AEW pulled Will Ospreay in after making a big deal to secure his services. It seems that WWE was also in the running to get him, but AEW simply tried a lot harder, and now he is All Elite. This move might not have left a ton of happiness within in WWE.
Triple H is believed to have not realized Will Ospreay’s potential, and he didn’t lock him down with a contract. According to Dave Meltzer, there are some unhappy WWE Superstars due to the fact that The Game let Ospreay go to AEW.
The Set-Up For Controversy
Now that Will Ospreay has begun to gain attention in AEW shortly after officially joining the promotion, there is a prevailing sentiment that WWE overlooked an opportunity in not signing him when they expressed interest.
There are apparently individuals within WWE who believe that Triple H presented Ospreay with a less-than-ideal contract offer during their negotiations prior to Ospreay’s decision to sign with All Elite Wrestling last November. We previously reported that there are those who believe that he didn’t appreciate Ospreay’s abilities.
During a discussion on Wrestling Observer Radio, Dave Meltzer highlighted the perspective held by some within WWE that Ospreay could have been comparable to a younger version of AJ Styles when Styles initially joined the company in 2016. Consequently, there were feelings of disappointment among certain individuals within WWE regarding their failure to secure Ospreay’s services, given the high regard in which they held him.
Meltzer further elaborated on the perception of Ospreay within WWE, suggesting that while some saw him as potentially akin to AJ Styles in terms of talent upon his arrival, there was recognition that Ospreay possessed distinct attributes that set him apart, including a notably stronger charisma.
“AJ when he first came in there, and still now he’s a super talented guy, but the thing with Ospreay, it’s I know people in that company who are very, very high on him, and that were very upset. I don’t say very upset, but upset surely they didn’t get him because they knew he was this good. And they just thought that he’s a guy who can be like a real major player here.”
AEW’s Money Situation
WWE also didn’t jump on getting Mercedes Mone when they were in talks with her. The company did offer her a substantial contract, but it wasn’t enough to beat out Tony Khan.
Tony Khan’s substantial wealth isn’t solely derived from his role as a wrestling promoter. In addition to overseeing a wrestling promotion, he juggles various other endeavors, like his ownership of the Fulham Football Club in London and the Jacksonville Jaguars. It’s worth noting that Tony’s father, Shahid Khan, boasts a net worth of 12.2 billion USD.
AEW has a lot of money, because TK has incredibly deep pockets. Only time will tell when he hits his salary cap, or if that day will ever come for the Land of All Elite. Either way, Will Ospreay is now a heel in AEW, and he’s getting some great exposure with a new audience who may not have followed him for years as others have who know him from NJPW.
SEScoops will have ongoing coverage of this story, and so much more. Keep checking back for the latest updates and headlines that you need.
