WWE Believe Swerve Strickland’s New AEW Deal Is BAD For Pro Wrestling

Swerve Strickland recently put pen to paper on a new deal with All Elite Wrestling, with the former AEW World Champion believed to have signed with the promotion until 2029. 

Strickland’s deal is reported to be one of the biggest in AEW history, but a report from Dave Meltzer in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter states that some in WWE are apparently unhappy with the deal, believing it is a negative for the professional wrestling industry.

Although no figures have been released as to what Strickland will be earning on this new deal, Meltzer suggests that he’ll be in the ballpark of other big earners in AEW such as Kazuchika Okada and Mercedes Moné. WWE sources have allegedly relayed to Meltzer that Strickland’s deal - as well as one that AEW have offered to Daniel Garcia - are bad as they are way over what WWE perceive the market value is for the two stars.

Meltzer noted that Strickland's new contract is "well ahead" of Kevin Owens' current WWE deal which was $2.25 million for the first year, $2.5 million for the second year, and then $3 million for the final year.