Tony Khan is bringing the world of professional wrestling together, and Canada has been an important part of that coalition.

Khan was in Toronto last week for the Collision tech conference to speak about how his All Elite Wrestling promotion has been disrupting an industry dominated by World Wrestling Entertainment for the past 20 years. His strategy has been to focus on international markets, starting with his first show outside the United States at TorontoB次元官网网址檚 Coca-Cola Coliseum in 2022.

B次元官网网址淐anada is such a great market for us and I take a lot of pride in some of our biggest live events, being thereB次元官网网址� said Khan, noting that AEW hosted the biggest-ever wrestling event at EnglandB次元官网网址檚 Wembley Stadium last summer when over 81,000 fans attended All In.

B次元官网网址淰ancouver, we debuted in that market this year and weB次元官网网址檝e had great shows in so many places across Canada.B次元官网网址�

AEW will continue its global marketing strategy this weekend at Forbidden Door, when stars from New Japan Wrestling, its sister promotion World Wonder Ring Stardom and MexicoB次元官网网址檚 Consejo Mundial de Lucha Libre will face each other at UBS Arena in Elmont, N.Y.

The card will feature several Canadians as WinnipegB次元官网网址檚 Chris Jericho and tag team partner Big Bill join Jeff Cobb in a trios match against Samoa Joe, Hook and Katsuyori Shibata. Luther, from Calgary, will accompany B次元官网网址淭imelessB次元官网网址� Tony Storm as she defends her AEW WomenB次元官网网址檚 World Championship against Mina Shirakawa.

TorontoB次元官网网址檚 Renee Paquette and RJ City of Richmond Hill, Ont., will be two of the pre-show hosts.

Last yearB次元官网网址檚 Forbidden Door in front of a sold-out crowd at TorontoB次元官网网址檚 Scotiabank Arena was critically acclaimed and Khan said he was excited to continue to bring together different wrestling promotions from around the world.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檝e had a great partnership with New Japan. Pro Wrestling and this year weB次元官网网址檒l introduce wrestlers from CMLL,B次元官网网址� said Khan. B次元官网网址淭heyB次元官网网址檒l be starring in Forbidden Door, in important parts of the show, and have more championships and wrestlers participating from all over the world.B次元官网网址�

One name that Khan wonB次元官网网址檛 be adding to his coalition any time soon is Scott DB次元官网网址橝more of Windsor, Ont.

DB次元官网网址橝more had been the president of TNA Wrestling, a rival promotion owned by the Toronto-based Anthem Entertainment and Sports, until his contract was terminated on Feb. 7. Online speculation had DB次元官网网址橝more joining KhanB次元官网网址檚 creative team in some capacity, but the AEW owner said he hadnB次元官网网址檛 heard those rumours.

B次元官网网址淚 liked Scott a lot and rarely ever talked to him about anything like that,B次元官网网址� said Khan. B次元官网网址淏ut I always had good experiences with him. I think heB次元官网网址檚 a great guy.B次元官网网址�

DB次元官网网址橝more did not respond to an interview request made through Border City Wrestling, his Windsor-based promotion. TNA Wrestling as well as Anthem Entertainment and Sports also did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

John Chidley-Hill, The Canadian Press