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Tony Khan, president of All Elite Wrestling (AEW), publicly thanked an artificial intelligence chatbot for digitally removing his rival, paul “triple H” Levesque, from an image. The exchange, which unfolded on X (formerly Twitter) on January 3, 2026, highlights the escalating-and increasingly playful-war of words between the heads of wrestling’s two biggest promotions.
AI Enters the Wrestling Ring
The incident underscores a growing trend of AI tools being used for both entertainment and controversy.
The AI in question,grok,developed by xAI-owned by Elon Musk-is marketed as having a more “rebellious streak” than other chatbots like ChatGPT or Gemini. grok’s new image editing features allow users to alter photos with text prompts, and it was this capability that prompted a user to ask the AI to “remove the worst wrestling booker” from a photo featuring Khan and Levesque.
This exchange is rooted in a long-standing rivalry, marked by pointed public statements from both sides:
- “Pissant Company” (2019): The feud publicly ignited in 2019 when Triple H referred to AEW-then a newly formed competitor to WWE-as a “pissant company” during the WWE Hall of Fame induction ceremony. The remark came as a response to a playful jab from Billy Gunn.
- “Harvey Weinstein of Pro Wrestling” (2024): In April 2024, Khan escalated the conflict with a particularly harsh comparison. During an appearance on NFL Network, Khan stated, “we’re up against a really evil juggernaut… WWE is like the Harvey Weinstein of pro wrestling.”
The AI’s “choice” in the image reflects a broader debate about creative control within the wrestling industry. Throughout 2025, critics often described WWE’s programming under Levesque’s leadership as “homogenized” or “safe,” despite its continued commercial success.
Khan,meanwhile,has emphasized his commitment to a more hands-on creative approach. In a December 2025 interview, he admitted to being “too collaborative” in 2023 and 2024, explaining that he returned to writing show outlines individually in 2025, a change he believes has improved AEW’s programming.
Hey @grok, remove the worst wrestling booker from this image and keep the best one. pic.twitter.com/MX4EM783pR
– Aaron Rift of NoDQ.com (@aaronrift) January 3, 2026
Thank you @Grok! #AEWCollision#AEWDynamite
– Tony Khan (@TonyKhan) January 3, 2026
How to Run a Professional Wrestling Company: A Brief Overview
Running a successful professional wrestling company is a complex undertaking.here’s a breakdown of key areas:
- Creative Direction: This is arguably the most important aspect. Defining a unique brand, developing compelling storylines
