With the impending launch of All Elite Wrestling and multiple other promotions across the world looking to pay top dollar for major names, it is a really, really good time to be a big star in professional wrestling with a contract coming due for renegotiation.
One such talent is the “Phenomenal One” himself, AJ Styles, who currently resides on Tuesday nights with WWE’s Smackdown Live brand.
According to Dave Meltzer via Wrestling Observer Radio this weekend, the former WWE Champion’s contract is coming due in April, believed to be shortly after WrestleMania. While it’s likely AEW will make the future Hall of Famer a significant offer as soon as they are legally able to do so, and New Japan Pro-Wrestling may even throw their hat back into the race, right now the feeling backstage is that he’s likely to stay with WWE.
Styles debuted with WWE at the 2016 Royal Rumble after signing a contract for a little over three years, which gives the company the ability to book him at least through WrestleMania without having to worry about a contract negotiation breaking down (or a Lesnar situation where he can basically hold the company hostage) right before their biggest show of the year.
Whatever the case may be come signing time, the fact of the matter is that Styles is expected to be making a LOT of money no matter where he lands.