Tony Khan comments on the WWE ID program.
The WWE ID program is quickly changing the game with regard to independent wrestling and the pipeline between independent wrestling and a major wrestling promotion. In the early days of AEW, AEW Dark and AEW Dark: Elevation provided similar platforms for up-and-coming independent wrestlers.
When asked about the WWE ID program during the media scrum following AEW Full Gear 2024, Tony Khan stated that he hasn't yet run into any problems directly caused by the creation of WWE ID. Still, he does believe it will be changing the independent wrestling landscape in the near future.
"It’s interesting. I don’t really know how it’s going to work. I understand there is some kind of first right or refusal aspect of it. We haven’t come up where it’s been a conflict yet. I do think it’s going to affect the independent scene in some ways. We’ve had a really great experience here over the years bringing in young wrestlers. Through the pandemic, the best place for independent wrestlers to get work was at AEW and on AEW Dark and Elevation."
Tony then cited Daniel Garcia as an example of a talent who made their way through the AEW Dark system and is now a champion in All Elite Wrestling. Ultimately, he says he will be keeping a close eye on WWE ID.
"The women and men in AEW, we’ve seen so many great wrestlers work their way up from the independents, we’ve signed big free agents, and we have a lot of homegrown day-one people. It’s a great mix. I expect we’ll keep signing great talent off the independents. I do think it’s a different mechanism. It’s something to keep an eye on. It hasn’t created major conflicts or anything yet, but I imagine it will definitely influence the independent wrestling scene. It’s definitely something to keep an eye on."
Fans can keep up with a full list of WWE ID prospects here.
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