Backstage News On AEW Being More Selective About Which Former WWE Talents They Sign

During All Elite Wrestling's early years, the promotion signed a huge number of former WWE talents with mixed success.

For every Bryan Danielson and Swerve Strickland who went on to become AEW World Champions, there has been a Rusev or Aleister Black who were reportedly resistant to losing to other wrestlers in the promotion.

All Elite Wrestling have slowed down on signing ex-WWE wrestlers over the past year, with Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful Select reporting that AEW have indeed been "way more picky" about who is signed to the promotion. This is primarily due to past situations of former WWE wrestlers signing with AEW, not enjoying their time in the promotion, and later returning to WWE.

This doesn't necessarily mean All Elite Wrestling are completely opposed to bringing in former WWE talents, but Fightful noted there won't be a huge amount of former WWE talents signed by AEW.

Over the past year, the few high-profile ex-WWE talents to sign with AEW include Ricochet and Bobby Lashley, MVP, & Shelton Benjamin of the Hurt Syndicate. Ricochet has established himself as one of AEW's top heels, while the Hurt Syndicate are the reigning AEW World Tag Team Champions.

All Elite Wrestling have instead looked to TNA Wrestling and NJPW, having signed the likes of Josh Alexander, "Speedball" Mike Bailey, and Kevin Knight over the past several months.

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