Jake Hager spent several years with AEW, despite claims that the company’s owner, Tony Khan, didn’t want him there initially. In a recent interview with Going Ringside, Hager alleged that his presence in AEW was primarily due to Chris Jericho’s influence, rather than Khan’s approval. Hager said:
“Chris Jericho is the greatest of all time… Tony didn’t want me there, but Chris said he wanted me there, and it was awesome.”
Hager made his AEW debut on the first episode of Dynamite in October 2019, where he immediately joined forces with Jericho as part of the Inner Circle. He remained with AEW until May 2024, when he decided not to renew his contract. His last TV appearance was on the February 21, 2024 edition of Rampage, where he was defeated by Roderick Strong.
This isn’t the first time Hager has made bold statements about AEW and Tony Khan. Last month, he claimed Khan threatened his job over his political support for Donald Trump. Hager has also called Khan a “communist,” though he has not provided any evidence to support these allegations. Since leaving AEW, Hager has made a few appearances in the ring and has been vocal about his views.
So many people are turning on Tony now for some reason.