It was previously reported that during the Casino Battle Royale at this past Sunday night’s Double or Nothing PPV former WWE Star Lio Rush made his AEW debut when he was revealed as the mystery wild card joker entrant and competed in the match until he was eliminated shorty after.
Following his debut at AEW Double or Nothing, it was believed that Rush has signed with AEW, but Tony Khan took part in a post-show media scrum and revealed that Lio Rush has not signed with AEW and he’s just on a handshake deal with the company. Khan also revealed that Rush can choose to work in AEW and NJPW if he wants to and he wanted to work in AEW. Tony Khan then revealed that he believes Rush has a handshake deal with NJPW as well.
This is what Tony Khan said:
“I haven’t got pen to paper, but Lio and I have a handshake where he can work here and New Japan [Pro Wrestling]. He wanted to keep working here and I think we’ve worked something good out on a handshake. I think he has a handshake with New Japan too and that’s what we’ve been doing and it’s been pretty good. I think it’s a good way to work, so far, so good.”
Dave Meltzer noted on a recent edition of the Wrestling Observer Radio Program that Rush is currently signed with NJPW, where he has made various appearances like on NJPW STRONG and the Super J-Cup. Dave Meltzer also said that Rush could have appeared on NJPW just like Tony Khan mentioned but he couldn’t due to the COVID-19 pandemic travel restrictions.
Rush making an appearance for AEW marks another NJPW Star who has made an appearance on AEW including Yuji Nagata, Ren Narita, KENTA and Rocky Romero, but Rush has not been announced for future AEW shows so far.
In April of 2020, Lio Rush was released from the WWE, but he still kept busy on the independent scene when he competed in both GCW and Bloodsport. Rush also won the AAA Cruiserweight Championship and MLW Middleweight Championship simultaneously.
You can check out Tony Khan’s comments in the video below:
