Squared Circle’s Reddit has recapped the Wrestling Observer Newsletter: The free agent reference in last week’s issue of the key guy WWE was looking at led to conjecture regarding Kenny Omega, which has been a name heavily talked about in certain circles in WWE.
Dave said Omega’s AEW contract date was to have expired at the end of January as he had a four-year deal with no option clause to add time that started on February 1, 2019. His contract does allow AEW to extend it for the time he was out injured, which has happened. He was out nine months so that would be a maximum of November but the extended time frame hasn’t been finalized as far as how long.
Cody Rhodes leaving for WWE was very big in so many ways looking back, so how this one turns out is the biggest test of the year for Tony Khan except for the eventual television rights fees story when it comes up and how the WWE sale talks end.
Part of this is because the feeling Omega and the Young Bucks have a good shot of sticking together. Barry Bloom has been Omega’s agent since his late 2018/early 2019 New Japan contract extended, and is also the agent that is expected to handle the Young Bucks deal at the end of this year. He also negotiated Chris Jericho’s most recent deal. FTR’s deal is said to be up in April. The Young Bucks deals are up at the end of the year. One would expect all of them to get offers from WWE and
AEW that are for great money from either side
Unless the money difference is substantial, ultimately the decisions of those with families has to be based on where they would be happiest, money of course (although they will make big money either way if both sides want them) and quality time with the family since all but Omega have families.
Dave said Japan may also be a consideration in the case of Omega but he’s also at the stage that if he wants to try WWE during his career, waiting three or four years may miss the window to be a top guy. But that’s if that’s a career goal or not. With WWE, he’s probably not going to be able to do Japan, but if WWE wants him bad enough, they always could make a concession, but never have up to this point. Kota Ibushi is also a free agent and he and Omega are best friends.
Kota Ibushi has outright said he would be interested in WWE if he also could be a coach as well and even so was open to working dates there
MJF’s situation is a well kept secret but Dave said he hopes if they are building this much around him that he’s gotten a longer-term deal, but the public version is that his deal is up at the end of this year.
