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Browsing: Tony
Tony Khan has commented on the WrestleDream steaming issues.
During the PPV post show, the AEW President was asked about the Amazon Prime video feed cutting multiple times during the show. Khan mentioned that it was something completely out of their control:
“Itâ€s something out of AEWâ€s control. It was a technical problem with the Amazon delivery. I think our other streams are unaffected. It was something with their systems internally there.”
Some fans were able to get refunds from Amazon after complaining to their helpdesk. The E-commerce giant however has not addressed the issues officially or announced wider compensation for everyone who bought the PPV through them.
Tony Khan mentioned how the whole thing reminded him of similar issues with Death Before Dishonor PPV earlier this year. At that time, the company had given free Honor Club credits to users and put the whole show on YouTube for free:
“I thought the show was perfect, the wrestling was perfect and the replayâ€s gonna be available there for everybody through them and I think theyâ€ll address that and hopefully Amazon will get that figured out but for AEW, everybody here did a fantastic job.
I was really glad to hear that HBO Max delivered the pay-per-view without any issues. All of our other providers did really well. But that was an unusual thing and it did remind me because we had a problem with just certain web browsers that were affected for that Death Before Dishonor show and in that case, I was able to at least address it because it was a streaming service that I owned,â€
Apart from this, Tony Khan also addressed the surprising absence of Bryan Danielson from WrestleDream commentary and gave two different reasons for it. You can check out what he said here.
AEW stars spoke to the media following AEW WrestleDream.
Brodido, Kris Statlander, Kyle Fletcher, and Tony Khan all took questions following the events of Saturday’s AEW WrestleDream pay-per-view in St. Louis, Missouri. Here are the highlights:
Bandido and Brody King
- When asked about his upcoming match against Kazuchika Okada on Wednesday, Bandido said they were going to see who is the best.
- Talking about his struggles to get where he is now, Bandido said he had a concussion at the start of the year but everyone still believed in him. He is blessed for his life and for himself as a person, heâ€s really happy with everything and hopes to do the best for all the fans.
Kris Statlander
- Statlander was asked if she wanted to headline Full Gear next month against Mercedes Mone and have it be a title for title match. She said that while sheâ€d love that, itâ€s okay if it isnâ€t. This is her moment to beat her, sheâ€ll do it any time of the week.
- When asked how she reinvents herself, Statlander says she’s still in the process of things and commented how it isn’t nice to shame someone for not knowing who they are immediately upon their debut on a national stage.
- Statlander mentioned that Marina Shafir might be someone to challenge her for the title, but she is open to any and all challengers, even Wheeler Yuta.
Kyle Fletcher
- Fletcher was asked if this was it between himself and Mark Briscoe. He replied that the score seems to suggest that, but things change in pro wrestling constantly.
- When asked about his World Championship aspirations, Fletcher said that he wanted to focus on the TNT title. He does want to be the greatest of all time, so itâ€s absolutely in his mind, itâ€s just a matter of when.
- He says he has not checked in on Will Ospreay and immediately asked for the next question.
- Regarding next challengers for the TNT title, Fletcher said heâ€ll be at Dynamite on Wednesday and anyone that faces him will meet the same result.
Tony Khan
- Khan called this event one of the greatest shows the company has held.
- Renee Paquette mentioned that Jon Moxley’s arm was bleeding following the show as the fish tank got him really bad.
- Khan said Lou Theszâ€s wife Charlie enjoyed the show and was blown away, saying he was glad she was there live.
- When asked about the Amazon Prime issues, Khan said that was something on Amazon’s end but thankfully other feeds were fine. He was dissapointed that both Death Before Dishonor and this show, two of his favorite shows, had feed problems.
- Khan said Bryan Danielson had a family obligation and thatâ€s why he wasnâ€t at the show tonight, saying it was probably best to take that commitment considering the main event.
- Regarding another cross-promotional event during Wrestle Kingdom weekend, Khan seemed to insinuate that the weekend should be focused on Hiroshi Tanahashiâ€s retirement. He said that Konosuke Takeshitaâ€s win was a big deal, putting over his history with the company and said that Takeshita was an AEW guy.
