Popular star wanted to 'take some time' to consider AEW contract amidst strong WWE interest
A popular AEW star supposedly wanted to "take some time" to consider his deal with the Tony Khan-led company amid reported interest from rival promotion WWE. The talent in question is Daniel Garcia.
The Red Death made his much-anticipated return to All Elite Wrestling programming on this week's edition of Dynamite. This appearance was Garcia's first since his loss to MJF at All Out 2024 and seemingly laid to rest all speculations of the 26-year-old jumping ship to WWE amidst rumors of the sports entertainment juggernaut's interest in bringing him in.
During the media call for AEW's upcoming pay-per-view WrestleDream 2024, Tony Khan addressed Daniel Garcia opting to stay All Elite, expressing his understanding of Garcia's need to weigh his options before deciding on a significant career path.
The All Elite President also praised the former ROH Pure Champion's growth and development, discussed his own belief in Garcia as a performer, and noted the overall sense of positivity signaled by the latter's choosing to resume his All Elite Wrestling career.
“I really like Daniel Garcia and I completely understand why he wanted to take some time before making a really important decision in his life and career. It’s a life changing decision and I understand why somebody would want to reflect on these things, especially with a major contract year looming. It’s a great beacon to our wrestlers, our staff, and our fans, when they see one of the great young wrestlers in the sport, somebody we have spent time developing, where a lot of our top stars like Bryan Danielson and FTR believe in Daniel Garcia and want to mentor him and work with him."
Tony Khan added:
“I was thrilled to extend Danny’s contract and have Danny stay in AEW for years to come. It’s great news for AEW, the staff, for Danny personally, and the fans. That’s one things I’m excited about for the future, getting Danny’s contract settled.” [H/T - Fightful]
What Daniel Garcia had to say on AEW Dynamite?
Daniel Garcia broke his silence about his pro wrestling future on the latest episode of Dynamite. The star revealed that having spent time considering what the best course for him to follow could be, he had decided to stay where the best wrestles, declaring that he would continue to be a part of All Elite Wrestling.
Garcia furthermore issued a warning to the champions of All Elite Wrestling, seemingly voicing his intent to continue his pursuit of gold. He was later seen backstage meeting with fellow AEW talent, including Isiah Kassidy, Orange Cassidy, and Katsuyori Shibata.
Given recent reports suggesting that All Elite Wrestling has significant creative plans for Garcia, it remains to be seen what's next for the reigning PWG World Champion in the Jacksonville-based promotion.