The battle for talent between AEW and WWE was evident once again as Mercedes Mone, Kazuchika Okada, and Will Ospreay, all highly sought after by multiple promotions, ultimately decided to join Tony Khan’s AEW.
WWE was among those interested in signing them. Dave Meltzer reported in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter that AEW President Tony Khan outbid the rival promotion.
“In all three cases it was known that Khan offered more money than WWE, and WWE officials, who seemingly expected the lure of WWE and WrestleMania being enough of a deciding factor, ended up with it not being the case,” Meltzer wrote.
