Noted On this week’s episode of Friday Night SmackDown, MMA reporter Ariel Helwani made his WWE debut. He came there to talk about Sami Zayn’s historic match with Roman Reigns, which would take place the following night for the Undisputed WWE Universal Title. Helwani is a native of Montreal, so you can only imagine how thrilled he must feel to be a part of this plot. In fact, he provided the voice for the chilling opening of tomorrow night’s Elimination Chamber pay-per-view. One guy, AEW President Tony Khan, made it clear on Twitter that he does not share those sentiments.
The bond between TK and Helwani is not the best. To promote AEW, TK made an appearance on Ariel Helwani’s MMA Hour. Helwani, on the other hand, was irritated by the fact that he was coy on a number of subjects. The reporter continued by describing it as the worst interview of his life, and now TK has at last been given the opportunity to respond.
Twitter reacts to Tony Khan calling Ariel Helwani a fraud after SmackDown appearance
Ariel Helwani was compared by Tony Khan to Tony Schiavone, a kayfabe reporter for AEW. He stated:
You re a fraud @arielhelwani You re as legitimate of a reporter as @tonyschiavone24
You’re a fraud @arielhelwani. You’re as legitimate of a reporter as @tonyschiavone24. #AEWRampage
Tony Khan (@TonyKhan) February 18, 2023
Fans responded to this in a variety of unexpected ways. Have a peek at a few of them below.
Imagine being a successful billionaire who owned or is involved in several businesses by yet letting minor shit like this triggering you to the point where you’re making youself constantly look childish, unprofessional and absolutely complete joke. https://t.co/nqLqLmUP3f“>https://t.co/nqLqLmUP3f pic.twitter.com/HRThyJhLaU
HO O D (@VillainousRedd) February 18, 2023
Tony Twitter Fingers never disappoints! Every time I think it’s from a fake account and he’s always like “nah, this is real-life petty” https://t.co/twoSBQ5EE6“>https://t.co/twoSBQ5EE6
Alfred Konuwa (@ThisIsNasty) February 18, 2023
Because he was on Smackdown in HIS HOME TOWN?
YOU AGREED TO BE ON HIS SHOW!!!
Doesn’t Shiavone work FOR AEW?
Entitled trust fund shit. The real alpha of this family is the father, who actually MADE himself the billionaire and didn’t inherit it.
Do better bro. https://t.co/C8Tp8cKvpB“>https://t.co/C8Tp8cKvpB
Geekdom101 (@EmperorBigD) February 18, 2023
It was four months ago that Ariel Helwani talked on his podcast about how frustrating he felt his Tony Khan interview was. I guess it took Ariel appearing on WWE television for Tony to go off? https://t.co/37zj0gdYk1“>https://t.co/37zj0gdYk1
Jimmy Van (@jimmyvan74) February 18, 2023
Had to double check if this was the original account. https://t.co/VG3wshiGfE“>https://t.co/VG3wshiGfE
Humble Wrestling (@WrestlingHumble) February 18, 2023
I had to triple check to make sure this was his actual account. Now we all know @tonykhan watches and enjoys WWE. Does his fanbase know this? Can they ever forgive him? Enjoy #EliminationChamber tomorrow Khan.
https://t.co/KO8sdVJiHC“>https://t.co/KO8sdVJiHC
Junkie
(@wwe_wwf_Junkie) February 18, 2023
Man saw the latest ratings, Jay rumors, Ibushi rumors, Omega rumors and Tyson comments and is having an outburst
https://t.co/3cjnVuJTXt“>https://t.co/3cjnVuJTXt
Sean Slate (@slate_s42) February 18, 2023
Tony watching smackdown
https://t.co/rxCmaRCYsb“>https://t.co/rxCmaRCYsb
WWE_ME (@WWE_ENFORCER) February 18, 2023
Ariel Helwani thinks fans who say AEW is better than WWE are lying
Ariel Helwani deemed the Stamford show to be a far superior product to what the Jaguars owner was delivering on his show shortly after his controversial conversation with Tony Khan. He criticized the show’s overabundance of titles and backstage problems.
If you re going to say the AEW product is better than the WWE product, you re an absolute liar. The WWE product is infinitely better, infinitely more interesting and there s a freaking brawl happening backstage each and every week it seems. Meanwhile, it s all Kumbaya on the Stamford side of things.
Ariel spittin BARS here @WWFCounselor pic.twitter.com/3TJ1XuTHrD
Boris ‘ToxicSZN’ Luchas
(@borisluchas) October 12, 2022
Helwani did acknowledge that AEW wasn’t always that way, but at that point, the WWE was far superior to AEW in every manner.
