AEW Beats WWE To Sign Top Free Agents
WWE were understood to be interested in top free agents before AEW swept in.
Aussie Open are officially #AllElite, with Tony Khan's AEW seemingly signing the top-rated tag team amid heavy interest from WWE.
AEW founder and CEO Khan announced Mark Davis and Kyle Fletcher's signing after last night's episode of Dynamite, on which Fletcher wrestled International Champion Orange Cassidy in a losing effort.
Aussie Open got the typical Twitter treatment:-
They're one of the top tag teams in the world, and now it's official:Aussie Open @kylefletcherpro + @DUNKZILLADavis are ALL ELITE!
AdvertisementIncredible match tonight Kyle Fletcher on @TBSNetwork on Wednesday Night #AEWDynamite, and get well soon, Mark Davis!Congratulations #AussieOpen! pic.twitter.com/S0Cjt9ZTUT
— Tony Khan (@TonyKhan) May 25, 2023
Before the signings were confirmed, Fightful Select reported AEW and WWE were interested in acquiring the tag team. AEW were confident of landing Davis and Fletcher - and that confidence was proven not to be misplaced a few short hours ago.
On WWE's interest, Fightful stated that Aussie Open had retained a representative for negotiations. The duo have supporters in the promotion, too.
Several AEW tag team wrestlers are understood to be proponents of the Australians. The promotion had drafted short-term creative plans for Aussie Open, too, though this was prior to Davis' recent injury.
Mark's meniscus issue resulted in the duo vacating their IWGP Tag Team and NJPW STRONG Tag Team Championships last weekend. Khan is understood to have personally paid for Davis' surgery, even before he was under an AEW contract.
Aussie Open have worked extensively with NJPW this year, primarily as part of Will Ospreay's United Empire group, but weren't bound to a contract.