Paige VanZant is “All Elite”, as she officially signed her AEW contract on the March 9 episode of AEW Dynamite. But the former UFC fighter’s career could have taken a different path.
WWE’s previous interest in VanZant is well documented, and not too long ago, the company wanted to bring her in.
In an interview with Ariel Helwani on The MMA Hour, VanZant recalled how she met with WWE in 2021, and there were “things in the works” before AEW ultimately won her over.
“I went down to their training center about a year ago,” said VanZant. “I did have some things in the works but AEW kind of said what they needed to say and they said all the right words to get me to come over to AEW.
When asked whether she was the subject of a bidding war, the Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship standout explained that the contracts the two companies offered her were substantially different. She described how signing with AEW let her continue her career as a professional fighter alongside her transition into the wrestling world.
“Not a bidding war, no,” said VanZant. “There was just different contracts details and styles. There was things that AEW, I mean they’re working hand in hand with BKFC and letting me be a professional fighter still, I still get to be myself. It’s not an exclusive full-time wrestling contract. Yes, I’m in AEW, I’m going to wrestle for them, but they’re also letting me be a part of BKFC still. I’m definitely not done boxing, definitely not done fighting, so it was an amazing partnership that they were willing to work with me and all the other things that I still wanna do.
VanZant then confirmed that WWE had wanted her to sign an exclusive contract; when asked, she said “absolutely.”
The American Top Team member has already impressed many fans in her short time with AEW so far, and it’s only a matter of time before she starts regularly appearing on AEW TV.
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