>>11511530Tony's a mark in every respect of life. He thought that being friends with wrestlers is the way to be successful at running a wrestling company despite all the evidence to the contrary. He thinks that AEW isn't just another cipher for his dad's massive money laundering program. "My dad made billions selling car bumpers and not being a mule to hide Pakistan's filthy assassination/sex trafficking lucre!" He thinks that his make-work bullshit jobs with the Jaguars and Fulham are important positions of actual consequence and not just diversions by his dad to keep his autistic coke-fiend son from finding out what his empire is really built upon. To Tony, AEW probably does look like a success. He thinks his mostly empty wrestling shows are because of scalpers and not because of what is actually happening.
This is actually the first time in his sheltered, privileged existence that he has seen beyond society's kayfabe. He has been disillusioned by the people he has idolized. I feel a little bad for him, but that stops when I remember the absolute depravity that comprises the foundation of his family's wealth. Tony is also a bigger liar than any of the carnies he tricked himself into befriending. Frankly, he deserves to be embarrassed much more than he already has.
Wrestlers are not real life superheroes/action figures who want to have fun and be your friend. They're shady, unscrupulous and insane opportunists who will stop at nothing to milk you for everything you're willing to give. The "AEW is worth a ton of money!" story is Tony's attempt at getting out of the game with some dignity and credibility in tact. He's trying to find a mark within the business world that's an even bigger mark than he was for wrestling. It ain't gonna happen and no amount of Forbes wishcasting will give his embarrassment of a tranny tent show anywhere near his apocryphal evaluation.
