Report: Update On How Close The Elite Were To Choosing WWE Over AEW
The Elite might have been on WWE TV in early 2024 if Tony Khan hadn't pushed to re-sign them
Aug 15, 2023
After months of negotiations, The Elite of Kenny Omega, The Young Bucks, and Hangman Page ultimately committed their future to All Elite Wrestling, signing new multi-year deals with Tony Khan's promotion months before their original contracts were set to expire at the end of 2023. At least one of The Elite's new deals was for four years. Kenny Omega and The Young Bucks remain AEW Executive Vice Presidents.
It is known there was interest in The Elite from WWE but Kenny Omega and co. made a pact to stick together, with all four members going back and forth about whether or not to stick with AEW or jump ship to WWE.
According to SEScoops, Kenny Omega, Hangman Page, and The Young Bucks would have likely moved to WWE if they had become free agents. Vince McMahon's company was seen by some members of The Elite as having more to offer, with the promise of new challenges and a fresh start after all of the issues with CM Punk among the factors in play. Years of fresh opponents and storylines also made leaving for WWE an enticing opportunity.
"It was very attractive, the idea of seeing if they could stay true to what they want to do in this business and doing it in WWE. It would be very hard, almost everyone fails at it. But then you see Cody (Rhodes)," a source told SEScoops.
A renewed push from Tony Khan led to The Elite re-signing with AEW on deals that gives the faction the ability to "make their own schedules", something that was important to The Young Bucks and Hangman Page, in particular, with all three men having families.
Each member of The Elite also received a pay rise. Kenny Omega and The Young Bucks were already earning seven figures in AEW, with their new deals pushing them further into the million-dollar club. Hangman Page, meanwhile, was previously on a six-figure salary but his new deal sees him earn over $1 million per year.
"The first contract with AEW was about making sure they could retire. That contract took care of them for good. This contract takes care of their kids, their grandkids, college tuition, all of it. This is about the next thing," a source noted.
