Brandon Tate of The Boys has now called out Tony Khan for pulling The Outrunners from an upcoming match at an indie event and accused Khan of sabotage.
In a now-deleted Facebook post, Brandon Tate noted he and his brother Brent, known together as The Boys, were set to face The Outrunners for ECC Wrestling on September 28. However, Brandon said AEW pulled The Outrunners from the event. He believes this move is connected to the ongoing lawsuit that he, Brent, and former AEW commentator Kevin Kelly filed against AEW in 2024.
In his post, Brandon said he and Brent have spent nearly two years trying to rebuild their lives after leaving AEW/ROH. He accused Khan of damaging Ring of Honor and of blocking independent wrestlers while still calling them independent contractors. Brandon added that AEWs actions hurt not only him and his brother but also independent promotions, other wrestlers, and fans.
Tate apologized to fans and to ECC Wrestling for the last-minute change and expressed hope that AEWs current direction will eventually catch up with the company.
The original lawsuitincludes allegations of breach of contract, defamation, and more. Kelly claims fellow commentator Ian Riccabonifalsely branded him as a QAnon supporter online, something Kelly says directly contributed to his AEW exit. The Tates, meanwhile, allege they were publicly defamed by AEW CEO Tony Khan during a press conference following their departure.
The canceled ECC Wrestling match has raised concerns about AEWs power over independent wrestling. When AEW wrestlers are booked for other shows, the company can still step in and change plans. For Brandon and Brent Tate, who have spent two years trying to restart their careers, its clear things arent going well for them so far.
Do you think AEW went too far by allegedly pulling The Outrunners from the ECC Wrestling card? Sound off in the comments.
