that he was “shocked and appealed” by the comments made by New towards Ross and defended Ross for being someone who played an important role in AEW’s foundation.

“I’ve just read Stephen P. New’s comments about @JRsBBQ.

I’m shocked + appalled by these comments on legend Jim Ross, part of AEW’s foundation, someone so important from the beginning of AEW and still right now today.

AEW, JR & I reserve all rights.

See you tonight at #AEWAllOut”

I've just read Stephen P. New's comments about @JRsBBQ.

I'm shocked + appalled by these comments on legend Jim Ross, part of AEW's foundation, someone so important from the beginning of AEW and still right now today.
AEW, JR & I reserve all rights.

See you tonight at #AEWAllOut

— Tony Khan (@TonyKhan) September 7, 2024