Tope Adebanjo

There's always confusion about this so here is a basic timeline of how AEW actually started: - January 2018 = Kenny Omega and Chris Jericho wrestled at WK12, sparking interest in the potential for a new wrestling promotion. - April 6, 2018 = Tony Khan meets with TBS and TNT President Kevin Reilly at a party in Beverly Hills, and Tony asked Reilly if he was bidding on wrestling TV rights that were becoming available. Tony spoke to Reilly and got him interested in an opportunity where they could work together, start a wrestling promotion, and build something special. - Later in 2018 = Tony spoke with Matt Jackson and his wife. Matt was the first one from The Elite to have actual conversations with Tony and to take the idea of a new promotion seriously. - September 1, 2018 = "All In" event takes place, featuring talents associated with what would become AEW. - Late 2018 = Tony Khan secures investment from his father to fund the new promotion, despite not yet having a TV deal. - Late 2018/Early 2019 = Tony Khan signs The Elite, Cody, Chris Jericho, and other free agents to contracts. - January 2019 = AEW officially announced its formation. - May 2019 = AEW secures a TV deal with TNT. - May 25, 2019 = AEW's inaugural event, "Double or Nothing," takes place. and the rest is more straightforward.