- Regarding a future Okada vs. Takeshita title for title match, Khan said it would be a very interesting thing to happen, but has no control over the IWGP World Championship in NJPW. It would be something to keep an eye on. Heâ€s excited about Bandido vs, Okada this Wednesday on Dynamite.
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You never know when a technical issue will ruin your day. This is more true for some than others, but certain AEW fans didnâ€t have the best night during WrestleDream.
AEW WrestleDream 2025 went down on Saturday, October 18, 2025, at the Chaifetz Arena in St. Louis, Missouri. That being said, it wasnâ€t the smoothest show for every fan. AEW saw a lot of issues on Amazon Prime during WrestleDream. That was a subject Tony Khan had already been educated on.
During the press conference after their pay-per-view, Tony Khan was asked about the WrestleDream issues on Amazon Prime. He simply explained that it wasnâ€t AEWâ€s doing, but he seemed hopeful that these issues wouldnâ€t continue in the future.
“Yeah, itâ€s something thatâ€s out of AEWâ€s control. It was a technical problem with Amazon delivery. Our other streams were unaffected, but I think itâ€s the other systems there. It does remind me of something that happened during ROH Death Before Dishonor.â€
Tony Khan said that everyone in AEW did a great job. HBO Max also delivered during the show, but Amazon Prime has some issues to iron out. He remained positive about the fact that Amazon will fix things.
We will have to see if AEW is able to fix these issues with Amazon Prime. This was out of their control, but this was certainly a learning experience.
Whatâ€s your take on Amazon Prime going out during AEW WrestleDream? Do you believe that these issues will keep you from buying another AEW pay-per-view? Let us know what you think in the comments section!
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KNOXVILLE, TN – MAY 31: Tennessee Volunteers head coach Tony Vitello celebrates with Tennessee Volunteers catcher Cannon Peebles (5) during the NCAA Division I Regional Tournament baseball game between the Tennessee Volunteers and the Cincinnati Bearcats on May 31, 2025, at Lindsey Nelson Stadium in Knoxville, TN. (Photo by Bryan Lynn/Icon Sportswire)
If Tony Vitello finalizes a deal to become the next manager of the San Francisco Giants, it would mark one of the most unprecedented moves in modern college baseball—a sitting head coach jumping directly to leading a major-league club.
As of Saturday evening, no agreement had been completed, multiple sources told Baseball America, but conversations between the sides were described as advanced and likely to conclude soon.
Tennessee, meanwhile, has already begun preparing for the possibility that its most successful coach in program history could be on the move. The university has not acknowledged the situation publicly, but sources said internal planning is underway in anticipation of Vitelloâ€s departure.
Vitelloâ€s potential jump to the big leagues would close the book on one of the most transformative tenures in recent college baseball history. Since arriving in Knoxville in the summer of 2017, he turned Tennessee from an SEC afterthought into the sportâ€s standard of intensity and swagger.
His teams won with overwhelming talent and an unmistakable edge, capped by a national championship in 2024 and College World Series appearances in 2021 and 2023. His success earned him a contract extension through 2029 worth an average of $3 million per year, making him the first college baseball coach to hit that threshold and, at the time, the highest-paid in the country. That deal includes a $3 million buyout.
Potential Replacements For Tony Vitello At Tennessee
If he departs for San Francisco, Tennesseeâ€s challenge will not be finding the next Vitello so much as preserving what he built. The early expectation among multiple sources is that athletic director Danny White will promote from within rather than immediately conduct a lengthy national search. Continuity is recognized as the best path forward for a program that has operated at the top of the sport for the better part of the last four seasons.
Associate head coach and recruiting coordinator Josh Elander and pitching coach Frank Anderson would be the candidates should White elevate from within the program. The two have worked side by side for most of the last decade.
Vitelloâ€s relationship with Elander dates back to their overlapping years at TCU, where Elander played from 2010-12 and Vitello served as an assistant from 2011-13. After being selected by the Braves in the sixth round of the 2012 draft, Elander played professionally until 2015, then returned to Fort Worth to finish his degree and begin his coaching career. He reunited with Vitello at Arkansas in 2017, where he served as an unpaid assistant before following him to Knoxville when Vitello landed the Tennessee job a year later.
