Speculation among on AEW surprise, more details
Added 2022-02-07 19:44:50 +0000 UTCEver since Tony Khan's announcement that a free agent signing would be appearing in AEW this Wednesday, speculation has run rampant.
Fightful has spoken to numerous talent, none of which know who the surprise is slated to be, with several talent reaching out to ask us if we know who it would be. Thus far we've not confirmed the identity, but talent is unanimously speculating Keith Lee. There was at least one wrestler who was confused on the terminology of "Forbidden Door," saying that gave them the assumption it was someone who recently or actively worked for another company. Those that we spoke to in AEW upon free agency initially weren't sold that Keith Lee would be coming to AEW, but that many discussions regarding the possibility seemed to grow optimistically as time went on. Despite the speculation regarding Lee, nobody we talked to had been given any particular indication that it's him.
We've not learned who specifically the Wednesday night surprise is, but we've been told pretty firmly that it is not Jeff Hardy, who has a non compete until March, 90 days after his WWE release. Matt and Jeff Hardy already have several appearances set up for that date. We can also confirm WWE made overtures towards getting Jeff back into the company after his firing.
Comments
So, like, did WWE realize they fucked up with Jeff or...?
CSDX
2022-02-09 23:18:37 +0000 UTCOsprey is still signed with new Japan
2022-02-09 00:44:59 +0000 UTCLol
Fightful Select
2022-02-08 20:50:06 +0000 UTCB. Joseph
2022-02-08 20:45:28 +0000 UTCKeith Lee or Osprey. Would be hilarious if it was Cody but wildly dissapointing.
Philip deiner
2022-02-08 03:27:00 +0000 UTCHe’s injured. He dislocated his shoulder in a match with Okada in October.
Joetourious
2022-02-08 02:41:31 +0000 UTCI want to say maybe Kota Ibushi, not sure what his contract status is though.
JKetchup
2022-02-08 00:07:51 +0000 UTCWhat if it’s John Cena as Peacemaker? HBO has ties to TBS/Turner and there’s only two more episodes of Peacemaker left.
2022-02-08 00:06:17 +0000 UTCI forgot about Flip.
Doogie
2022-02-07 23:21:25 +0000 UTCI think it be will osprey or okada I think Tony 2 new people are coming in 1 to sign contract other to face one of private party for revolution ladder match I think it be osprey and Keith Lee
Ryan Evans
2022-02-07 22:43:40 +0000 UTCi thought it mightve been someone challenging the non compete, like Jeff ,since since the company was a liittle shady with how he was released ala suspected drug use. Or maybe ali.
e d
2022-02-07 22:33:51 +0000 UTCJust want to consider Swerve- I’m pretty sure his 90 ends Tuesday 2/8. My guess would be Keith Lee though.
Tom LeValley
2022-02-07 22:27:58 +0000 UTCBut, it's definitely not Shane, right? I see people speculating that and I think , no way, but it would be a great surprise.
Ralph Cody
2022-02-07 21:06:00 +0000 UTCIf it’s not Keith Lee or Bray, TK will have blown a lot of good will.
Nick O’Shea
2022-02-07 20:57:08 +0000 UTCcontract with Impact
steve Pruvost
2022-02-07 20:45:27 +0000 UTCIt’s the shockmaster
2022-02-07 20:43:41 +0000 UTCmay i ask what the contract status is of josh alexander?
Joe Ferro
2022-02-07 20:30:45 +0000 UTCZero chance
Fightful Select
2022-02-07 20:24:56 +0000 UTCSame here, "slamming the door shut" (Jeff just left in big huff,) was announced to fight Isiah Cassidy (Matt's Protege) to qualify for a shot at a ladder match 🤷🏼♂️. It all wrote itself haha. But yeah, the 90 day is there.
2022-02-07 20:19:59 +0000 UTCFlip Gordon make a video of him sitting outside a cracker barrel asking where is everybody. It was funny. If you know you know....
Raymond Slover
2022-02-07 20:19:17 +0000 UTCThat’s what the winner of the ladder match gets.
Jason
2022-02-07 20:18:32 +0000 UTCDamn…I was convinced it was Jeff. I really have no clue then.
Travis Selvidge
2022-02-07 20:10:53 +0000 UTCKeith Lee debuting to take part in a ladder match qualifier is a waste, IMO. He can debut and challenge immediately for the TNT Title
Brian Bayless
2022-02-07 20:07:09 +0000 UTCI'm convinced it's Tanahashi/Okada/Kota
Dave O'Neill
2022-02-07 20:04:06 +0000 UTC-I think this is just a classic Tony Khan oversell.- 🤷🏼♂️ Edit* well I'm inclined to believe Fightful, this is gonna be interesting 👍
2022-02-07 20:03:25 +0000 UTCjuice robinson is not under contract with NJPW anymore,i don't know about David finley but I'd love to see either in AEW
2022-02-07 20:00:29 +0000 UTCI’m actually hoping Bandido or Dragon Lee.
Joetourious
2022-02-07 19:57:29 +0000 UTCExactly! People are getting so hung up on the word and not the “yes I misspoke but I’m not going to admit that” tweetstorm he followed up with. 😂
Michael Wolff
2022-02-07 19:52:40 +0000 UTCCan we all just say it’s going to be Charlotte Flair and set the Internet on fire 🔥? 🤣
Ivan Yagolnikov
2022-02-07 19:52:38 +0000 UTCThis would be an interesting choice.
Jared Searcy
2022-02-07 19:52:26 +0000 UTCI'm guessing some one from New Japan. Most of the Bullet Club is in the States and Osprey is going at Mox
2022-02-07 19:51:41 +0000 UTCBecause TK refuses to admit he misused the term lmao [edit: just want to make clear that I'm NOT bashing; just a very inconsequential and therefore funny thing to dig your heels in on.] https://twitter.com/tonykhan/status/1489819394205270018?s=21 https://twitter.com/tonykhan/status/1489828043854131204?s=21
Michael Wolff
2022-02-07 19:51:07 +0000 UTCMy guess is Tony probably didn’t mean to say forbidden door. Knowing him, got super excited about the announcement and tweet forbidden door but really meant free agent.
BennyIllini
2022-02-07 19:50:54 +0000 UTCLet it play out 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
2022-02-07 19:50:49 +0000 UTCBe wild if it was ospreay lol
Colt Baudoux
2022-02-07 19:49:58 +0000 UTCIt was VERY obvious by the followup tweets that TK used “Forbidden Door” a bit loosely and simply refused to admit fault. So it’s pretty funny to me that there are people backstage confused by it, too.
Michael Wolff
2022-02-07 19:49:53 +0000 UTCIf it’s someone who is not actively employed by another promotion, why is “Forbidden Door” being referenced? 🤨
Ivan Yagolnikov
2022-02-07 19:47:08 +0000 UTCIf Keith Lee does join AEW I’ll have to watch just for his matches 😅
Daniel Lee
2022-02-07 19:47:07 +0000 UTCMust be someone big from New Japan maybe? That's all i got for speculation.
Juan Ortiz
2022-02-07 19:47:06 +0000 UTCIsiah kassidy is going to be brutally murdered on national tv
4_kevin
2022-02-07 19:46:56 +0000 UTC
