All Elite Wrestling has a full head of steam, and with several major professional wrestling promotions on the prowl for any available wrestler with a name, the top-four promotions have all nabbed big-name free agents as the industry’s landscape changes by the second.
After Jericho pledged his allegiance to AEW, though the details of his contract (if there is one) with the promotions are unknown, Kenny Omega remains the most coveted free agent in pro wrestling after announcing he will be leaving New Japan Pro Wrestling.
Backed by billionaire Shad Khan and the Khan family, AEW looks to be the real deal on the verge of a national TV deal. Another national wrestling company means an all-out bidding war for talent, and this translates to more money for pro wrestlers in a tumultuous profession where pay structures are on a much-needed upswing.
With the looming presence of AEW in a suddenly crowded national wrestling scene, the economics of pro wrestling are quickly evolving. WWE has become more aggressive in its offers to both high-profile free agents and developmental deals. Meanwhile, New Japan Pro Wrestling has changed its salary structure to offer multi-year deals to its talent.
The pro wrestling industry has been all but monopolized by WWE for years, and while the promotion will remain the worldwide leader in sports entertainment for years to come, the presence of AEW has led to a fractured climate in pro wrestling where WWE is no longer the assumed destination for talented free agents.
Below is a list of key free agent signings among All Elite Wrestling, WWE, New Japan Pro Wrestling and Ring of Honor.
All Elite Wrestling
- Kenny Omega will remain under contract with New Japan Pro Wrestling until the end of the month. Nothing can be announced until February 1, although it is rumored Omega will sign with AEW.
- Chris Jericho announced he’s “all in with All Elite Wrestling” at the AEW Double or Nothing rally on January 8. Jericho will appear at the Double or Nothing pay-per-view in Las Vegas on May 25, 2019.
- Maxwell Jacob Friedman (MJF), Joey Janela, Penelope Ford, Christopher Daniels, Scorpio Sky, Frankie Kazarian, Britt Baker and PAC (k.k.a. Neville) all appeared at the Double or Nothing rally and have signed with AEW.
- B.J. Whitmer has signed with AEW as a producer.
- Monty “Billy Gunn” Kip Sopp has signed with AEW as a producer.
WWE
- Former New Japan Pro Wrestling star KUSHIDA is expected to sign with WWE.
- ACH, Sam Shaw and Trevor Lee have all signed with WWE.
- Free-agent-to-be Viper (Piper Niven of the Mae Young Classic) is expected to sign with WWE.
New Japan Pro Wrestling
- Juice Robinson, Chase Owens and Rocky Romero have signed multi-year extensions with New Japan Pro Wrestling.
Ring of Honor
- Bandido, PCO and Jeff Cobb have signed with ROH.
- Brody King and Silas young have re-signed with ROH.
- Women of Honor champion Kelly Klein has re-signed with ROH
