10 Things We Learned From Speaking To Eli Drake
3. He Was EXTREMELY Close To Signing With AEW
Upon finally departing Impact Wrestling in 2019, Eli Drake effectively had his pick of which promotion to sign with.
Much like WWE had repeatedly shown interest in Eli, so too All Elite Wrestling was keen to bring in the charismatic performer. And not just keen, for a deal between Eli Drake and AEW was so close to happening that Drake had even selected his AEW entrance music.
As Eli revealed to us, "When I left Impact, there was [interest from AEW]. As a matter of fact, breaking news, I had two separate deals ready to go with them, ready to be signed. To the point where I had even sent them my entrance music. We were about to be 'go'. Then some things just fell through, and it didn't end up happening. They sent me one deal, we renegotiated, they sent me another. They were just waiting on my signature."
For whatever reason, a deal couldn't be reached, Eli weighed up other options, and that was when the one-time TNA Champion signed himself up to be a part of Billy Corgan's relaunched National Wrestling Alliance - where he's currently one half of the NWA Tag Team Champions alongside James Storm.