Nick Aldis addresses his talks with WWE and discusses landing in IMPACT Wrestling.
Aldis entered free agency in January 2023, as he previously announced that he would be leaving the company following the expiration of his contract. In the early stages of his free agency, Aldis was often linked to WWE. Fightful Select reported that there had been a hiring freeze in WWE since the beginning of 2023, and though Aldis had been told the company maintained interest in him, they weren't making hires to the main roster. Aldis then made his return to IMPACT at the Rebellion pay-per-view in April, and he has been a featured member of the roster ever since.
Speaking with Alistair McGeorge of Metro, Aldis addressed his talks with WWE by noting that timing is everything, and it was a big factor in that situation.
"It is, but as far as WWE, timing is everything. I don’t wanna speak to it too much, but timing was a big factor. I think everyone knows that there’s a lot going on there. Who knows?" Aldis said.
Aldis continued by noting that, as he was navigating his free agency, he was trying to figure out the best option for himself. He then stated that he somewhat needed a mental break. Aldis went on to admit that seeing a lot of the work his get undone at NWA, and he needed time to process it as he figured out his next step.
"I don’t wanna speak too much about my conversations with [WWE]. I certainly don’t want to imply or suggest that I had a choice of anywhere to go. That would be disingenuous or dishonest. It’s more about, what’s the best option right now? I did need a little bit of a mental break – because I did put a lot of pressure on myself. I’ll be honest, it was kinda heartbreaking to see a lot of my work get undone at the NWA. I needed bit of time to just process it and go, “Hey, what they decide to do now that you’re gone is none of your concern. Your body of work will live on through your fans and that’s it. You build this brand for yourself.” [My wife Mickie James] was good at restoring that [confidence] in me as well," he said.
The former NWA Worlds Heavyweight Champion emphasized that he feels validated in IMPACT, as the company has made it clear that they want him to be who he is. He stated that he believes that's the way to get the best out of everyone.
"It’s been very clear to me that, 'We want this product. We’re not bringing you in and saying like, here’s who are you. We want this product on our shelf.' That’s very validating and gratifying, and it’s exciting because I think that’s truly the best way to get [the best] out of everyone," Aldis said.
Aldis also highlighted his NWA run, and noted that, having made a difference there, he's confident that he can make a difference if given the opportunity to do so with IMPACT.
Check out the card for the June 1 episode of IMPACT Wrestling here. Fightful will have coverage of the show as it airs.
