AEW Signs Former World Champion
AEW and Tony Khan take another top free agent off the market - this time a former World Champion.
AEW has formally signed Bandido after offering the former Ring Of Honor World Champion a contract following his successful 28 September Dynamite match with Chris Jericho.
This is according to the Wrestling Observer's Dave Meltzer, who reports that the 27-year-old has finally inked with AEW. Bandido had been the subject of additional interest from WWE since being offered an AEW contract after the Jericho match.
Bandido vs. Jericho was well-received, with Meltzer awarding a ****1/4 rating to the ROH Title bout in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter. AEW was so impressed with the flyer that they offered Bandido a contract immediately after. WWE, meanwhile, were similarly excited, reportedly chasing Bandido's phone number while the Jericho bout was still going on.
It was reported in early October that Bandido had agreed to the AEW deal. This story was soon rescinded when it emerged WWE had formally approached him as well, with the masked man still to make up his mind. Now, he is off the market.
Bandido Is All Elite
Bandido had been a free agent since December 2021, when ROH's former owners, Sinclair Broadcasting, sent the cult promotion into a planned hiatus. AEW owner Tony Khan's buyout of the company was announced in March. Bandido worked one ROH show under Khan's ownership, April's Supercard Of Honor, but remained uncontracted.
July 2021 saw Bandido become ROH Champion for the first time, felling current AEW star Rush. He technically held a version of it through to Supercard Of Honor, where he was defeated by Jonathan Gresham, having missed December's Final Battle show due to illness. This resulted in ROH booking Gresham vs. Jay Lethal for Final Battle, with Gresh taking the "vacant" strap.
Bandido and Rush will rematch in AEW's ongoing World Title Eliminator Tournament on this Friday's Rampage. Full Gear 2022 will host that competition's finals, with a World Title shot on the line.