Yahoo News AEW boss Tony Khan wears neck brace during NFL draft
Forget the XFL. American football and pro wrestling collided like never before on Thursday (April 25) during the 2024 NFL Draft.
Tony Khan, the owner of both AEW and NFL team the Jacksonville Jaguars, appeared on ESPN's coverage of the draft wearing a neck brace after being attacked by The Elite on Wednesday's edition of Dynamite.
Wrestling fans had been hoping Khan would be 'selling' the injury during the draft and he didn't disappoint, while NFL fans were left confused as to what had happened to the Jaguars' owner.
Related: Former WWE tag team set to make AEW debut on Collision
Khan was shown wearing the neck brace in the Jaguars draft war room alongside his father Shad Khan, who seemed particularly amused by his son's commitment to the bit.
During the NFL Network's coverage of the draft, Tony Khan was described as "the first-ever NFL executive in a draft room shaking off the effects of a piledriver he received on national television in a wrestling ring the night before".
Khan's Dynamite injury was also referenced by WWE commentator and former NFL player Pat McAfee on his coverage of the draft.
Tony Khan is in a neck brace 😂😂😂#PMSDraftSpectacular pic.twitter.com/fIloULIBcH
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) April 26, 2024
On Dynamite, Khan had appeared for a face-to-face meeting with Jack Perry (son of late Riverdale and Beverly Hills, 90210 actor Luke Perry) who had previously ripped up his AEW contract during an appearance for NJPW.
After shaking Perry's hand and agreeing to reinstate him, Khan was attacked by the former Jungle Boy, who hit him in the stomach with a microphone.
The Young Bucks and Kazuchika Okada then came to the ring, with the Bucks initially helping Khan up, before hitting him with a TK Driver.
Related: AEW announces return of Kenny Omega
The show went off the air with referees, officials, wrestlers, and even Shad rushing to help Khan.
This was the first time Khan has been physically involved in an AEW angle, having previously appeared on TV to make announcements.
Back in February, Khan told the Levack and Goz podcast he has no plans to ever step in the ring for AEW.
"I don't think anybody really wants to see that," he said. "Not anytime soon
"That's not anything I think we're going to do. I do think AEW has a great roster, the best wrestlers in the world. I would rather try to put the best matches, and we have exciting rivalries building in AEW right now."
Catch AEW Dynamite live every Thursday at 1am in the UK, Rampage every Saturday at 3am, and Collision every Sunday at 1am on TrillerTV with an AEW Plus subscription.
US customers can also watch Dynamite on TBS and Rampage and Collision on TNT, and in the UK, AEW repeats air on ITV4.
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