AEW Close To 2 Major Signings?
Two huge-name free agents may soon be #AllElite...
Jeff Hardy and Shane Strickland are both expected to be heading to All Elite Wrestling, reports Dave Meltzer in the latest edition of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter.
On Strickland, who wrestled as Isaiah 'Swerve' Scott in WWE, Meltzer writes that "significant talks" have already taken place between him and AEW. While there's no word that he has officially been signed yet, chances of it happening are now through the roof.
'Swerve' has technically been a free agent since last week, when his 90-day non-compete clause expired. He, along with his fellow remaining Hit Row members (Top Dolla and Ashante 'Thee' Adonis), was released in one of WWE's rounds of "budget cuts" in November 2021.
Hardy's situation is more complicated. The veteran is still bound to his 90 days after he was released by WWE on 9 December 2021, having been let go by the promotion after it was alleged he was "impaired" while competing on a house show the week prior. WWE has since made a play to bring Jeff back into the fold, seemingly fearing him becoming a potential needle-mover for AEW.
Jeff's brother, Matt, has been with AEW since March 2020.