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We welcome you all to the first edition of Sportskeeda Wrestling's AEW Rumor Roundup. There are several big stories to discuss and dissect in the inaugural AEW Rumor Roundup offering.
The most talked-about story coming out of AEW over the past few days has been regarding a veteran star's release. We have all the details on the controversial AEW departure and the backstage problems that played a significant role.
A former WWE Superstar revealed that he is open to doing business with AEW, and all that needs to happen is a phone call from Cody Rhodes.
AEW also allegedly told a WWE Hall of Famer that he was too old to sign with the company. Elsewhere, we have a backstage update regarding the future of Samoa Joe following his WWE release.
Another seasoned veteran from AEW revealed how he had talks with WWE before signing a contract with Tony Khan's company.
On that note, let's take a look at all the stories in detail:
#5. Ivelisse released by AEW, details regarding the backstage issues leading to her exit
It was first reported at the start of April that Ivelisse got in trouble with a veteran AEW talent and a few other coaches backstage. Ivelisse was not booked on TV in the following weeks and her partner Diamante continued to appear on AEW TV.
Ivelisse issued a tweet on Wednesday, April 14th, in which she seemingly confirmed her AEW departure. The star eventually deleted the tweet, but here's what she wrote about her AEW release:
"History repeats itself, unfortunately. I speak up about mistreatment and get let go. That's life."
Fightful Select released various notes on Ivelisse's AEW status, and they even reached out to the Puerto Rican wrestler for a statement.
Ivelisse had 'well-known disagreements' backstage with several AEW agents, and many in the company believed she would not be returning. Ivelisse had backstage arguments and fights.
Ivelisse opened up regarding the alleged mistreatment by a coach, and she even accused Thunder Rosa of slandering her name in AEW.
Ivelisse said that Rosa had a history of resorting to backstage politics to get ahead in her career, and she even highlighted a Lucha Underground lawsuit on the matter.
"I spoke up about mistreatment from a Coach, even to other women too, there were witnesses, and I was the one suspended and left in limbo and just now let go, and nothing has been done at all the entire time about (Thunder Rosa) slandering my name the entire time in AEW and doing everything to sabotage my position there, I kept quiet, (Thunder Rosa) also has a history of getting involved with officials in order to get ahead which there was a lawsuit and everything in (Lucha Underground)."
Ivelisse has been wrestling for more than a decade, and as things stand, the wrestler is no longer an AEW talent and is open for bookings.
#4. WWE Hall of Famer Theodore Long on being told he was too old for AEW
Teddy Long was a guest on The Wrestling Inc Dailly podcast, and the WWE Hall of Famer revealed why fans shouldn't expect to see him in AEW anytime soon.
AEW officials allegedly told Theodore Long that he was too old to work for the company, and the response came as a big surprise to the former SmackDown General Manager.
Long was quick to note that the AEW product has several old-timers filling on-screen and other backstage roles.
"I don't really get the chance to watch much AEW. They told me… I got word that I was too old to be over there [laughs]. If you take a look at that [AEW product], I don't know how they could say that. But I'm just saying what I'm saying."
The 73-year-old Teddy Long is presently working as a manager on Southwest Wrestling Entertainment (SWE Fury), a wrestling show based out of Texas.
Teddy Long was last seen on WWE TV on the Legends Night episode of RAW in January 2021, and it seems like AEW has no intention of getting the lively veteran on board.
#3. Updates on recently released WWE superstars and whether AEW will sign any of them
WWE released ten superstars on April 15th, and the list of outgoing talents has undoubtedly caught fans off guard. AEW is unsurprisingly in the news as well.
Samoa Joe's WWE release particularly rocked the wrestling world to its core, but it didn't take time for the focus to shift the former United States Champion's immediate future.
Dave Meltzer reported in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter that Samoa Joe's age and troubling history of injuries would have contributed to WWE's decision to release him.
Meltzer explained that WWE officials would have been motivated by the same reasons which prompted them not to sign Christian Cage.
