Ariel Helwani, a well-known MMA reporter, made his WWE debut on this week’s episode of Friday Night SmackDown.
He came there to talk about Sami Zayn’s big match against Roman Reigns the next night for the Undisputed WWE Universal Title.
Helwani is a Montreal native, so you can image how excited he must be to be a part of this storyline.
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Table of Contents
What Happened Between Ariel Helwani And Tony Khan?
Last week, Ariel Helwani not only made his WWE SmackDown debut, but he was also embroiled in a Twitter feud with AEW President Tony Khan. But, one notable concern that has emerged from the conversation is whether or not theirs, like so many wrestling rivalries, is staged.1
Helwani is a notable sports writer, specializing in combat sports, and has worked closely with industry heavyweights such as the UFC and WWE.
Following conversations with Nick Khan and Triple H, he added another massive feather to his crown by appearing on-screen throughout SmackDown.
Although the first two incidents occurred when he was working as a journalist, many people were surprised to learn that he held a position comparable to that of Kayla Braxton.
Especially because he is still reporting on WWE, debunking allegations that Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund had agreed to buy WWE earlier this year.
Tony Khan, President of the AEW, was perhaps the most vocal critic. TK labeled the reporter a liar and put his credibility into question.
Helwani responded calmly, praising Khan for lending credence to his look and inviting a future conversation. He did refer to himself as “the snowman” near the end of his response to TK, which has drug-related overtones.
The question, as with most things in wrestling, is whether or not their interaction is part of a scripted game plan. It wouldn’t be out of the question, but it would be a stretch. It’s difficult to see the point of starting any kind of tale like this. Whatever you think of his words, it’s difficult to see how a dispute between Tony and Ariel could be beneficial.
It wouldn’t be the first time TK has had a Twitter outburst against someone. He famously clapped back at Big Swole after she complained about diversity issues during her stint at the organization. Thus it’s logical to believe that this was a comparable incident.
Tony Khan: Career Details
In late 2018, Khan, a lifelong fan of professional wrestling, filed for multiple trademarks for a new enterprise, All Elite Wrestling, which was soon proven to be a new professional wrestling promotion (AEW).2
The promotion’s lead investors are Khan and his father, auto parts billionaire Shahid Khan.
The company was formally launched on January 1, 2019, and its inaugural event, Double or Nothing, was held on May 25, 2019, at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. Khan leads AEW as President and CEO.
Khan announced the acquisition of professional wrestling organization Ring of Honor (ROH) from Sinclair Media Group on the March 2, 2022 episode of AEW Dynamite. ROH assets include the promotion’s video library, brand assets, intellectual property, production equipment, and more.
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Tony Khan: Family
Tony Khan was born in Champaign-Urbana, Illinois, on October 10, 1982. When he was born, his parents were Shahid Khan (father) and Ann Carlson Khan (mother).3
Shahid’s father is a billionaire and the CEO of Flex-N-Gate, a producer of American auto OEMs. There is no information regarding his mother’s professional background accessible. His lone sibling is Shanna Khan, and he has no brothers.
He spent his youth in Illinois with his sister and parents. His ancestors are both Pakistani and American.
He received his education at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. He graduated from the university with a Bachelor of Science in Finance in 2007.
Tony Khan: Net Worth 2023 & Dating Life
According to certain online sources, Tony Khan’s net worth is predicted to be around $7 billion as of February 2023. According to Forbes, he is one of the wealthiest persons in America.4
His father, Shahid Khan, is reported to be worth $9.6 billion. He is the president and CEO of Flex-N-Gate, a maker of automotive OEM parts in the United States.
Tony Khan is single and does not discuss his romantic relationships.
He chooses to keep it private, focusing instead on his love of professional wrestling and other sports on his social media sites. He has close friendships with numerous athletes and legends, and he has enough money to attend high-profile events.
While he has been primarily private, he has previously engaged in a verbal war with other executives and players.
On one occasion, Tony exchanged words with professional wrestler Randy Orton, whom Tony chastised for utilizing the name of his organization to raise the value of his WWE contract.
He also recently had an online exchange with professional American Football player Yannick Ngakoue, who was frustrated that the Jaguars had not yet traded him.
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Tony Khan: Personal Information
| Age | 39 Years Old |
| Date Of Birth | October 10, 1982 |
| Birth Place | Urbana-Champaign, Illinois |
| Height | In Centimetres – 170 cm In Feet and Inches – 5′ 8″ |
| Weight | In Kilograms – 72 Kg In Pounds – 159 lbs |
| Eye Color | Brown |
| Hair Color | Dark-brown |
| Marital Status | Unmarried |
| Father | Shahid Khan |
| Mother | Ann Carlson Khan |
| Siblings | Shan Khan |
| Nationality | American |
| School | U.L. High School |
| Colleges/ Universities | University of Illinois |
| Profession | Businessman and Sports Executive |
| Estimated Net Worth in 2023 (Approx) | 1 billion US Doller |
Ariel Helwani: Professional Life Explored
- Helwani began working with MMA Fighting in 2006 and has been in the MMA reporting business ever since.
