AEW Denies Talent Banned From WrestleMania Week Shows

A report claimed AEW stars were banned from working indies piggybacking off WWE WrestleMania but it now looks like that might not be the case.

Since its formation in 2019, AEW has allowed wrestlers to continue to take independent bookings as long as they’re approved by management.

This subject has come to the fore in recent weeks after it was confirmed Ricky Starks requested his release, only to have it turned down. Instead, Starks will continue to wrestle on the independent scene until his contract expires.

However, it seems that AEW may be tightening up its restrictions when it comes to outside bookings during WWE’s biggest week of the year – WrestleMania.

Writing in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Dave Meltzer stated that “younger” AEW talent won’t be allowed to take matches in Las Vegas during WrestleMania week. WrestleMania 41 is due to take place on April 19th and 20th, at Allegiant Stadium, but WWE will be in the area for several days.

According to somebody involved with booking talent at the independent level, AEW younger talent are not allowed to do matches in Las Vegas over WrestleMania week.

However, that might not be the case after all.

No AEW Policy For WrestleMania Weekend

Cassidy Haynes of Bodyslam.net has reported that AEW sources have shot down any policy regarding talent working over WrestleMania weekend on independent shows. Some independent promotions did not AEW talent have been pulled from shows at that time but no reason as to why was given.

AEW sources noted that there are many reasons that talent could be pulled from an independent booking such as conflicting schedules, the wrestler’s current booking plans, their standing within the company, the indie they’re booked for, or even the opponent they’re working with. It was also pointed out that AEW talent had been pulled from indies at the end of January so they could work on the Chris Jericho cruise.