Recently departed WWE Superstar confirms his interest in joining AEW
A former WWE Superstar who recently departed the Stamford-based company has confirmed his interest in AEW. The talent in question is Donovan Dijak.
After working in WWE for around seven years, he left the Triple H-led promotion last month after the company reportedly opted not to renew his contract. Interestingly, Dijak was backstage at AEW x NJPW Forbidden Door 2024. The third edition of the annual cross-over pay-per-view featured several world-class matches and received praise from fans, experts, and even Dijak himself.
During an interview with Forbes, Donovan Dijak was asked who had invited him to attend Forbidden Door 2024. The 37-year-old star claimed that his associates from Paragon Talent Agency—co-founders Steve Kaye and former WWE Superstar Mojo Rawley—had made the necessary arrangements for his visit to the UBS Arena this past Sunday.
Dijak also asserted that AEW President Tony Khan was aware of his interest—presumably in signing with or appearing on All Elite Wrestling—and that the head honcho of the Jacksonville-based promotion at least shared mutual respect for the former Retribution member.
“Nobody. I showed up uninvited [laughs],” Dijak joked when asked who invited him to Forbidden Door. “No, Mojo [Rawley] and Steve [Kaye] both arranged that for me. They have great connections. Steve was there with me, so he brought me along, brought me in. I don’t know if anything needs to be approved by Tony [Khan] specifically or if they just kind of have people going in and out. But I know that Tony has been made aware of my interest, and I know that there’s reciprocal respect if nothing else,” Dijak said. [H/T Forbes]
Donovan Dijak used to watch AEW while still working for WWE
During a conversation with Mansoor and Mason Madden on their InsideMxM Twitch stream, Donovan Dijak revealed that he used to watch All Elite Wrestling even while employed by WWE.
The former WWE stars discussed All Elite's International Champion Will Opsreay when Madden expressed his surprise that Dijak watched the Tony Khan-led promotion's programming while working for the sports entertainment juggernaut.
The latter responded by stating that he had been open about keeping his eye on AEW even when he was with WWE.
"It's very rare that he has like... although he did just wrestle Brian Cage. [Mason Madden asked, 'can't believe you were watching [All Elite Wrestling] while being employed by the fed] I have been open about watching AEW on fed," Dijak replied.
The original Twitch Stream can be seen in the following post:
Given his admitted interest in the company, it remains to be seen whether or when Donovan Dijak decides to shift his career path to become All Elite.