The Elite Sign New Multi-Year Deals With AEW

Sports Illustrated reported today that The Elite (Kenny Omega, The Young Bucks, and Hangman Page) have each signed new multi-year deals with the company.

The article added Omega and the Bucks will also continue in their roles as Executive Vice Presidents.

Their deals were slated to expire at the end of this year and reportedly had interest from WWE.

“I’m excited to share that Kenny Omega, The Young Bucks, and Hangman Adam Page will all be staying in AEW for years to come,” AEW owner Tony Khan said in a statement. “We look forward to celebrating the great news with fans around the world.”

Tony Khan confirmed that the new deals with The Elite were inked before tonight’s 200th episode of “AEW Dynamite,”

Here are the statements made by Omega and The Young Bucks:

Kenny Omega: “Our original goal was to create a wrestling alternative and give a platform to talented people that we’d all felt deserved a spotlight,” he said. “I feel like we did our best in that time, and hopefully some people you’d never heard of pre-AEW are folks you enjoy watching today. Or if you knew them from their previous work elsewhere, have maybe found a new appreciation for them. That feeling, combined with the feeling of knowing they can provide for themselves and their family doing what they love, was always the biggest reward of being an EVP/founder. Pro wrestling has a presence almost everywhere on the planet,” he continued. “In my pursuit to become as complete of a performer as possible, my goal was always to experience the styles of the world at their highest level. I believe that with AEW’s current working relationships, and possibly future, I can challenge all forms of pro wrestling and diversify my style so that I’m equipped for any scenario I may encounter in the ring. I was careful to weigh out all options and was open minded to all possibilities,” said Omega. “I’m here to help whomever I can while I’m still around. Up to this point, I’ve made the choice to sacrifice everything in the name of pro wrestling. I can’t say that family or my kids influenced the decision to stay with AEW–I’m not married and without kids–but what I can say is that I’m incredibly proud of my match catalog and the wonderful people I’ve met and continue to meet. AEW not only allows me to continue doing what I do at a high level, but allows the freedom to pursue some other passions I have in life–which, after nearly 25 years in the ring, have become more and more important to me.”

Matt Jackson: “We’re literally the ‘E’ in AEW,” he said. “The Elite are the main characters of this company. No matter how different AEW is now from its original inception, we are the DNA. And if you lose the foundation of your home, it eventually collapses. It’d be a lie if I said that didn’t weigh on us, when making the decision. In my older years of my career, being closer to the end than I am the beginning, I’m not really one who worries much about my legacy anymore,” he continued. “I’ve kind of noticed, like a summer tan, most memories fade. Or, they’re remembered differently or told with errors anyway. Oftentimes the memory is almost instantly forgotten, because you hit the refresh button. As far as my own personal stories, I’ll have enough to retell my grandchildren for a lifetime. And much of those stories can be about how I helped create a massively successful wrestling company where all of your favorites can be seen on live television every week.”

Nick Jackson: “If we’re going to be honest the schedule was a huge part of it,” he said. “I have a wife and three young children and seeing them as much as possible was a big factor. I’m not going to lie, the money was a huge factor, too. At this point of my life and career, I just couldn’t see myself being on the road half of the year or even more than that. I have so much respect for the guys and girls that are able to do that year after year. We for sure could’ve made memories in WWE, but what’s more important to me is making memories with my family. With the position we’re in, I’ll be able to do that and still make memories in AEW.”

AEW Star Matt Jackson Provides Update On Bicep Injury, Explains Not Choosing Surgery

This past Sunday saw Matt Jackson of the Young Bucks compete in an Anarchy in the Arena match, pitting The Elite against the Blackpool Combat Club at AEW’s Double or Nothing pay-per-view. It was Jackson’s first match back since partially tearing his bicep in a trios’ title match back in March, with the AEW star confirming (via Instagram) that his arm has fully healed, and in far less time than initially anticipated.

“I got hurt about 10 weeks ago, literally on day one of the beginning of a very important story that we started,” Jackson wrote. “I was told there was a good chance I wouldn’t be cleared to perform again for 6-7 months after surgery. … I opted not to do surgery, but rather try other therapeutic options that’d get me back quicker.” Though he said he doubted the decision at points, Jackson chose physical therapy and other techniques rather than surgery. In the end, he was able to return quicker, and the AEW star says that his arm feels great in the aftermath of the highly-physical match.

The former AEW World Tag Team Champion continued to play a prominent part on AEW television despite his injury, furthering the storyline between The Elite and their BCC rivals on a regular basis. Last month, an update on Jackson’s injury cited stem cell procedures and platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy as two of the reasons for the AEW star’s quick recovery progress.

“A few days removed from my first match back, my arm is great,” Jackson continued. “My strength is completely back [and] I couldn’t be happier. Everything else on my body, including my foot? Not so much.”

Source: Wrestling Inc.

Young Bucks’ Matt Jackson Likely To Remain On AEW TV Through Injury

Matt Jackson will reportedly be remaining on AEW television in some capacity moving forward, according to Fightful Select, despite the recent news that he suffered a partially torn bicep. The Elite member will obviously not be able to compete in matches for the foreseeable future due to his injury, but there are still plenty of ways the company could use him. Jackson is currently involved in a major storyline poised to reunite “Hangman” Adam Page with himself, his brother, and Kenny Omega, and he could end up appearing to continue that angle during his time on the shelf.

The injury took place during the AEW World Trios Championship match between the Young Bucks, the Jericho Appreciation Society, and the House of Black on March 15, which he worked through despite being hurt. Last week AEW ran an injury angle for The Young Bucks which saw them leave the arena in ambulances due to a backstage ambush, believed to be by the Blackpool Combat Club. Therefore, the company has a storyline reason to keep Jackson out of the ring that would allow him to turn up on television with his arm in a sling or brace. 

It is also believed that Jackson is hoping to avoid surgery, which would mean a faster recovery time to get back into the ring, and is another reason why AEW might be keen to keep him on television. However, it remains to be seen how things will be handled regarding the overarching storyline between The Elite and Blackpool Combat Club, and when a match between the factions will be possible.

Source: Wrestling Inc.