A new report has come out on David Finlay’s decision to choose AEW over previous rumors about a WWE run. The former NJPW wrestler recently shocked the world when he joined AEW on the March 4 episode of Dynamite in El Paso.
Shortly after his Dynamite appearance, Cory Hays of BodySlam reported that he refused to join WWE after being offered a “lower-level contract.” Finlay was reportedly offered a contract to start with NXT, which was a lower contract and not main roster level. This prompted the 32-year-old to agree to a deal with AEW within the last week.
Shortly after his debut and reunion with Clark Connors and Gabe Kidd, Finlay was officially announced as AEW. While previously speculated to join WWE, reports soon come out about the Stamford-based promotion not factoring him into creative plans. Fightful Select previously reported that Finlay has signed a multi-year deal with Tony Khan’s AEW, where he has now reunited with Kidd and Connors as The Dogs. Finlay’s NJPW contract expired in February, but he continued to wrestle through last weekend’s New Beginning USA.
Finlay’s arrival had an immediate impact on the landscape of Wednesday nights. During his debut, Finlay attacked Orange Cassidy and Darby Allin with a shillelagh. This interference solidified The Dogs’ presence as a formidable unit within the promotion. As the company moves toward the Revolution pay-per-view on March 15 in Los Angeles, the addition of Finlay significantly boosts the roster’s competitive depth.