Report: AEW Set To Only Sign "Athletic Big Guys" For The Time Being
Roster will remain settled for the moment...
On this week's episode of Dynamite, ROH and NJPW Star Jeff Cobb made his debut in All Elite Wrestling. He was revealed as Chris Jericho's hired mercenary and aligned himself with The Inner Circle at the end of the broadcast.
Dave Meltzer reported in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter that AEW offered Cobb a contract, but he is uninterested in signing as he wants to work in New Japan as much as he possibly can. Instead, he will remain a free agent so he can pick and choose bookings.
Despite this offer being extended, Meltzer noted that All Elite "aren't rushing" to sign new stars as they don't think they have enough TV time to showcase most of the wrestlers they already have on the roster.
Meltzer wrote: "For obvious reasons, AEW has the edge and priority, but AEW isn't in the mode of signing everyone with talent. They've slowed down on new people because they don't have enough TV to feature all the guys they have. So they aren't rushing to sign new guys."
Jim Ross revealed on the latest episode of Grilling JR that the young promotion is, instead, only attempting to add "athletic big guys" like Cobb to the roster.
When asked who AEW is trying to sign, JR said: "Yeah, size, athletic big guys. I don't know who they'll sign, but I'm a big fan of Lance Archer, a fan of Jeff Cobb. I'm a big fan of Luke Harper in WWE. Good talents. Guys like that that have ability. That we can all see that have not been given the total opportunity to become a global star with the spotlight on them."
In recent weeks, AEW has been in advanced talks with Lance Archer, but he is yet to ink a deal with the promotion. Meanwhile, former WWE star Luke Harper, now going by Brodie Lee, is set to make his debut on the March 18 episode of Dynamite, which airs from his hometown of Rochester, New York.
Dave Meltzer reported in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter that AEW offered Cobb a contract, but he is uninterested in signing as he wants to work in New Japan as much as he possibly can. Instead, he will remain a free agent so he can pick and choose bookings.
Despite this offer being extended, Meltzer noted that All Elite "aren't rushing" to sign new stars as they don't think they have enough TV time to showcase most of the wrestlers they already have on the roster.
Meltzer wrote: "For obvious reasons, AEW has the edge and priority, but AEW isn't in the mode of signing everyone with talent. They've slowed down on new people because they don't have enough TV to feature all the guys they have. So they aren't rushing to sign new guys."
Jim Ross revealed on the latest episode of Grilling JR that the young promotion is, instead, only attempting to add "athletic big guys" like Cobb to the roster.
When asked who AEW is trying to sign, JR said: "Yeah, size, athletic big guys. I don't know who they'll sign, but I'm a big fan of Lance Archer, a fan of Jeff Cobb. I'm a big fan of Luke Harper in WWE. Good talents. Guys like that that have ability. That we can all see that have not been given the total opportunity to become a global star with the spotlight on them."
In recent weeks, AEW has been in advanced talks with Lance Archer, but he is yet to ink a deal with the promotion. Meanwhile, former WWE star Luke Harper, now going by Brodie Lee, is set to make his debut on the March 18 episode of Dynamite, which airs from his hometown of Rochester, New York.
Written by Aidan Gibbons
Editor-in-Chief of Cultaholic.com Twitter: @theaidangibbons
