World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) has been forced to change its routine since the emergence of All Elite Wrestling (AEW). They are now offering longer contracts to new signings in order to delay their entry into the free agents pool after signing for the WWE.

WWE has been faced with an exodus of sorts in recent months with a number of wrestlers asking for their release or walking away when their contracts expire. Dean Ambrose was the biggest casualty as the former champion walked away after eight years with the company – and much to the ire of WWE chairman Vince McMahon, he signed a multi-year deal with AEW.

The likes of Luke Harper, Sasha Banks and tag team duo The Revival had asked to be released from their contracts but they were flatly declined by McMahon. The WWE chairman has been instructing the management to add time to the contracts of wrestlers requesting their release while also offering lucrative extensions to a number of wrestlers on the roster to keep them from jumping ship.

WWE
The WWE logo hangs on a wall at a media conference announcing the all-star lineup of WWE WrestleMania XIX at ESPN Zone in Times Square in New York City, March 18, 2003. Mark Mainz/Getty Images

AEW, founded by Tony Khan, the son of Pakistani American billionaire Shahid Khan, is unlikely to challenge WWE’s global popularity, but it is more than willing to match and even surpass the lucrative deals offered by the WWE. They have already signed the likes of Chris Jericho and Hall of Famer Jim Ross with lucrative offers and that has turned heads of a number of wrestlers.

A recent report revealed that a number of WWE stars had contacted Jericho and former WWE star Dustin Rhodes about making the switch following the success of the promotion’s first ever live show “Double or Nothing”. WWE is keen to prevent the likes of AEW signing the best talent in the market and according to Wrestling Observer Newsletter, via Wrestling Inc. the company is offering new talent joining NXT, WWE’s sister brand, five-year deals unlike in the past when they were only offered three-year deals.

The report claims that WWE is likely to continue its aggressive recruitment process in the coming months, especially since AEW has emerged as a major contender for the best talent on the market. McMahon is aware that it will be sometime before AEW challenges their global dominance, but they are being genuinely considered a threat in North America where fans are excited about a new product in the pro-wrestling arena.

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