Tony Khan Revisits the Four Pillars Concept, Points to Newer AEW Signings

AEW president Tony Khan has offered a fresh look at the promotion’s famed Four Pillars concept, indicating that newer additions to the roster are now part of that conversation.

When AEW launched in 2019, MJF, Sammy Guevara, Darby Allin, and “Jungle” Jack Perry were collectively branded the Four Pillars of the company. The designation made sense at the time — all four were young, unproven commodities who had come up largely within AEW rather than arriving as established stars from elsewhere. The label wasn’t just an internal talking point, either. It became a genuine storyline thread that played out on television in the lead-up to major events, giving the group a sense of shared identity and stakes.

Now, more than six years into AEW’s existence, Khan is signaling that the concept has evolved. By naming newer signings among those he considers Four Pillars-caliber talent, Khan appears to be acknowledging both how much the company has grown and how its next generation is starting to take shape.

The original four have had wildly different trajectories since that early branding. MJF became one of the most talked-about performers in the industry, Darby Allin has remained a cornerstone of AEW programming, Sammy Guevara has had his share of ups and downs on the card, and Jack Perry’s relationship with the company grew complicated before he eventually returned. That history makes Khan’s willingness to extend the concept to incoming talent a notable statement about where he sees AEW’s future heading.