Has a new challenger emerged?
According to a report from Brad Davis of SEScoops, Chris Jericho and Jim Ross are working with agent Barry Bloom to start a new wrestling company. It's reported that the project is being financed by the Khan family, who own NFL team the Jacksonville Jaguars and Fulham F.C. of the English Premier League.
Ross, whose WWE contract expires shortly, has reportedly reached out to talent within the WWE while Jericho has put out feelers to those in New Japan.
Bullet Club Elite members who are reportedly onboard include Cody, The Young Bucks, and Hangman Page. The report states that Kenny Omega's status is unclear, but members of Bullet Club Elite have repeatedly said that they will stick together when their contracts expire in the coming months.
Talks are reportedly ongoing with AXS TV to secure a television deal. AXS TV executive Adam Swift is said to be "fast-tracking" the idea. AXS TV currently airs matches/events from New Japan and will begin airing Jeanie Buss’ Women of Wrestling in January.
An AXS TV rep told Fightful that "there's no truth to the AXS TV component of the report."
The timeline for the company going live is reportedly 12-16 months.
Interestingly, Ross has stated in the past that he doesn't believe members of the Bullet Club Elite will be part of the ROH-NJPW MSG show in April. In an appearance on Busted Open Radio last month, Ross discussed the next move for Cody and the Young Bucks. His comments make a lot more sense if this report is true.
"I don't think (they will be at the MSG show). I don't have anything concrete to base that on. My gut instinct is no," said Ross. "There's too many big dollars that are possible to obtain. If the money is there. And you can bring talent in around Cody that motivate him creatively and in the ring," he said.
Ross continued, discussing how you can build a company around Cody, but you need a few things to make it work.
"Cody would attract a lot of great talent to be with him. If you're in a company, you want that young blood to be involved in your creative. You still gotta have talent and television to make it work. And a lot of capital. If you're a speculator -- like oil guys -- there's no better time to speculate in the wrestling business than right now. And content is king, as we all know," said Ross. "Everybody has has their flag up in a potential home for content. Talent would be the easier part of everything because there's a lot of good talent available to make good money again and be consistent, not a 'money mark' thing. The key thing is television. Whether it be Ring of Honor on a national basis again; they're the sleeping giant if they want to be. They may be content to do what they're doing. There's room in the marketplace for a television show on a major network -- not a ABC type, but a cable network -- that if you do it right with the young talent; you got a chance."
Fightful has reached out to those involved in the report for comment. We will monitor the situation and update this post as more information becomes available.
