Zayda Steel has offered a positive description of working under AEW President Tony Khan, emphasizing that his widely discussed enthusiasm for professional wrestling is just as apparent backstage as it is in public.
Steel, who has continued to build experience across multiple corners of the industry despite her young career, said Khan’s devotion to wrestling is not an act for the cameras or a corporate talking point. In her view, his reactions and excitement around the product make clear that he remains, above all else, a major wrestling fan.
Speaking in a recent interview, Steel recalled hearing Khan react to matches from Gorilla position and said that shared excitement has made her experience working for him especially enjoyable.
“Dude, he’s literally the biggest wrestling fan. Guys, he is, he is. He loves it. I’ll listen to him in Gorilla react to the match. He’s in love with wrestling. I love wrestling. So it’s great working for him. He loves this just like I do, and what you see is what you get with Tony.”
For more background on this topic, read AEW Grand Slam: France Set For Four Title Matches Including Ospreay vs. Okada.
Steel Sees a Shared Love of the Business
Steel’s comments center on a quality that has long been associated with Khan: his deep familiarity with wrestling history, his visible energy during major moments, and his position as a promoter who approaches the business from the perspective of a lifelong fan.
For a wrestler like Steel, that kind of environment appears to be meaningful. Her remarks were not framed around contracts, creative plans, or specific match opportunities. Instead, she focused on the fundamental connection between a promoter who loves wrestling and performers who have devoted themselves to pursuing careers in it.
That distinction matters in a profession where the people making decisions are often judged not only by business outcomes but also by how they engage with talent and the locker room. Steel described Khan’s enthusiasm as authentic, saying “what you see is what you get” with the AEW leader.
The phrase suggests that the energetic public persona Khan displays at press conferences, on social media, and at AEW events is consistent with the person talent encounters behind the curtain. Steel specifically pointed to his responses while watching matches in Gorilla as an example of that genuine investment.
Gorilla position is one of the most important areas backstage at a wrestling event. It is where key personnel monitor the show as it unfolds and where wrestlers frequently pass through before and after heading to the ring. For talent, hearing a promoter actively react to the action can be a direct reminder that the person overseeing the presentation is engaged with the work being done in the ring.
A Growing Resume Across Wrestling
Steel has already accumulated a notable range of experience in professional wrestling. Her career has included work in Japan, appearances connected to WWE, time on the United States independent scene, and opportunities within both AEW and Ring of Honor.
That breadth of exposure gives her perspective on different wrestling settings and different professional cultures. It also makes her praise of AEW’s owner notable, particularly because it comes from a performer who has continued to seek opportunities across the industry rather than being defined by just one stop.
AEW and Ring of Honor have provided Steel with another platform as she continues to develop. The two promotions have a close relationship under Khan’s leadership, creating an environment in which wrestlers can gain experience across television, streaming, and live-event presentations while working alongside a broad mix of established names and emerging talent.
Steel’s remarks do not lay out a specific roadmap for her in AEW or ROH. They do, however, show that she appreciates the atmosphere surrounding her current work. Her identification with Khan’s passion comes from her own stated love of wrestling, making the relationship feel less like a simple employee-and-promoter dynamic and more like a shared investment in the medium.
Tony Khan’s Fan Perspective Remains a Defining Trait
Khan has frequently been characterized by his visible enthusiasm for professional wrestling. As the leader of AEW and the owner of Ring of Honor, he occupies a powerful role in the modern industry, but his public demeanor has often retained the excitement of someone who grew up following the product closely.
Steel’s description reinforces that image from a backstage perspective. Rather than discussing Khan’s fandom as something fans observe from afar, she described being close enough to hear his real-time reactions to matches. That is a personal example, and it explains why she believes there is no separation between the wrestling fan people see publicly and the person running the show backstage.
For many wrestlers, a promoter’s level of interest can shape the mood of a working environment. Pro wrestling is built around performance, presentation, crowd response, and trust among a large number of people working toward a live result. A decision-maker who is visibly engaged in those details can have an impact on how talent views the setting, even when there are no guarantees about a particular wrestler’s role on a card.
Steel’s praise was also straightforward. She did not attach qualifications to it or portray Khan’s interest as something she had to interpret from a distance. Instead, she repeatedly stated that he loves wrestling and presented that as the central reason she enjoys working for him.
AEW and ROH Continue to Offer Developmental Opportunities
The connection between AEW and ROH has created room for wrestlers at different stages of their careers to gain visibility and build experience. While the promotions maintain distinct identities, their shared leadership has allowed talent to move within the broader ecosystem and work on shows with varying formats and levels of exposure.
For a younger wrestler such as Steel, that setting can be particularly valuable. She has already wrestled in different countries and on different platforms, and further chances to perform around experienced peers can contribute to the ongoing process of finding a voice, sharpening in-ring instincts, and establishing a larger presence with audiences.
Steel’s comments focused on the human side of that environment rather than presenting an assessment of AEW or ROH’s larger business strategy. Still, they offer a glimpse into how a wrestler on the roster views the person at the top of both organizations.
Her experience also illustrates an important part of the current wrestling landscape: talent can build résumés through a combination of independent wrestling, international work, and opportunities with national promotions. Steel’s path has already touched WWE-related activity, Japan, AEW, ROH, and the independent circuit. That variety is a substantial foundation for a performer still early in her journey.
Steel Previously Addressed WWE ID Departure
Elsewhere, Steel has discussed her exit from the WWE ID program. That subject is separate from her comments about Khan, but it forms part of a career that has included contact with multiple major wrestling systems.
Her current remarks make clear that she is looking positively at the opportunities in front of her with AEW and Ring of Honor. Rather than dwelling on past professional changes, Steel highlighted the present-day appeal of working in an environment led by someone whose passion for wrestling mirrors her own.
There is no mistaking the core message in Steel’s assessment. In her eyes, Khan’s enthusiasm is sincere, immediate, and easy to recognize. Whether he is appearing before fans or reacting from Gorilla position, she believes the same person is present: a promoter who still loves the art form he is helping to guide.
As Steel continues to add to her experience in AEW, ROH, and beyond, her comments offer a concise view of why the current situation resonates with her. She loves professional wrestling, and she sees that same love reflected in the executive overseeing the companies where she is now working.
Darryl Polo
Darryl Polo is a passionate wrestling fan covering WWE, AEW, TNA and beyond. He loves great rivalries, breakout stars and the moments that keep fans talking long after the bell. How we work.