Backstage News On The Elite's AEW Contract Status
Could the AEW EVPs be weighing up their exit from the company?
While it came as a huge shock to see Cody Rhodes depart AEW and return to WWE, could All Elite Wrestling's other three founding EVPs be gearing up to depart the promotion?
A previous report noted how Kenny Omega's AEW deal was due to expire at the end of January 2023, and the latest episode of Wrestling Observer Radio saw Dave Meltzer reiterate that this appears to still be the case. If so, that would make the Best Bout Machine a free agent as of February.
It's worth noting that Omega is currently advertised for AEW shows in March 2023, with Meltzer likewise speculating that time could've been added onto Kenny's contract for time missed through injury. The Observer owner also added how the Canadian might be waiting for the Young Bucks' contracts to expire before making a decision on his own future.
Where Nick and Matt Jackson are concerned, they previously extended their AEW contracts through until 2024. Of course, it could be that Kenny Omega has penned a new agreement with the company, although one has to imagine that AEW would have publicly announced that if it had happened - much like they recently did when Chris Jericho signed a contract extension this past October.
When discussing all of this, Meltzer stated how his "gut" tells him that Omega and the Bucks will be a package deal as and when they decide upon their future - whether that's to remain with AEW, head to WWE, or explore other options.
The Elite In WWE?
Prior to joining forces with Tony Khan to launch All Elite Wrestling, Kenny Omega and the Jacksons held very serious, very welcoming talks with WWE. Specifically, the trio had several conversations with Triple H about signing with WWE once it became clear that the Elite's time in Japan was coming to an end.
In the Young Bucks' autobiography - Killing the Business - they detail these discussions, discussing how all three of the stars had to seriously consider what their next move was to be. On the Triple H front, said book was nothing but complimentary about Paul Levesque, about the talks had with him, and about the way he conducted himself.
Given how an act such as the Elite - as in, a group consisting of relatively smaller guys who shot to stardom in New Japan Pro-Wrestling - the thought of how the trio would've been used under the stewardship of Vince McMahon back then is always a serious question to consider. McMahon long viewed tag team wrestling as an afterthought, was hesitant to push talents who weren't 6'2" and 250 lbs, and VKM paid zero attention to any reputation built outside of WWE.
With McMahon having now been forced to retire in disgrace, WWE would certainly be a far more appealing proposition for talents like Kenny Omega and Nick and Matt Jackson these days.
Of course, the other side of this thought process is that the WWE schedule, while not quite as intense as it once was, is a lot more intense than the schedule of AEW. And with their issues with CM Punk now in the rear-view mirror - the Second City Saint expected to be exiting AEW - there's clearly a strong possibility that the Elite may be more than happy to remain #AllElite for the foreseeable future.