For fans of the E in AEW, fear not, for it does not look like the foundational faction of the promotion is going anywhere, anytime soon. Sports Illustrated reports that The Elite, Kenny Omega, The Young Bucks, and “Hangman” Adam Page, have all signed multi-year AEW contract extensions. Omega and The Young Bucks will continue on in their roles as Executive Vice Presidents.
“Now, as we celebrate tonight’s 200th episode of Dynamite, 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,” Tony Khan said. “We look forward to celebrating the great news with fans around the world.”
Nearly a year ago, CM Punk turned All Elite Wrestling upside down with a firey post-AEW All Out media scrum where he took aim at Colt Cabana, The Elite, and various issues he perceived within the company. It was a divisive tirade that escalated into an altercation backstage involving The Second City Saint, The Young Bucks, Kenny Omega, and others. In the wake of that, everyone involved was stripped of their titles and taken off TV.
While The Elite returned only a few months later at AEW Full Gear, Punk remained sidelined from the promotion in part due to injury but also because of bad blood and legal issues that jeopardized his future with the company. Fortunately, when it comes to Punk, an opportunity arose for Khan to launch a second AEW flagship show, Collision, where the young executive could make the former AEW World Champion the centerpiece and put distance between the two sides.
Many questioned if the balancing act between Punk and The Elite on different brands would work, considering they have reportedly not buried the hatchet, however, it appears things have progressed in a positive direction, at least on the surface. In the weeks since Collision’s launch, there has been little drama concerning the men involved, and both Collision and Dynamite have delivered consistently strong viewership.
Omega and The Young Bucks will team up tonight on the AEW Dynamite 200th episode against Jeff Jarrett, Jay Lethal, and Satnam Singh.