D-Von Dudley recalls meetings with AEW’s Tony Khan: ‘All three were a bust’

When D-Von Dudley departed his WWE behind-the-scenes role in 2023, he had some discussions with Tony Khan about potentially joining AEW.

In a new interview, Dudley told Video Gamer that his agent contacted AEW about a potential job after Dudley’s WWE exit. That job did not come to fruition, though, because Dudley was only interested in being an agent/producer. Dudley says Khan wanted him to compete in the ring or be a manager:

• I was looking to become a producer. I wasnâ€t looking to become a wrestler. And the only reason why my agent even contacted them was because of the fact that I left WWE and I wanted to still do the agent role. But my sons were there at the time and I was gonna try to do anything I could to help my sons out. I expressed to Tony that I didnâ€t wanna wrestle. He kept trying to push it. He would have loved me to go out there and do a couple of things, maybe be a manager and maybe even do a six-man tag match. And I told him, I said, ‘If I do a six-man, let me know right now. Iâ€ll be on [the] apron and the boys are gonna do all the work.â€
• I told him I donâ€t wanna wrestle anymore. And he wasnâ€t taking no for an answer. He couldnâ€t get that through his head. He was like stringing me along and even though I kept telling him I donâ€t wanna wrestle. I was literally when we had those meetings really fresh off a back surgery. I really couldnâ€t do it like that back then. It takes time for your body to heal and to be able to do what you got to do after back surgery.
• So I basically kept emphasizing that I wanted to be a producer. I did not wanna wrestle. I wanted to work behind the scenes and he kept asking me if I wanted to wrestle and get back in the ring. And Iâ€m like, ‘Dude, youâ€re not getting what Iâ€m saying. I donâ€t want to wrestle. I just wanna be a producer. I wanna help my sons out. I wanna help get them where they are.†Like what Billy Gun was doing for his sons, you know? Iâ€ve done everything in my career. I donâ€t need that. He just wasnâ€t taking no for an answer. Iâ€ve had three meetings with him and all three were a bust!

Dudley’s sons — Terrell & Terrence Hughes — are an indie tag team named TNT. They worked dates on AEW Dark from 2020-2022.

After his 2022 spinal surgery, Dudley worked very few matches. He wrapped up his in-ring career this month when The Dudleys lost to their legendary rivals Matt & Jeff Hardy at TNA Bound for Glory.

Dudley told Video Gamer that — while he does not have anything against AEW as a company or Khan personally — he is not a fan of how the promotion is run and would not have wanted to have his final match there:

• I just wanted to end my career the right way and it had no bearing on where I did it, just as long as it was the right way. I would not have done it for AEW just because I donâ€t think AEW was ever a fit for the Dudleys. For other people probably, yes, but to me, not the Dudleys. I donâ€t know if I wouldâ€ve felt comfortable. Thereâ€s just certain things about the organization. I love the talent. I think the talent is great. Thereâ€s no question about that, but thereâ€s a feeling that certain people in the organization that call the shots, Iâ€m not a big fan of them.Â
• And Tony Khan lets that happen. So I donâ€t ever think that it wouldâ€ve ever been able to take place in AEW. Iâ€ve got nothing against AEW as a company. Iâ€ve got nothing against Tony Khan. I just donâ€t like the way the organization is run. And thatâ€s about it. Again, Iâ€ve got friends in AEW. Iâ€ve met new people at autograph signings, like Will Ospreay who is a great guy and a lot of the talent in AEW have the same frustration that I see. They just wish that certain people wouldnâ€t be calling the shots and that Tony would take more control, but yet give it to somebody that knows what theyâ€re doing.

At the moment, the 53-year-old Dudley is focused on expanding his presence on YouTube. His channel currently has almost 200,000 subscribers.

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Joseph Currier

Joseph Currier is the lead editor of F4WOnline.com, directing daily news coverage and writing articles on professional wrestling. He is a graduate of the University of Massachusetts, obtaining a journalism degree in 2016. Joseph joined F4W during his time at UMass and has now been writing about the industry for nearly a decade.

In addition to his work with F4W, Joseph has previously contributed to Sports Illustrated’s wrestling coverage. He lives in Massachusetts and is a diehard fan of the Boston sports teams and Liverpool Football Club.

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