What could UFC-WWE merger mean for Jorge Masvidal in AEW?
Endeavor, the parent company of the UFC, has changed the landscape of the professional wrestling scene with its purchase of the WWE. The immediate reaction has led to a discussion of Vince McMahon’s role with the WWE, while a handful of NXT stars have requested to be released. Although, this merger could affect one of MMA’s biggest stars, Jorge Masvidal.
Jorge Masvidal and AEW
Jorge Masvidal has a close relationship with All Elite Wrestling (AEW). Masvidal has even made several appearances alongside his head coach Dan Lambert, who was deeply involved in a storyline with the company. As far as Masvidal goes, his most notable AEW appearance came in 2021 when he landed a flying knee, his signature move, against Chris Jericho.
Masvidal has also teased an AEW return. In an interview, Masvidal said he will be in attendance at AEW’s show on April 26. According to Masvidal, he will be in attendance as a fan, but he is unsure if he will compete in the promotion because he, “hurts people for real.” That may just be him cutting a promo, though.
Could Jorge Masvidal join AEW?
It is unclear what the future holds for Masvidal. First and foremost, he is set to fight Gilbert Burns at UFC 287. A win could result in Masvidal fighting for the welterweight title against rival Leon Edwards. If he loses, he may retire. If Masvidal leaves his gloves in the octagon at UFC 287, a transition to professional wrestling could make sense. Masvidal has demonstrated the ability to sell a fight and obviously has an interest in professional wrestling. At a minimum, it is a possibility.
How Does the WWE Sale Affect Things
The WWE’s sale to Endeavor may complicate Masvidal’s switch to AEW if he opts to take that route. Since Endeavor now owns the UFC and WWE it is unlikely that they would want to see Masvidal in AEW. After all, Endeavor helped build Masvidal into and star. Why would they want to see AEW cash in that star power?
The real issue comes down to contracts. That does not make the situation any easier to solve. The UFC is notorious for keeping a lot of contract details private. Therefore, it is tough to say if Masvidal’s UFC contract can prevent him from joining AEW. I would speculate that it would, but I cannot make that claim with full accuracy since his contract information is not public. Plus, this is a brand new situation that we have not seen before. Although, do not be surprised if Endeavor attempts to push Masvidal into the WWE in an attempt to keep him out of AEW.
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