Since then, Elander has emerged as one of the premier hitting coaches and recruiters in college baseball. Seventeen of his hitters have been selected within the first five rounds of the MLB Draft, including six—Drew Gilbert, Jordan Beck, Christian Moore, Blake Burke, Gavin Kilen and Andrew Fischer—who went in the first round.
Elanderâ€s eye for talent and player development track record have helped Tennessee sustain one of the nationâ€s deepest lineups year after year. He was promoted to associate head coach in 2022, and those within the program describe him as a steady hand capable of maintaining Tennesseeâ€s identity while putting his own stamp on it.
Anderson brings more experience, having served as Oklahoma Stateâ€s head coach from 2004-12 and in various assistant positions dating back to 1984. Heâ€s regarded as one of the best pitching coaches in college baseball with a particular knack for developing fastballs. Throughout his career, Anderson has coached 103 pitchers who have been selected in the draft, including 10 first-round picks (four at Tennessee). The Volunteers have had at least three pitchers selected in each of the last four drafts, including five in 2025.Â
What Happens To Tennessee’s Roster?
A promotion from within also provides immediate stability during what could otherwise be a volatile transition period. Tennesseeâ€s 2026 recruiting class is one of the countryâ€s best and features four players—Trevor Condon, Cole Koeninger, Landon Thome and Gary Morse—ranked among the top 100 prospects in the 2026 draft class.Â
Elanderâ€s presence in particular would go a long way toward keeping that group intact and ensuring that Tennesseeâ€s future pipeline remains strong. Andersonâ€s experience and success as a pitching coach also anchor the staffâ€s credibility.
A formal coaching search remains possible, but sources indicated Tennesseeâ€s administration understands the importance of momentum and is unlikely to disrupt the programâ€s structure. Naming an interim coach and revisiting the position after the 2026 season is an option, but one that risks creating uncertainty in recruiting and player retention.
Keeping Tennesseeâ€s current roster together would likely be less complicated than some might assume.
A coaching change opens the transfer portal for the Volunteers†players, but outside of graduate transfers, none would have immediate eligibility elsewhere. Most teams nationwide already have full rosters, leaving limited landing spots for anyone seeking to leave. As a result, Tennesseeâ€s core would have a strong chance to remain largely intact, especially if Elander or Anderson lead the program.
How Will This Impact Tennessee’s Future Recruiting Classes?
The greater test will come on the recruiting trail, where Vitelloâ€s magnetic presence and national recognition made Tennessee a destination program. His energy resonated with prospects and parents alike, giving the Volunteers a distinctive recruiting advantage even within the cutthroat landscape of the SEC.
Elander has been central to that success and carries credibility of his own, but sustaining Tennesseeâ€s national reach without Vitelloâ€s larger-than-life persona will require time and proof that the on-field results will continue. The infrastructure is there—from facilities to fan support to resources—but Vitelloâ€s leadership was the connective tissue binding those elements together.
In the broader picture, Tennesseeâ€s situation reflects how dramatically the programâ€s status has evolved.
A decade ago, it was a rebuilding job searching for relevance in the SEC. Now, itâ€s the kind of platform that can vault a coach directly to a major-league dugout. The potential ripple effects of Vitelloâ€s potential move—from staff reshuffling to recruiting shifts—could shape the next phase of college baseballâ€s power hierarchy.
