When All Elite Wrestling was established, many fans and wrestlers were provided with an alternative to WWE for a mainstream pro-wrestling product. While competing in WWE is a dream for many wrestlers around the world, the grueling schedule that exists within the company's structure is enough to turn many wrestlers away. Others chose not to sign with the company because they preferred to be in control of their own characters in an environment that they could succeed in.
While AEW promises its wrestlers creative freedom and fewer dates, many competitors opted not to sign with the promotion either, or they simply felt that the time wasn't right. Whatever reason it may be, these 10 wrestlers were offered contracts from WWE and AEW but they turned it down.
10 Turned down WWE: Eli Drake
Eli Drake achieved a lot of success during his tenure with IMPACT Wrestling. After being fired by the promotion due to his refusal to compete in an intergender match, Eli Drake signed with the National Wrestling Alliance.
During an interview with Stone Cold Steve Austin, he revealed that there was interest from WWE for the last three years, but he kept turning them down because IMPACT kept giving him a raise. Eli Drake also added that he ultimately signed with NWA because they gave him the best offer and he's enjoying his run in the promotion.
9 Turned down AEW: Joey Ryan
Joey Ryan is one of the most controversial figures in modern wrestling. While his acts divided opinions, he was still a recognizable name in the indies. Before falling into obscurity, Joey Ryan made regular appearances in Being the Elite and he also competed at All In.
After AEW was founded, many fans expected him to sign with the company. Joey Ryan, however, turned down a deal with AEW. He elaborated by stating:
"They are obviously a new company and they're still figuring it out as they go, but as it came to decisions with them we realized that they are going to be successful without me, I am going to be succesful without them."
Due to Joey Ryan's tainted reputation, he was edited out of every episode of Being the Elite, which possibly rules out any chances of him joining AEW anytime soon.
8 Turned down WWE: Will Ospreay
Will Ospreay is currently one of the best wrestlers in the world and his run in NJPW has been nothing short of spectacular. His career would've been quite different if he agreed to sign with WWE. During an interview on Talk is Jericho, Will Ospreay told Chris Jericho that WWE gave him a call and immediately started talking business. Ospreay told them that he appreciated it but he was happy in NJPW.
Another reason why Will Ospreay turned down WWE was due to the company's grueling schedule. The British wrestler explained:
"Those guys are wrestling on Christmas Day and New Year's and that would have killed me. Christmas to me is family and I love being with my family. I don't think I could do it. I really don't."
The two parties ended off on a good note, leaving the bridge for a future working relationship standing.
7 Turned down AEW: Kota Ibushi
Kota Ibushi is no stranger to The Elite, the group of wrestlers that run AEW. Ibushi and Kenny Omega are close friends, and they even competed as tag teams in NJPW known as the Golden Lovers. Kota Ibushi is a very talented wrestler, so it doesn't sound surprising that AEW wanted him on their roster. Ibushi, however, chose not to sign with the company.
He revealed that he turned down the offer to join AEW because if he signed, it would've been the end of his career, and there wasn't going to be anywhere else to go after that. He added that he's happy in NJPW and that is where he'll end his career. Kota Ibushi also turned down an offer from WWE after taking part in the Cruiserweight Classics.
6 Turned down WWE: Tetsuya Naito
Tetsuya Naito is another NJPW veteran that turned down the opportunity to compete in WWE. After his match against Chris Jericho at Dominion in 2018, Naito told Tokyo Sports that he was approached by WWE with a contract but he immediately declined.
"There is nothing to think about, at least for me. This New Japan ring is already the world's number one stage. The fans know this. That's why I think we should focus on our home crowd before looking international."
Tetsuya Naito faced off against Jericho once again the following year at NJPW Wrestle Kingdom. Although Naito rejected an offer from WWE, anything is possible in the world of professional wrestling.
5 Turned down AEW: Eli Drake
Eli Drake not only turned down an offer from WWE, but he also turned down an offer from AEW. He was a good wrestler in IMPACT Wrestling, but his last days in the company were disappointing.
After he was fired from IMPACT, he had talks with AEW but he didn't sign with the company. Eli Drake revealed his reason for not signing with AEW by stating:
"We had a deal worked out. And then we didn't. And then we did again. And then we didn't. We just couldn't come to terms with everything."
This shows that AEW was interested in Eli Drake but things, unfortunately, couldn't work out.
4 Turned down WWE: Adam "Hangman" Page
Adam Page was a member of The Elite along with Kenny Omega and The Young Bucks. Page was established as a main eventer when AEW was formed after he took on Chris Jericho for the vacant AEW World Championship.
Although Page is close friends with The Elite, he admitted in an interview that he considered signing with WWE before joining AEW. He stated that he rejected a deal with WWE because it didn't feel right at the time but he praised WWE for the way they handled the situation. Adam Page could've made more money in WWE, but it looks like he's happier being in AEW around all of his friends.
3 Turned down AEW: Nick Aldis
Nick Aldis carried the National Wrestling Alliance as the World Champion for a long time and brought back prestige to a title that was held by many all-time greats. He even put his title on the line against Cody Rhodes at All In.
Aldis revealed that AEW was interested in signing him but he admitted that he was only going to accept their offer if he was allowed to wrestle in NWA as well. Nick Aldis was willing to sign with AEW if he could continue competing in the NWA, but it looked like AEW couldn't agree to that.
2 Turned down WWE: Kenny Omega
Kenny Omega was a huge star in Japan and, after leaving NJPW, WWE and AEW were interested in signing the biggest free agent in professional wrestling. Omega told Dave Meltzer that WWE's offer for him was incredible, but AEW was a better choice for him.
He added that he would've had a ton of dream matches in WWE, but with AEW, he had the potential to work with unique talents from all over the world. Even though the Best Bout Machine hasn't yet replicated his success from Japan in AEW, he's still a top performer in the company and is already an exciting AEW World Champion.
1 Turned down AEW: CM Punk
Although he announced his retirement from pro wrestling, CM Punk is still a popular name among wrestling fans. Till today, many fans are still awaiting his comeback. There was even a rumor that he was going to appear at All Out in 2019, but that didn't happen.
Punk did make an appearance at Starrcast 3 where he revealed that he received an offer from AEW in the form of a text message. Punk, however, didn't know to react to it, but he revealed that he preferred to do business via a conversation instead of a text message. CM Punk did make a return to pro wrestling later that year in some capacity, as an analyst for WWE Backstage.