The Elite Went “Back And Forth” Over Joining WWE

The Elite have re-signed with AEW but things could have gone very differently.

Kenny Omega, The Young Bucks, and Adam Page have stuck to the pact that helped form AEW once again as they have stuck together and signed new deals with AEW.

The four stars – along with Cody Rhodes – were the cornerstone of AEW when it launched in 2019 and now they will be there for a whole lot longer, even if nobody is quite certain for just how long that will be.

Tony Khan “not shy of spending money” to keep The Elite in AEW

Speaking on Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer gave more insight into the new deals and noted that WWE had an interest in bringing in the group but couldn’t legally speak to them given their contractual status in AEW:

“The four guys [The Elite] made a pact that they were going to stick together. Whether it be in WWE or AEW. And they basically had made an agreement that majority rules and it had gone back and forth. But essentially, I don’t know if it was 3/4 or 4/4, but they all made a decision as a group to stay as a group, so there was not going to be a split-up.

“If people thought they were never going to go, there were discussions, there were things that changes, things that happened since this pact was made and I think the pact was made some time back.

“It is a multi-year deal, I think 4, I don’t have it confirmed, and it is supposed to be secret. But it’s, obviously, the numbers financially are very high, because if they were not then they would not be here at this point. Obviously, Tony wanted them signed now and made it financially viable to make them sign now. He is not shy of spending money whatsoever.

“Are there guys that may not get signed when their deals are up? Yes. As far as key guys in the company, if they thought that WWE was going to make an offer substantially better, they would listen. WWE could not legally make an offer as they were still under contract. But WWE did have interest in all of them, especially Omega. But this is how it went down, they are going to be around and be on the London show and all the shows going forward.”

It is not yet clear what The Elite’s involvement in All In at Wembley Stadium will be but the main event for that show is now set as Adam Cole and MJF will have to make do with a single clothesline as they face off for the AEW World Championship.

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