Backstage News On AEW Signing Kevin Knight

Kevin Knight is the latest name to become ‘All Elite’ with the former IWGP Jr. Heavyweight Tag Team Champion joining All Elite Wrestling at the recent Collision tapings.

Reports in early 2025 stated that Knight’s New Japan Pro-Wrestling contract had ended, and although NJPW were hopeful of retaining Knight’s services many assumed he’d sign with a company in the US. A report from Fightful Select has shed a little more light on how Knight came to be ‘All Elite’, with Knight allegedly meeting with AEW President Tony Khan and Rocky Romero in February 2025 after Knight had worked a Ring of Honor singles bout with AR Fox.

Knight was also the subject of interest from WWE and allegedly received an ‘invited tryout’ with the company. A member of WWE Performance Center team said the following when asked of Knight’s invited tryout - an invitation Knight allegedly declined:

"I'm not sure what more they needed to see. He wrestled in New Japan, CMLL, AEW, Ring of Honor, MLW and TNA. There are looks at this guy on every other stage but ours. Glad we were at least trying though.”

If Knight had chosen WWE then it’s likely he would have been sent to NXT. TNA also reportedly believed that he would not be returning to the IMPACT Zone unless he signed with WWE.

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