AEW President Tony Khan says he was “very impressed” by independent wrestler Marcus Mathers and expects to see more of him across AEW and Ring of Honor programming going forward, according to Fightful.
Mathers’ name came up during a media call Khan held to promote AEW Full Gear. The topic surfaced after Mathers had a notable run of appearances that caught the attention of the promotion’s decision-maker. He first competed at a Ring of Honor taping against Mark Davis, a match that reportedly left an impression on Khan. Mathers then went on to wrestle Nick Wayne on the Jericho Cruise edition of AEW Collision, giving him back-to-back opportunities on AEW-affiliated programming in a short span.
Khan’s comments suggest Mathers has moved onto the promotion’s radar as a performer worth continued investment, though no contract status, specific future bookings, or title plans were detailed in the available reporting. For an independent talent, direct praise from Khan during a high-profile media call tied to a major pay-per-view carries weight, as it often precedes additional appearances on AEW or ROH shows rather than a one-off tryout.
The timing is notable given the broader landscape Khan addressed on the same call. In a separate update reported by F4W Online, Khan discussed AEW’s early-stage negotiations with Skydance as the company enters the final year of its domestic media rights deal with Warner Bros. Discovery. Khan said he was not focused on “chasing down dollars” in those early talks, signaling that broader media rights conversations remain unresolved even as AEW continues to build out its in-ring roster and spotlight emerging talent like Mathers.
Mathers’ appearances against both Davis and Wayne gave him exposure against established AEW/ROH names in quick succession, and Khan’s public endorsement indicates the company sees further use for him. No specific match, show, or signing date has been confirmed beyond the praise itself, and fans should expect official bookings to be announced through AEW’s normal programming channels rather than assume any deal is finalized based on these comments alone.
