The wrestling war between WWE and AEW began in 2019, with both companies attempting to sign the best talent available. Both promotions have some of the best wrestlers in the world, and having two big promotions with big money backing them is great for talent because it means more money and more options.
WWE attempted to sign nearly everyone to long-term, high-paying contracts that year, only to release several of them due to the COVID-19 pandemic the following year. Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson were prime examples of this, as they had the opportunity to join AEW and make their debut on the premiere episode of Dynamite, only to return to WWE before being released in the pandemic.
Years later, as both AEW and WWE negotiate new television contracts for 2024, WWE is once again attempting to secure talent both on its roster and in the free agent market. While they didn’t get Will Ospreay, they did get CM Punk back after he was released following his backstage brawl with Jack Perry at All In.
Dave Meltzer stated on Wrestling Observer Radio that WWE is offering big money to talent.
Meltzer stated, “There’s a lot of movement in WWE right now as far as they don’t want anyone leaving,” Meltzer stated. “And there’s a lot of people who are being offered very big money that is besides just [CM Punk], but other people who are being offered very big money, much more than they’re making to stay.”