Giants eyeing Tennessee coach Tony Vitello (reports)
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Vitello has helped turn the program around, culminating with its first national championship in 2024 — Tennessee’s third men’s College World Series berth in four seasons.”,”type”:”text”},{“__typename”:”Video”,”contentDate”:”2025-09-29T18:38:34.57Z”,”preferredPlaybackScenarioURL({\”preferredPlaybacks\”:\”mp4AvcPlayback\”})”:” president of baseball operations Buster Posey discusses dismissing Bob Melvin as manager of the team, making changes for the future and more”,”displayAsVideoGif”:false,”duration”:”00:01:50″,”slug”:”buster-posey-talks-dismissing-bob-melvin-as-manager”,”tags”:[{“__typename”:”TeamTag”,”slug”:”teamid-137″,”title”:”San Francisco Giants”,”team”:{“__ref”:”Team:137″},”type”:”team”},{“__typename”:”TaxonomyTag”,”slug”:”vod”,”title”:”vod”,”type”:”taxonomy”},{“__typename”:”TaxonomyTag”,”slug”:”interview”,”title”:”interview”,”type”:”taxonomy”},{“__typename”:”TaxonomyTag”,”slug”:”send-to-news-mlb-feed”,”title”:”Send To News MLB feed”,”type”:”taxonomy”}],”thumbnail”:{“__typename”:”Thumbnail”,”templateUrl”:” Posey talks dismissing Bob Melvin as manager”,”relativeSiteUrl”:”/video/buster-posey-talks-dismissing-bob-melvin-as-manager”},{“__typename”:”Markdown”,”content”:”The Giants have a lot of ties to the Volunteers program already. Their first-round pick (13th overall) in the 2025 Draft, Gavin Kilen, was a star infielder at Tennessee. The Giants’ fourth-round pick in ’23, shortstop Maui Ahuna, came out of Tennessee. And two players whom the Giants acquired at this yearâ€s Trade Deadline for reliever Tyler Rogers — outfielder Drew Gilbert and right-hander Blade Tidwell, were Volunteers drafted in the first and second rounds, respectively, in ’22.\n\nOther candidates who have been linked to the Giants†managerial opening include former Giants catcher Nick Hundley, former Aâ€s catcher Kurt Suzuki, Guardians associate manager Craig Albernaz and Team USA manager Mark DeRosa.\n\nWhoever fills the job will be replacing Bob Melvin, who was dismissed on Sept. 29 after two seasons at the helm in San Francisco. 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Tennessee head coach Tony Vitello has emerged as the leading candidate to become the next manager of the San Francisco Giants, multiple sources confirmed to Baseball America. Vitello, who has transformed the Volunteers into a national powerhouse since taking over in 2018, owns the highest winning percentage in program history and led Tennessee to its first national championship in 2024.
Sources indicated that negotiations between Vitello and the Giants have advanced to the final stages, but are still ongoing.
Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic was the first to report the interest between Vitello and the Giants.
The move would mark the most high-profile college-to-professional coaching transition in baseball history, pairing one of the sportâ€s most dynamic college leaders with one of major league baseballâ€s most tradition-rich franchises. San Francisco, which fired manager Bob Melvin after the 2025 season, has prioritized finding a leader capable of energizing both its clubhouse and fan base.
Vitelloâ€s reputation as a fierce competitor and elite motivator—qualities that helped Tennessee reclaim its national relevance—made him an especially appealing choice.
Vitelloâ€s tenure in Knoxville has been defined by both success and swagger. Under his direction, the Volunteers became the face of college baseballâ€s new era: aggressive, unapologetic and relentlessly talented. Tennessee has made three College World Series appearances in the last five seasons and consistently recruited at a top-five national level. In 2024, Vitello guided the program to a school-record 61 wins and a national title, solidifying his standing as the premier coach in the college game. Weeks later, he became the first college baseball coach to eclipse the $3 million mark in annual average salary, signing a deal that underscored Tennesseeâ€s intent to keep him long term.
Still, Vitelloâ€s ambitions have long been rumored to extend beyond the college ranks. A Missouri native who spent time as an assistant at TCU and Arkansas before taking the Tennessee job, he has been closely watched by MLB organizations intrigued by his blend of player development acumen and modern leadership style. Several former Volunteers—most notably standout pitchers who thrived under Tennesseeâ€s developmental system—have credited Vitelloâ€s staff for preparing them for professional success, an appealing trait for a major league club seeking to bridge analytics and on-field competitiveness, especially in an era that increasingly accelerates college talent to the major league level.
