At the recent AEW ALL: 2025 pay-per-view, former rivals Kenny Omega and Kazuchika Okada faced off once more, putting both the AEW International and Continental Championships on the line to crown the first-ever AEW Unified Champion. Okada emerged victorious, but the match saw interference from Don Karis and Kota Ibushi, with Karis actively involved at ringside.
Following the event, AEW President Tony Khan addressed the controversy during the Media Scrum, explaining why the bout didn’t adhere to the usual continental title rules. Khan clarified that the match was conducted under AEW’s unified rules, meaning the referee’s decision was final regardless of outside interference, which is typically grounds for dismissal under continental rules. Karis, sitting beside Khan, denied the interference accusations but claimed he had been fired under the continental rules. Khan confirmed that with the unification of the titles, future matches will follow continental rules, meaning external interference will not be tolerated in unified championship bouts moving forward.
Fan Take: This clarification from Tony Khan brings much-needed transparency about AEW’s title rules, reassuring fans that interference won’t undermine the integrity of championship matches in the future. It’s a crucial step in maintaining fair competition and elevating AEW’s championship prestige in the wrestling world.
