Tony Khan says AEW’s earlier pay‑per‑view start time wasn’t a test run or a one‑night experiment. It was intentional. After fans noticed Redemption began an hour earlier than usual, Khan confirmed he made the change to ensure the show didn’t stretch past midnight on the East Coast. With AEW’s marathon pay‑per‑views often becoming a talking point, the earlier finish was exactly what he wanted.
Speaking with ROAR Around The Ring, Khan said he wanted Redemption to end at a more reasonable hour while still delivering the kind of loaded card AEW fans expect.
“My goal for the last one was if I start an hour earlier, I’m 100% sure I’ll be done before midnight eastern and I was. So, I thought that was great. If we’re done before midnight eastern, if we’re 9PM on the west coast, I think that’s great.”
His comments came shortly after a backstage report suggested many people inside AEW hope the company sticks with the new schedule. According to Fightful Select, several wrestlers are already pushing for the earlier start time to become permanent after seeing how smoothly Redemption ran.
For years, AEW pay‑per‑views have been praised for their match quality but criticized for running late into Sunday night. Shows often push toward — or even past — midnight on the East Coast, creating long nights for fans, wrestlers and production crews. Redemption broke that pattern.
The Buy In began at 6 p.m. ET, the main card followed at 7 p.m. ET, and the event wrapped before midnight. Khan’s explanation makes it clear the shift wasn’t random. It was planned.
Adding to the evidence, the NOW Arena website currently lists the All Out pay‑per‑view on Saturday, September 26 with a 7 p.m. ET start time as well. That suggests the earlier bell time may already be becoming AEW’s new standard.
AEW pay‑per‑view earlier start time
Whether AEW officially adopts the earlier start time for all future pay‑per‑views remains to be seen, but Redemption and All Out both point in the same direction. Khan’s comments make it clear the company is seriously considering a long‑term change designed to help fans enjoy the full show without staying up past midnight.
Tony Khan Explains Why AEW Shifted to an Earlier Pay‑Per‑View Start Time
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