AJ Styles: WWE star on if he considered joining AEW before contract renewal

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Bleacher Report catches you up on the latest news from the WWE Universe and All Elite Wrestling.

WWE Reportedly Didn't Make Cesaro a Big Contract Offering

Cesaro's departure from WWE reportedly came down to the company not offer him a sizable contract.

According to Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter (h/t Subhojeet Mukherjee of Ringside News), Cesaro leaving the company was "more than of a WWE conclusion than a Cesaro decision" since WWE offered him a deal he "didn't like."

Meltzer added that WWE'south contract offer didn't approach the offers to Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn when the company convinced them to re-sign.

On Th, PWInsider.com (h/t H Jenkins of Ringside News) reported that Cesaro had left WWE after he and the company were unable to come to an understanding. It was noted that at that place is no 90-day non-compete clause since his contract expired rather than him getting released.

Meltzer (h/t Jenkins) followed up on Fri, reporting that Cesaro had withal to receive an offer from AEW, although he didn't rule out the possibility of AEW making a play for him.

The 41-year-one-time Cesaro signed with WWE in 2011 and made his main roster debut in 2012.

During his decadelong run with WWE, Cesaro was a one-time United States champion, but his greatest success came in the tag squad ranks, as he won seven tag titles with Sheamus, Tyson Kidd and Shinsuke Nakamura as his partners.

While Cesaro never won a world title and was often relegated to the midcard or tag team ranks, he was a fan favorite throughout his WWE run and was often lauded for his remarkable in-ring prowess.

Cesaro figures to exist a hot commodity on the gratis-agent market, and the Swiss star is complimentary to sign with and appear for any wrestling promotion at any time.

AEW Reportedly Didn't Pursue Styles Before WWE Contract

AEW reportedly didn't make a play for AJ Styles before he recently signed a new contract with WWE.

According to Meltzer (h/t Mukherjee), there were no "overtures" from AEW toward Styles despite the company expressing involvement in him previously.

Meltzer noted that AEW's thought for the first-always episode of Dynamite in 2019 was for Styles, Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson to confront Kenny Omega and The Young Bucks, only information technology never happened, every bit Styles re-signed with WWE.

Styles' contract was reportedly ready to expire over again in the well-nigh futurity, only Fightful Select (h/t Michael Perry of Ringside News) reported this week that The Phenomenal One signed a new deal with WWE that will pay him more than than $3 million per twelvemonth.

Meltzer (h/t Mitch Waddon of Cultaholic) previously reported that Styles' new contract was either for three or five years.

Styles is withal performing at an elite level, but given that he is 44 years old, it is possible his new contract will be his last as an active performer.

Meltzer added that Styles was "not interested" in leaving WWE, which is in line with comments Styles has made in recent years.

In 2019, Styles said he wanted to retire with WWE. He too said in January that he could see himself working at the WWE Functioning Center as a trainer once his in-ring career is over.

Styles would have been a keen fit in AEW given some of the matchups bachelor to him, but at that place is withal plenty left for the two-time WWE champion to do in WWE as well.

Ane possible dream lucifer is Styles vs. Edge, and after Border'due south promo on Monday's episode of Raw, at that place is seemingly a proficient gamble that the match will have place at WrestleMania 38 in April.

AEW Reportedly Exercises 1-Year Option in Cage'due south Contract

Despite non using him much in contempo months, AEW has reportedly exercised the option year in Brian Cage'south contract.

According to Fightful Select (h/t Jenkins), Muzzle told those close to him that AEW exercised his option, and he was said to be "surprised" by the decision, equally "about everyone on the All Elite Wrestling roster thought his deal would merely elapse."

The 38-twelvemonth-onetime Cage debuted with AEW in May 2020 equally a surprise entrant in the Casino Ladder Match at Double or Nothing. Accompanied past Taz, Muzzle won the match to earn a shot at the AEW World Championship.

Cage lost the subsequent championship match against Jon Moxley, only Taz made him the FTW champion.

Eventually, Cage and Taz congenital out a stable with Hook, Ricky Starks and Powerhouse Hobbs joining the ranks. Cage left Squad Taz in July after dropping the FTW title to Starks.

Since then, Cage has made only a handful of appearances on Dynamite and Rampage. His most recent televised appearance for AEW was a loss to Starks in a rematch for the FTW title in October.

In September, Cage's married woman, Melissa Santos, took to social media to express dismay over the mode in which AEW has utilized Cage.

Given that and the fact that Cage hasn't wrestled a match for AEW yet this year, the expectation was that AEW would let the former Impact World champion walk once his contract expired.

A return to Impact or a run in WWE could take been in the cards, just instead it looks every bit though AEW and Cage might endeavour to work things out.

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Source: https://bleacherreport.com/articles/10027966-wwe-and-aew-contract-rumors-on-cesaro-aj-styles-and-brian-cage

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