However, Meltzer noted that Samoa Joe's AEW debut isn't a sure-shot possibility as Tony Khan and co. would also need to look at their finances before making a move for a talent of Joe's caliber.
"It becomes an interesting strategy because Joe, in particular, if he is in good shape because he's a star to the AEW fan base and can talk, could be a valuable acquisition. But perhaps WWE believes with his age and injuries; he wouldn't be, similar to not competing to keep Jay Reso (Christian Cage)."
"In addition, the question is how many people can AEW hire within its own budget?"
WWE has also seemingly moved on from their practice of hoarding talent, and Vince McMahon and his team don't seem to be afraid of their counterparts in All Elite Wrestling.
AEW has an incredibly stacked roster filled with exciting indie talent and former WWE stars, but do they have room for a few more stars?
Chelsea Green was also surprisingly one of the wrestlers released by WWE, and the former NXT superstar has already teased a potential move to AEW with a cheeky message to Penta El Zero M.
Out of the ten stars let go by WWE, who do you see getting picked up by AEW after the end of their non-compete clauses?
#2. Former WWE star open to working with AEW and is waiting for Cody Rhodes' phone call
Sin Cara, aka Cinta De Oro, sat down for an exclusive interview with Sportskeeda Wrestling's Riju Dasgupta, and the former WWE Superstar opened up on the idea of joining AEW.
The former NXT Tag Team Champion is entirely up for the challenge. Sin Cara added that he is open for business and that AEW EVP Cody Rhodes has his phone number.
Sin Cara loved what AEW was doing and explained that having competition in the pro wrestling scene made everyone perform at a higher level.
"We haven't had any contact with AEW. I think they're doing amazing things. They are doing the things that a lot of guys who never had the opportunity to do in other companies. Now they're building their brand, and it's awesome. Competition's always good for everybody."
Sin Cara revealed that while he hasn't spoken to any AEW officials yet, he doesn't rule out the possibility of joining other Hispanic talents in All Elite Wrestling somewhere down the line.
"In my case, I haven't had the opportunity to talk to AEW, but I know there are a lot of Latinos over there, and I'm excited about that. Maybe in the near future, you never know what the future holds. The only thing I can do is continue the pursuit of my career and being happy, and things will fall into place. And I'm excited about the future, and if they ever contact me, I'm here. He knows my number; Cody knows my number. Lot of the boys there know my number." h/t Abhilash Mendhe of Sportskeeda Wrestling
The 43-year-old ex-WWE star is ready for AEW, but will Cody Rhodes make the all-important phone call? Only time will tell.
#1. Frankie Kazarian had 'mild talks' with WWE before joining AEW
Frankie Kazarian is a true veteran of the game as the AEW star has been wrestling worldwide since 1998.
Kazarian became a wrestling fan after watching the WWE product, and he recently revealed on the AEW Unrestricted podcast that he had talks with Vince McMahon's company.
Kazarian has been wrestling long enough to understand the importance of doing good business, and he was interested in working with the WWE.
However, the former TNA/IMPACT Wrestling X-Division Champion added that the AEW project was just too attractive for him to reject.
"I'm a businessman, and I've been around long enough to know that you don't not take phone calls. So there was mild talks, and like I said, I have a lot of friends up there. I grew up watching WWE, so if it wasn't for WWE, I don't know if I would be the fan I am, but AEW, for me, I could not pass it up."
Kazarian shares close bonds with The Young Bucks, Cody Rhodes, Hangman Page, and his fellow SCU members. The 43-year-old wrestler stated that everything just fell into place for him and AEW was the best option for his career.
"The minute the concept of AEW itself was pitched, I was on board. "We still have a real tight bond, SCU and The Bucks, and Cody and [Hangman] Page. We were all together all the time, and we were kind of on the ground floor of this. It was just one of those things that comes along, and you can't turn down." H/t WrestlingInc
Frankie Kazarian has been a true workhorse for AEW has he has wrestled consistently on Dark, Dark: Elevation, and Dynamite since his signing in 2019.
Kazarian is someone all the younger talents would indeed look up to in AEW, and his decision to choose Tony Khan's side was the right move in hindsight.