- He presented The MMA Hour podcast and The MMA Beat YouTube show. He was a Sirius XM radio show “Fight Club” co-host.
- Since 2011, he has also served as a “MMA Insider” for Fox Sports 1’s weekly UFC Tonight and other pre- and post-event programming.
- Helwani is also the Mixed Martial Arts Journalists Association’s interim vice president. The organization is seen as highly contentious.
- Additionally. He works as a host for ESPN’s “Ariel & the Bad Man” show. As a co-host for the show, he collaborated alongside Chael Sonnen.
- Similarly, he has continued his podcast and MMA reporting across all ESPN platforms.
- Helwani and his two colleagues were dragged out of UFC 199 before the main event on June 4, 2016.
- Furthermore, the three of them had their press credentials stolen. The trio was barred from all future UFC events for life.
- Helwani disclosed Brock Lesnar’s resurrection at UFC 200 hours before UFC confirmed it on the broadcast, which he did without informing UFC first.
- According to UFC spokesman Dave Sholler, such reporting is against standard practice. Afterwards, UFC President Joe Rogan stated that the business had urged Helwani not to report the story.
- Without knowing who was responsible, management thought that a mole had broken the news to him. As a result, they went to remove all potential suspects from the company.
- Helwani, on the other hand, had a different narrative to tell. He refused to believe Rogan’s story and thought it was completely false.
- Dana White, the current president of the UFC, was not pleased with the news and stated that the ban will not be lifted as long as he is president of the UFC.
- White went on to say that he wouldn’t mind if Helwani covered the event without credentials.
- Helwani then shared his perspective on the situation. During the June 6 episode of The MMA Hour, he detailed the situation in an emotional broadcast.
- He claimed he was invited to see Dana White, who informed him that he had been blacklisted for being too negative. Helwani then discovered that the entire call was made by Lorenzo Fertitta.
- He also stated that he would continue to work as an MMA journalist. Life is filled with ups and downs.
- There are times when you stumble into the trap, and other times when you set it up.
- Nothing should concern you as long as you are committed to continue the vocation you love with pride. Helwani firmly believed in this theory.
- Helwani did not have a completely terrible image. Numerous high-profile UFC fighters expressed sympathy for him.
- Light-heavyweight champion Jon Jones expressed regret about Helwani’s suspension on Twitter, sympathizing and empathizing with him.
- Daniel Cormier, Helwani’s close buddy, had similar sentiments.
- “This sport needs the GOAT of MMA reporting,” former Middleweight champion Chris Weidman tweeted.
- On June 6, the UFC canceled the relocation. They claimed that they will not deny MMAFighting.com media credentials to cover live UFC events.
- The UFC also stated that they value the importance that media plays in the sport and beyond. They also recognized the significance of reporting MMA Fighting’s skills.
- They also discussed the episode, referring to it as one of the lead reporter’s repeating methods that went beyond the scope of journalism.
- They continued by adding they are satisfied that their stance was sufficiently communicated to the SB Nation editorial team.
Ariel Helwani: Achievements
Over the course of his career, Helwani has established a solid name in the journalistic profession. He has garnered various honors over his career. He won the “оurnаlt оf the Yеаr’ wаrd” аt Wоrld wаrd six times between 2010 and 2016.
He was also dubbed “thе оwаrd оеll оf” by FG! аgаznе in 2011. He was dubbed one of the “Power 20” by this publication. This list features MMA’s most influential movers and shakers, power players, game changers, and ambassadors.
At the start of 2015, Helwani was crowned “2014 Journalist of the Year” in the Awakening WMMA Awards. He has also presented two Helwani Nose Awards presentations, one in Las Vegas and one in Chicago.
Ariel Helwani: Net Worth 2023
Ariel Helwani’s professional MMA reporting career has garnered him a massive reputation, fortune, and renown. By January 2023, he is anticipated to have a $8 million net worth.
He has worked for several prominent firms, garnered numerous accolades, and amassed a large amount of fortune throughout the course of his career. Besides from being a journalist, he has also co-hosted a few television and radio shows, which has increased his entire net worth.
Ariel, a Canadian MMA writer, presently co-hosts Ariel and The Bad Man with Chael Sonnen. Helwani’s podcast “The MMA Hour” is also accessible on ESPN. He formerly worked for MMAFighting.com and ‘MMA Insider,’ a weekly UFC tonight show.
Helwani has also held other pre- and post-event programming positions. He previously co-hosted the Sirius X radio show ‘Fight Club.’
Ariel Helwani is a multi-award-winning martial arts journalist who has been acknowledged on multiple occasions for his remarkable reporting. This tremendous accomplishment and recognition enabled him in obtaining a respected position in the industry.
