WWE Stars Not Guaranteed AEW Contracts, Chris Jericho Says

The emergence of All Elite Wrestling (AEW) is posing a threat to the dominance of World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) in North America as wrestlers now have an option when it comes to earning lucrative contracts in the pro-wrestling arena. But WWE legend Chris Jericho, who has signed a multi-year deal with the new promotion has revealed that all WWE stars will not be welcomed by AEW.

Vince McMahon, the chairman of WWE, took preventive action following the emergence of AEW and instructed the management to sign most of the wrestlers on the roster to new deals to ensure they do not think about jumping ship and has thus far retained most of the big stars. But there are many waiting to run down their contracts and seek pastures new in the hope that the grass is greener.

Dean Ambrose will be leaving WWE at the end of April but has given no indication that he will join AEW, but the likes of Karl Anderson and Luke Gallows are said to be ready to leave WWE and seek out employment with the new promotion. Even Sasha Banks, a star of the women’s division is said to have asked for her release and began following members connected to AEW on social media.

AEW has offered WWE legends Jericho and Jim Ross the best contracts in their careers thus far and this has made other wrestlers sit up and take notice. But the former has made it clear that everyone who wants to jump ship will not be welcomed after revealing that AEW will decide based on individual talent.

Jericho believes AEW will not be able to employ everyone as it already has a deep roster going into the promotion's first live show “Double or Nothing”, which will take place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas on May 25.

“It's different. We're not doing it that way where anyone who doesn't like what they're doing in WWE is automatically guaranteed a job in AEW. We will look at every talent on an individual basis,” Jericho said in an exclusive chat with Sportskeeda.

“There's some guys we'd love to have in WWE, and there's some guys we probably wouldn't take. Obviously we haven't even had a show yet and our roster is already very deep,” he added. “When you talk about the Double or Nothing show, how many people can you book on that show? If you have 60-70 guys, you end up with the same problem as WWE.”