Details on Tony Khan reportedly wanting two released WWE stars in AEW
AEW president Tony Khan is reportedly ready to open up his wallet for another set of released WWE stars. This time, former NXT Women's Tag Team Champion Candice LeRae and former Diamond Mine manager Malcolm Bivens are rumored to be on the company's radar.
LeRae quietly left WWE on May 6th, 2022, after her contract expired. She hadn't wrestled since July 2021, and she assumed a non-wrestling role on TV up until her last appearance. LeRae then went on maternity leave to give birth to her first child.
Bivens was one of several stars WWE released on April 29th, 2022. He was let go alongside the likes of Dakota Kai, Dexter Lumis and Harland due to budget cuts. However, it was noted shortly after that Bivens turned down a new contract and had no plans to re-sign with WWE.
Fightful Select has confirmed that Candice LeRae's WWE contract has expired, and she's now a free agent.
Full story and more details for subscribers of FightfulSelect.com now. https://t.co/PN7XePIxoh
According to Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer, both stars could potentially be AEW-bound. In the case of Malcolm Bivens, Meltzer revealed that he may have wanted to join Tony Khan's promotion when he was asked to re-sign with WWE.
“In NXT, the belief was that [Malcolm] Bivens didn’t sign because he wanted to go to AEW and will be there when his noncompete ends. Whether that’s true or not, that was the belief” said Dave Meltzer (H/T WrestlePurists).
For LeRae, nothing has been set in stone. However, it is believed that Khan would want someone like her in AEW given her history with a number of stars, such as The Young Bucks and Adam Cole.
“While we don’t know Tony Khan’s thoughts on the matter, it is obvious that there are people in power at AEW who would want her in the company.” said Meltzer (H/T WrestlePurists).
Could Candice LeRae be Tony Khan's Joker in The Owen Hart Foundation Tournament?
On the May 18th edition of AEW Dynamite, Dr. Britt Baker D.M.D. will face a mystery "Joker" opponent in a quarterfinal match in The Owen Hart Foundation Tournament. With rumors running wild online, could Tony Khan be bringing in the former NXT star to compete?
Candice LeRae being a part of AEW as soon as this week is technically a possibility, as she was not released from WWE. LeRae let her contract expire, so she doesn't have a non-compete clause that would prevent her from performing in another promotion. But it's currently unclear when she'll be ready to return to the ring.
Next Week on #AEWDynamite in Round One of the #OwenHartCup Britt Baker faces Off against the Mystery Joker Reveal https://t.co/L0BgoGJRgR
Do you think Candice LeRae will join AEW? Let us know in the comments section down below!