While speaking on the Keepin’ it 100 podcast, Eric Bischoff addressed AEW spending millions of dollars a year for talent contracts. Bischoff criticized the management, stating that many wrestlers earn substantial amounts but are rarely on television, likening their situation to being in a witness protection program.

Bischoff questioned the ridiculous spending, pointing out Mercedes Mone’s reported $5 million salary per year and her creative control, noting skepticism about Khan’s decision-making. Bischoff then suggested that even a young monkey with a case of bananas could potentially outperform Khan as a booker.

>“According to Dave Meltzer, and you’ve got to be careful, but I’m using it as a reference because I just saw it the other day, Tony Khan has a talent budget that’s over $100 million. Guys are making $100,000 a year, and 75% of the people on that roster feel like they’re in the witness protection program. Half of them, you see them only once every six months. If you look at his talent budget and his expenses, I mean, look at Mercedes Mone, $5 million a year. Are you kidding me? And giving her creative control? When it comes to Tony Khan giving talent creative control, it’s probably not such a bad thing because anybody can do a better job than Tony Khan, right? You could give me a case of bananas and a young monkey, I could teach that monkey to be a better booker than Tony Khan.”