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It may only be October, but that doesn't mean that free agency will only be relevant at the end of 2019. A few stars like Marty Scurll have deals that expire prior to the end of the year. Many other wrestlers will have their deals end once the calendar turns over to 2020, opening themselves up for another payday. Where they will get that payday, however, is what will keep wrestling fans on their toes.
Will they go to the biggest promotion in the world in WWE? Will they want to join the upstart promotion All Elite Wrestling? Is re-signing with their current promotion in their best interests? The potential free agents will decide which promotion best fits their current demands and they will ultimately help that promotion improve.
Some stars might want a bigger platform and sign with either AEW (since it has a TV deal), or WWE (since it is the most prominent promotion in the world). It will all come down to various factors including money, creative freedom, opportunities presented, and travel.
Every promotion is unique and would likely handle every free agent in a different fashion. While not all wrestlers are created equal, it does not mean that they may be better suited for one promotion over another. Here are six wrestlers who will be free agents by the year's end and the best probable fit for each wrestler's next contract.
#6 PJ Black - Deal ends at end of 2019
PJ Black has played a number of different roles during his mainstream wrestling career. Most fans were likely introduced to him as a member of the Nexus, the group that terrorized WWE upon its debut.
As a part of the Nexus, he was a loyal soldier and former tag team champion. He wasn't booked to show much of a character outside of the young group, but his talent was never in question. He was the most visually appealing star of the group due to his high-flying moves and his striking ability.
After leaving WWE, he moved around a bit. Black wrestled on the independent scene before landing a recurring role in Lucha Underground. He was a member of the Worldwide Underground alongside Johnny Mundo (Morrison), Taya Valkyrie, Jack Evans, and later Ricky Mundo. The role he played there was that of a member of an arrogant group of heels that interfered at every turn. Once he left LU and joined ROH in 2019, he maintained some of his arrogant tomfoolery.
Black turned a corner midway through his ROH run when he changed his ways in order to become a more honorable member of the roster. Black allied himself with Lifeblood, as they were the quintessential group that played by the rules. His deal expires at the end of 2019. Since he's already had a run in the WWE, he's best suited to stay put where he is.
Verdict: PJ Black should re-sign with Ring of Honor.
#5 Bandido - Deal with ROH expires at end of 2019
Whereas Black has wrestled for almost 20 years, Bandido has been alive for approximately the same amount of time. He's broken out over the last few years while still in his early 20s. He was a part of All In in September 2018, but opted to sign a one-year deal with ROH instead of joining AEW or WWE. That deal expires at the end of 2019.
Bandido has been one of the more popular stars in ROH this year and his membership in Lifeblood has afforded him the ability to let his actions do his talking, rather than his words. He may not be the most fluent English speaker, but the language barrier isn't the same problem now that it might have been in years past.
Since he has his entire career in front of him, he likely won't be heading to WWE at this point. He may not want to be pigeonholed into the Cruiserweight Division, although others like Finn Balor and Ricochet have bypassed it. It all depends on what he wants the most out of a new deal and if he wants to continue the work he's done over the past year with ROH. Bandido might want to continue wrestling in Japan and ROH affords him that due to their partnership, however he is destined for bigger things.
Verdict: May re-sign with ROH but I think he will go to AEW.
#4 Rush - Deal with ROH ends at the end of 2019
Rush has tussled with stars in CMLL, Major League Wrestling, and Ring of Honor over the last year. His stint in MLW was short, but he still remained loyal to CMLL, his home promotion. Everything changed, however, when he and his brother Dragon Lee were both released by CMLL last week.
Now that he is free of CMLL, his only upcoming decision comes down to ROH. He only signed with the company for one year and becomes a free agent once the year ends. Rush recently won the ROH World Championship by defeating Matt Taven. Is that enough to keep him around in ROH or was it only done because Taven was still negotiating a new deal with ROH and his future was uncertain?
Taven re-upped with the company, so it wouldn't be hard to see him win the title back before the year ends, especially if it looks like Rush is leaving. CMLL and ROH have a working relationship, so that could play a role in his decision. He's been booked strongly in ROH, having never been pinned in his time there. I don't know if he is close to anyone in AEW, but we do know that he is very close to Andrade in WWE. Will that help him make his decision?
Andrade initially had been rumored to have told Rush and Dragon Lee not to sign with WWE, but he has since relented on that stance. Andrade has been booked better in the last six months and if WWE wanted another potential faction, then it would make sense for both parties to come to terms.
Verdict: If he was still with CMLL, he'd be staying with ROH, but signing with WWE seems like the best bet.
#3 Taya Valkyrie - Deal with Impact ends at the end of 2019
She may be the longest-reigning Impact Women's Champion, but the fact still remains that Taya Valkyrie will see her contract with Impact expire at the end of 2019. Valkyrie has been a focal point of both Lucha Underground and Impact. Her husband, John Morrison, however, recently re-signed with WWE.
At every stop, including Impact, LU, and AAA, they've wrestled together. It seems that each woman in Impact has had a run with the title including Allie, Su Yung, Rosemary, Tessa Blanchard and now Valkyrie. Waiting in the wings, however, are the likes of Kiera Hogan, Jordynne Grace and the newest Knockout, Tenille Dashwood.
Since her husband moved on to a different promotion, it makes logical sense that she will follow him to the next stop. Whether she starts in NXT or goes to the main roster is another matter, but she'd be a great addition to any WWE brand. She's different than a lot of the women currently in WWE and could help the Women's Evolution advance even further.
Verdict: Taya will follow her husband John Morrison to WWE. He will likely go the main roster while she may go to NXT.
#2 Cain Velasquez - Currently a free agent
The former UFC Heavyweight Champion has been in talks with all of the big wrestling promotions in the world from WWE, to AEW, to New Japan Pro-Wrestling. He's only wrestled for AAA so far, but those have been per-performance deals.
Velasquez's decision comes down to many factors. If he wants to do strong style, then he'll go to NJPW. If he wants to continue the relationship he's forged with AAA and Cody (they teamed together at TripleMania this year), then he'll go to AEW and continue with AAA.
If he wants to make the biggest impact and likely have the highest profile matches, however, then the only place that would make sense is WWE. He and Brock Lesnar have history in the UFC, going back to when Velasquez took the Heavyweight title from Lesnar. It indirectly led Lesnar away from MMA and back to WWE. If WWE wanted to play on this, it would be easy to write.
What stage is bigger than WrestleMania? Cain Velasquez is 37 and his window - unless he's a part-time performer like Lesnar - is closing. He's a big enough name to wrestling fans and that would mean he wouldn't debut to crickets like Tito Ortiz in Impact.
Verdict: Will likely sign with WWE for the Brock Lesnar program. No other promotion can offer him the huge exposure that has been given to both Ronda Rousey and Lesnar.
#1 Marty Scurll - Deal with ROH expires at the end of November 2019
The photo that floated around featuring Marty Scurrl without his friends was one of the most memorable pictures that came out at the beginning of the year. Of all of the members of the Elite, he was the lone member to still be contractually obligated to a different promotion (ROH).
During his time in ROH, Scurrl has won the TV Title and the Six-Man Belts, but never the ROH World Championship. Will Rush's meteoric rise to the ROH World Championship in under one year be something that could influence his decision? Even though he enjoys his time with Villain Enterprises, he may feel like he's missing out with his friends being in AEW.
Scurll could have easily won the title at some point this year, but it didn't happen. His deal with ROH ends in November, setting him up for a big payday once December hits. Scurrl is a huge star that could be successful in NXT, but he is destined to reunite with his friends.
Verdict: Scurll completes the Elite circle by joining AEW.
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