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Who's coming, who's going, and why.
Ever since the regional days of professional wrestling, the talent has been switching companies. Wrestling fans have accepted as a given that there will always be superstars who jump between one promotion to another in a never-ending cycle of influx and outflow.
Sometimes this is due to the 'grass is always greener' syndrome, where a wrestler believes they could get a better deal or treatment or ranking by switching to a rival promotion. Another reason is simply because not all seeds grow in all soils. WALTER may be a great PWG champion, but he might not fare so well in Ring of Honor, for example.
Of course, there are those exceptions to the rule. Randy Orton and John Cena will likely end their careers never having left the WWE. But for most wrestlers, there's always at least a chance they will wind up in another promotion.
Here are five wrestlers who could be changing companies in 2019, and five who are staying right where they are.
Might Change: Shinsuke Nakamura
Where he's currently working: The WWE on their Smackdown brand.
Where he might be going: New Japan Pro Wrestling
Why he might change companies in 2019: By all accounts, Shinsuke Nakamura isn't necessarily unhappy in WWE, but NJPW is said to be very determined to get him back under contract. Now that Nakamura is well known in the USA, they hope to springboard off his popularity to continue their march on the US wrestling market.
Odds of changing jobs: 50-50. Nakamura may not be unhappy in WWE, but the opportunity to work in his homeland for fewer dates might be too good to refuse for the veteran Japanese superstar.
Staying put: Mauro Ranallo
Where he's currently working: WWE on their NXT brand.
Why he's not likely to change jobs when his contract is up: Ranallo is ostensibly the best announcer WWE has, and they will likely be able to offer him more money than other promotions.
Mauro Ranallo is a veteran of the game, and not just for pro wrestling. He cut his teeth announcing for Mixed Martial Arts promotions like Elite XC. His smooth delivery, emotional speech, and impassioned announcing have made him a fan favourite.
Ranallo is so popular with the fans that WWE re-hired him after he quit. The reasons for Ranallo's departure stemmed from his interactions backstage with John "Bradshaw" Layfield. JBL had developed a backstage reputation for being something of a bully, and Ranallo has struggled with depression for years. The two mixed like oil and water, and Ranallo was rehired while JBL has subsequently lost his position with the company.
Might Change promotions: Jay Lethal
Where he's currently employed: Ring of Honor wrestling, several independent promotions.
Where he might be going: WWE
Why he might be changing the company he works for: Jay Lethal has been treated well by Ring of Honor, but he's accomplished everything he can in the company.
Odds of him changing companies: 70-30
Jay Lethal began wrestling on Impact/TNA at the tender age of nineteen. He dazzled fans early on in the X Division, but it was his portrayal of the Black Machismo character that gained him a legion of fans. Even after he stopped being Machismo, he had stellar feuds with such legends as Ric Flair and Kurt Angle.
Lethal has done it all in Ring of Honor, and he has stated in the past that working for WWE would be a goal of his before retirement.
Staying put: Paige
Where she's currently employed: The WWE's Smackdown brand, where she is the on-screen general manager.
Why she will likely stay with her current promotion: Paige's in-ring career is over, which limits her options, and WWE can pay her well for the non-wrestling role.
Paige was an instant sensation in WWE, capturing the NXT women's title in record time and then winning the WWE Divas championship on her very first night on RAW. Fans loved her aggression, mat wrestling, and stiff strikes.
Unfortunately, a neck injury kept her out of action for almost a year, and when she attempted a comeback there was just too much damage. Paige's in-ring career is over, but now she works as the face of Smackdown and an ambassador for the WWE. Due to her deep ties to the company--the WWE is releasing a film about her family produced by Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson--she will likely re-sign with the company next year.
Might Change: The Young Bucks
Where they are currently employed: Ring of Honor and New Japan Pro Wrestling.
Where they might be going: WWE or possibly start their own promotion.
Why they might be changing companies in 2019: The Young Bucks are treated well by NJPW and ROH, who have draped gold all over them, but Matt and Nick Jackson are nothing if not ambitious.
Chances of them changing companies: 90-10
Matt and Nick Jackson have grown up on television. The two former backyard wrestlers wound up on TNA/Impact's radar, and were immediately signed and put into a feud with the Motor City Machine Guns (Alex Shelly and Chris Sabin). After their Impact run was over, they tried out for the WWE but were prevented from signing because Booker T and Rob Van Dam felt the Bucks disrespected them backstage.
