AEW could be taking a major step toward building the future of its roster — one that mirrors WWE’s approach with the Performance Center and NXT.
During the AEW WrestleDream media call, AEW President Tony Khan confirmed recent reports that the company has discussed launching its own developmental system and training facility. Khan said the idea has been on the table for some time, and while nothing is finalized, there’s definite interest in moving forward with the concept.
“I am interested in it and it’s something I’ve talked about,” Khan said. “I was kind of surprised to see the report because I’m still interested in that. There’s truth to what’s out there, but like a lot of things, it’s not the whole story.”
According to Fightful Select, AEW had previously explored opening a training center in Asheville, North Carolina, with early plans targeting 2025 for development. The proposed lineup of trainers was impressive — FTR (Cash Wheeler & Dax Harwood), Adam Copeland (Edge), and Beth Phoenix were reportedly being considered to help lead the project.
However, the initiative was shelved due to budget concerns, and AEW’s creative direction shifted as storylines evolved — particularly with the on-screen fallout between FTR and Copeland’s circle earlier this year.
Khan addressed that dynamic, acknowledging the real-life and storyline ties between those involved:
“They are fantastic mentors — FTR, Cope, and Christian,” Khan said. “But clearly, earlier this year the dynamic between Adam Copeland and FTR changed a lot. If everyone can get back on the same page, I’d love to revisit that project. We talked about having an AEW-affiliated training school in Asheville with those guys leading it.”
While AEW’s current focus remains on weekly programming and its expanding pay-per-view schedule, the company’s leadership clearly sees the long-term value in building a dedicated system to nurture the next wave of talent.
If the plan does come together, AEW’s developmental program could mark a major milestone for the promotion — creating a true homegrown pipeline to rival WWE’s Performance Center.
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