If finalized, Vitelloâ€s departure would leave a significant void at Tennessee, where the baseball program has become synonymous with his identity and intensity. The Volunteers are expected to move quickly in their search for a replacement, with multiple internal candidates likely to garner consideration. But regardless of who follows him, Vitelloâ€s impact on the program—and on college baseball at large—will linger. He turned Tennessee into a juggernaut, changed the expectations for what college baseball could be and now appears poised to take his firebrand style to the biggest stage yet.
The San Francisco Giants “closing in” on hiring Tennessee head coach Tony Vitello as their next manager, according to The Athletic’s Andrew Baggarly, Brittany Ghiroli and Ken Rosenthal.
If a deal is completed, Vitello would replace Bob Melvin in the manager’s chair.
It’s unclear what the terms of a deal would be, though Baggarly, Ghiroli and Rosenthal noted Vitello is currently the second-highest-paid coach in Division I, as he has an annual salary that exceeds $3 million.
Vitello is getting his first crack as a professional coach at any level after spending the last 23 seasons working in the college ranks. He had stints as an assistant at Missouri (2003 to ’10), TCU (2011 to ’13) and Arkansas (2014 to ’17) prior to being hired as Tennessee’s head coach in June 2017.
In eight seasons with the Volunteers, Vitello led the program to a 341-131 record with two SEC regular-season and tournament titles. He also led them to the first national championship during the 2024 season.
After the Giants finished a disappointing 81-81 in 2025, president of baseball operations Buster Posey announced on Sept. 29 the firing of Bob Melvin.
Melvin went 161-163 in two seasons with San Francisco. The Giants are looking to find a manager who can get them back to the playoffs for the first time since 2021.
Posey, entering his second season running baseball operations in San Francisco, will hope that Vitello can be the answer they have sought out.
The Giants have been one of the most aggressive teams in terms of pursuing free agents in recent years, but they haven’t had a lot of hits. Aaron Judge, Shohei Ohtani and Carlos Correa were among the notable players they attempted to bring in.
Correa had an agreement in place with the Giants that fell apart before it became official due to concerns over his physical.
Rather than try to wait out free agency again, Posey was able to strike during the 2025 regular season with the deal that seemingly came out of nowhere to acquire Rafael Devers from the Boston Red Sox.
Devers gave the Giants exactly what they wanted with a .236/.347/.460 slash line and a 130 OPS+ in 90 games after the trade. Willy Adames, who was their big free-agent signing last offseason, overcame a slow start to become the first Giants playerto hit 30 homers since Barry Bonds in 2004.
There’s a good nucleus of talent in place for the Giants to be a playoff contender in 2026. They still have Matt Chapman, Jung Hoo Lee and Logan Webb to build around.
If the Giants can make a couple of decent roster additions this offseason, along with the potential hiring of Vitello as manager, they have a good chance to end their four-year playoff drought next season.
The San Francisco Giants are reportedly going outside the box and then some for their manager hire. The franchise is reportedly closing in on Tennessee head coach Tony Vitello as their next skipper, according to The Athletic.
The 47-year-old head coach has spent seven seasons with the Volunteers, leading the team to a College World Series championship in 2024. Vitello has never appeared in the major leagues or even minor leagues in any capacity, but has been one of the top coaches in college baseball.
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Vitello did not comment directly on The Athletic’s report, with the outlet saying that he said “There is nothing to confirm” when reached via text message.
After a series of assistant coaching stints at Missouri, TCU and Arkansas, Vitello took over the Volunteers’ baseball program in 2018 and completely turned it around. Within a year, he led Tennessee back to the playoffs for the first time in 14 years, and has made the College World Series three times since (2021, 2023 and 2024).
The team had two highly-decorated seasons in 2022 and 2024, winning both the SEC regular-season title and the SEC tournament in both of those years. The Volunteers’ 2024 championship was the first in school history, and the team’s first World Series final appearance since 1951.
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With that said, Vitello would be an unexpected hire for the Giants given his lack of experience in the pros. Vitello has never held any coaching role in MLB, and (unlike many managers) didn’t even play in the majors, going straight from college baseball into coaching.
While it’s not unheard of for MLB teams to hire former college coaches as managers, those coaches typically have some major-league experience before getting tapped. Milwaukee Brewers manager Pat Murphy, for example, spent years as a head coach at Notre Dame and Arizona, but spent more than a decade as a coach in the San Diego Padres and Brewers organizations before being promoted to manager.