Undaunted, they set out to become the most successful act on the independent scene. Both financially successful and creatively fulfilled, the Bucks have stated that while they are not opposed to working for WWE they no longer feel it's necessary. Rumors abound that they might start up their own promotion with Cody Rhodes. They are, no matter what, likely done with Ring of Honor after next year, however.
6. Staying Put: Bobby Lashley
Where he's currently employed: The WWE on their RAW brand.
Why he's not likely to change companies in 2019: His WWE contract is lucrative even if he's not in the main event picture at present time.
Bobby Lashley seems like he was born to be a pro wrestler. After a successful military career, the amateur wrestling standout joined the WWE and was given an instant push. Lashley took on two and even three enhancement talents at once during his build up, and wound up wearing mid-card gold.
He also participated in one of the highest-profile moments in Wrestlemania history, when he and Donald Trump shaved Vince McMahon's head live on Pay per view. However, Lashley wanted to branch out into MMA, and the WWE's stringent road schedule prevented this. He wound up signing with TNA/Impact on two separate occasions, both times wearing their big belt.
Now he's back in WWE, and despite the fact that he is being used mostly in the mid card he is said to be happy and satisfied with the company.
Might Change: Chris Jericho
Where he's currently employed: NJPW, where he is the current IWGP North American champion, and appeared at All In.
Where he might be going: The WWE, or possibly a new promotion.
Why he might change companies: Jericho is the biggest potential free agent in the world, and will likely generate a heated contest for his services.
Odds of changing companies in 2019: 50-50
Chris Jericho is the Phoenix of professional wrestling. Every time you think he's burned out, he rises from the ashes to ascend to the top of the sports entertainment mountain. Jericho has done this by making small tweaks to his character to remain fresh and relevant.
Jericho shocked the world by making a surprise appearance at All In, attacking Kenny Omega after his dream match with Pentagon Jr. He remains the single hottest free agent in the business, as his NJPW contract is not exclusive.
Staying put: Karl Anderson and Luke Gallows
Where they are currently Employed: The WWE
Why they will likely not change companies in 2019: More money, not a great demand for them in other promotions, friendship with AJ Styles.
Karl Anderson and Luke Gallows were something of a head-scratcher when the WWE hired them in 2016. While they were a member of the Bullet Club stable and held the IWGP heavyweight tag team championships of the world, they were also little known outside of NJPW. Gallows was part of CM Punk's straight edge society stable, but most fans remember him as the Corfed Colossus Festus.
Karl Anderson was completely unknown to WWE fans, but the duo's friendship with AJ Styles led to them being offered contracts. Karl Anderson and Luke Gallows have performed ably and well on the WWE roster, even without being associated with AJ, and the company will likely convince them to stay on in 2019.
Could change promotions: Kenny Omega
Where he is currently employed: New Japan Pro Wrestling, Ring of Honor
Where he might be going: The WWE, or an upstart promotion by the Young Bucks.
Why he might change companies: The WWE has expressed a lot of interest, friendship with the Bucks.
Odds of him changing companies: 80-20 against.
Kenny Omega is the talk of the pro wrestling world these days. Not only did he top the Pro Wrestling Illustrated top 500 wrestlers in the world list, he's also the current IWGP World heavyweight champion and a former IWGP United States champion.
Many consider Kenny Omega to be the best wrestler working today, and that's been borne out by his stellar performances and the fact that fans can't seem to get enough of him. Omega is said to be quite happy in NJPW, but money talks and no one can offer a bigger contract than WWE.
Staying put: AJ Styles
Where he's currently employed: The WWE on their Smackdown Live brand.
Why he will likely not change companies in 2019: AJ has said he intends to retire in the WWE.
AJ Styles was once the man no one ever believed would be hired by the WWE. So many things seemed to be aligned to prevent it. You might even say the deck was stacked against AJ.
For one, he's a pure wrestler, and WWE prefers sports entertainers with big personas and gimmicks. For another, he's not the largest wrestler in the game. Still another impediment to his being hired by WWE is the fact he was Impact wrestling's homegrown superstar for many years.
But hell froze over, and AJ Styles was signed by the WWE, bypassing NXT and making his debut on the main roster during the Royal Rumble. WWE has been nothing but pleased with his performance so far, and AJ feels like he is finally getting the financial security and recognition he deserves. AJ will likely re-sign with WWE when his contract comes up next year.
There you have it; Five wrestlers who could be changing promotions in 2019, and five who will likely stay right where they are. Questions or comments? Please leave them below and thanks for reading.
