10 Wrestling Facts We Didn't Know Last Week (April 12)

5. WWE Turned Down An XFL/AAF Merger

XFL generic
XFL

American football fans will roll their eyes for years to come about the AAF's failures. The Alliance, which was set up to capitalise on the end of the NFL season, commenced a 10-week league featuring eight teams this past February. Then, a little over two months later in April, play was suspended.

So much for that.

Much has been made of the AAF board's decision to start the season without proper funding in place. The situation becomes more annoying to fans when learning that key directors knew they didn't have the capital to sustain a full campaign. Sports Business Daily reported something else of interest, especially to wrestling fans.

Before launching their offshoot league in February, the AAF contacted WWE about merging with the XFL. That happened in December, but talks didn't go on for very long. Vince McMahon wasn't interested, and he's since been vindicated for spurning the Alliance.

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Lifelong wrestling, video game, music and sports obsessive who has been writing about his passions since childhood. Jamie started writing for WhatCulture in 2013, and has contributed thousands of articles and YouTube videos since then. He cut his teeth penning published pieces for top UK and European wrestling read Fighting Spirit Magazine (FSM), and also has extensive experience working within the wrestling biz as a manager and commentator for promotions like ICW on WWE Network and WCPW/Defiant since 2010. Further, Jamie also hosted the old Ministry Of Slam podcast, and has interviewed everyone from Steve Austin and Shawn Michaels to Bret Hart and Trish Stratus.