If the Giants do hire Vitello, the coach will be reunited with a couple of his former Tennessee players: San Francisco’s first-round draft pick in 2025 was second baseman Gavin Kilen, while former Volunteers and 2022 draft picks Drew Gilbert and Blade Tidwell were both acquired by the Giants ahead of the July trade deadline.
Tony Khan has officially introduced AEWâ€s womenâ€s tag team championships, but he isnâ€t giving everything away just yet.
Speaking during the AEW WrestleDream Preview with Conrad Thompson, Khan confirmed that more details will be revealed after WrestleDream wraps up. While discussing the Tailgate Brawl pre-show and highlighting the womenâ€s tag match featuring Willow Nightingale and Harley Cameron against Megan Bayne and Penelope Ford, Khan used the moment to make the confirmation clear:
“Thereâ€s womenâ€s tag team championships coming very soon, okay? More to be talked about that coming out of this pay-per-view, but weâ€ve got womenâ€s tag titles coming to AEW.â€
The announcement makes it clear that AEW is investing deeper into its womenâ€s division, but the specifics — including the official tournament format, the timeline for crowning the inaugural champions, and the championship belt details — will most likely be revealed in the aftermath of WrestleDream.
By tying the reveal to the fallout of the pay-per-view, Khan has positioned the womenâ€s tag titles as the next big development for AEW programming. This ensures fan anticipation stays high while also signaling that the womenâ€s division is about to get a major spotlight in the weeks ahead.
How do you think the AEW Women’s Tag Team Championship titles should be determined? Please share your thoughts and feedback in the comment section below.
October 18, 2025 11:39 am
The Giants appear to have found their next manager.
San Francisco is “closing in” on hiring Tennessee coach Tony Vitello to lead the team for the 2026 MLB season, The Athletic’s Andrew Baggarly, Brittany Ghiroli and Ken Rosenthal reported in a shared column published Saturday, citing industry sources.
The Athletic reached out to the Giants, who had not yet responded to a request for comment at the time this article was written. Vitello told The Athletic via text message, “There is nothing to confirm.”
Vitello has been on Giants president of baseball operations Buster Posey’s radar for a while, per NBC Sports Bay Area’s Alex Pavlovic. Meanwhile, Texas Rangers special assistant Nick Hundley, who was another frontrunner for the job, recently pulled himself out of the running.
Tony Vitello has been on Buster Poseyâ€s radar for a while, and sources have said Posey kept circling back to him during the search this month. Nick Hundley was the other early frontrunner but I heard he pulled out of the running recently. Update here from The Athletic: https://t.co/tGAeyGUvGd
— Alex Pavlovic (@PavlovicNBCS) October 18, 2025
Vitello has not yet coached at the professional level after spending more than the last two decades working in the college ranks. He had stints as an assistant at Missouri (2003-10), TCU (2011-13) and Arkansas (2014-17) before being hired as Tennessee’s coach in June 2017.
If hired by the Giants, Vitello would become the first manager in MLB history hired directly from the college ranks with no professional baseball experience.
The decision on whether or not San Francisco will hire Vitello will come in the next 24 to 72 hours, ESPN’s Jeff Passan and Pete Thamel reported Saturday, citing sources, as the two sides attempt to reach a deal. Passan also reported, citing sources, the buyout on Vitelloâ€s contract at Tennessee is $3 million
The decision on whether Tennessee coach Tony Vitello will be the next manager of the San Francisco Giants is expected to come in the next 24 to 72 hours, sources tell me and @PeteThamel. Vitello has emerged as the top target of the Giants, but the sides have yet to reach a deal.
— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) October 18, 2025
In eight seasons with the Volunteers, Vitello led the program to a 341-131 record with two SEC regular-season and tournament titles. He also led them to their first national championship during the 2024 season.
After another disappointing campaign, the Giants parted ways with Bob Melvin last month.
It now appears Buster Posey, entering his second season running baseball operations in San Francisco, isn’t wasting any time filling the void as he hopes Vitello can help turn things around.