Tony Khan on signing NXT's biggest faction to AEW.
For the majority of the last four years, Kyle O'Reilly, Adam Cole, and Bobby Fish ran NXT as part of the Undisputed ERA. Now, they are all in AEW. Kyle O'Reilly being the last to join on AEW Dynamite: Holiday Bash.
Talking about signing Kyle to AEW, Tony Khan tells Sports Illustrated that he wanted Kyle from the moment he knew Kyle was a free agent.
"Kyle O’Reilly is a huge addition for AEW. He’s a great, great wrestler. Not only did we get Kyle O’Reilly, we also got Bobby Fish and Adam Cole. These are huge signings individually, but even more massive together. Adam Cole’s debut at the end of All Out, that’s one of the most important moments ever in AEW, and now he’s surrounded by his former partners. To have Kyle O’Reilly debut and help Adam Cole get the win over Orange Cassidy in a great wrestling match last week on Dynamite, that builds more interest in AEW."
Talking about all three being in the ring this week, Tony would say that it's apropos that they will be featured on the final Dynamite episode on TNT seeing as they spent most of their time on TNT battling these guys as part of head-to-head rating bouts.
"Kyle makes his debut in the ring this week, and it’s symbolic that it is happening on the final Dynamite on TNT. So much of our run on TNT was spent battling these guys—Adam Cole, Bobby Fish and Kyle O’Reilly. When we were head to head, it was threatening to us every time they were on camera. Now we’ve added them to our team in AEW, which is such an advantage. Having them here is tremendous. I wanted Kyle to sign with AEW as soon as he was a free agent.
"This week on Dynamite will be special. We’ll see Adam Cole make his first appearance at Daily’s Place, and so will CM Punk. Sting will be there. At the forefront of it, all will be Cole and Bobby Fish teaming with Kyle O’Reilly, making his in-ring debut."
Adam Cole spoke about Kyle O'Reilly being a surprise. Adam said, in character, that it was Bobby Fish’s who orchestrated that. Read more here.
