During the recent ROH media call, AEW President Tony Khan discussed reintroducing Matt Cardona in ROH/AEW before Final Battle 2024, where Cardona will challenge Chris Jericho for the ROH World Title.
Khan also shared his views on Billie Starkz’ development in ROH. Starkz will compete for the ROH Women’s World Championship at Final Battle 2024.
You can check out some highlights from the podcast below:
On Matt Cardona: “Matt Cardona is somebody I really like and I thought would be great to bring back now, because I want to work with Matt more. He was fantastic for us in AEW earlier this year, wrestling in the Cope-Open when Adam Copeland was defending the TNT Title. He just had a great match, a great reaction, and I said I really wanna work with Matt again, it’s been a long time.”
On Cardona’s popularity in the New York era: “Just like Matt was a great challenger and could have been and could be a great TNT Champion, I think Matt would be and can be a great world champion for ROH. You have the prospect of Matt wrestling the nine-time world champion, somebody who has been essential to the launch of AEW, and also somebody who is a huge face for ROH and a legend of the sport and who draws headlines wherever he goes, and that’s the ROH Champion, Chris Jericho.”
On Starkz’ growth: “It’s been amazing to watch the growth of Billie Starkz. I first met Billie in Universal Studios in Orlando working the “[AEW] Dark” tapings, and she was a standout teenage prospect and is a great young wrestler and has been for years, but she’s matured and gotten better and better, more confident and crisper, and you see she’s maturing in and out of the ring and becoming a young veteran with a good amount of experience for her young age.”
On her match with Athena at Final Battle: “We saw them have a fantastic match a year ago and it’s gonna be really interesting to see where things stand now. It’s a great world championship match for Ring of Honor, to have Athena defending the title against Billie Starkz in a rematch in such a big spot on one of the most important shows for ROH at this iconic venue (Hammerstein Ballroom) that we’re really excited about. I think it’s gonna be a great rematch: Billie Starkz vs. Athena for the title.”
AEW licensed “November Rain” for Full Gear 2024, and Tony Khan mentioned discussing licensing more Guns N’ Roses songs for the company.
During a recent appearance on the “Fice Star” podcast, Khan elaborated on the possibility of using tracks from the rock band and hinted that fans might look forward to more of their music.
He said, “I’ve had talks, this is the first time I’ve ever said it out loud so exclusive stuff right here, about maybe doing even more collaborating with Guns N’ Roses in AEW on licensing.”
