Will AEW No Longer Be Elite In 2027?

AEW began in 2019, founded by Tony Khan and members of The Elite. Kenny Omega & The Young Bucks have been a consistent, pivotal part of AEW since day one of the promotion, which is exactly why the name of the company is “All Elite Wrestling”. There was some talk of the trio departing AEW back in 2022 & 2023 following the controversial “Brawl Out” incident, but ultimately they committed their future to the company. However, we are approaching contract season once again, with close friend of The Elite Karl Anderson revealing on his Talk N’ Shop podcast that all three have expiring deals next year. With their ages rising, bodies taking more punishment, and the AEW roster continuing to grow, will AEW still be “Elite” next year?

The Elite Have Expiring AEW Contracts Next Year

• Omega & Young Bucks could be on their final deals.
• Reports suggested Matt & Nick Jackson are on their last contracts.
• Omega has had many injuries and issues in recent years.

2027 is set to be a big year for AEW for a number of reasons, one of those being the futures of members of The Elite. If recent rumblings are to be believed, both Kenny Omega and The Young Bucks have expiring deals in 2027. The trio previously re-signed with AEW amidst a turbulent time for the company, during a period in which their real-life rivalry with CM Punk was all the talk of the professional wrestling world. If these three stars were willing to remain in a workplace that was, at the time, considered toxic, then there is a strong chance that they commit their future to AEW for the long term… or is there?

Kenny Omega’s physical condition, through both injuries and illness, has led to him experiencing plenty of pain in recent years. This hasn’t affected his show-stealing matches and incredible performances in 2026, but it would not be a surprise to see him drastically slow down. With The Young Bucks, a similar story is at play. Dave Meltzer revealed on Wrestling Observer Radio that he’d heard that their current deal might be their last in professional wrestling. In terms of all three slowing down, Karl Anderson noted on Talk N’ Shop that they were all “gonna start winding down real soon”, citing that he speaks to them every day.

Kenny Omega & The Young Bucks Won’t Wrestle Anywhere Else

• WWE won’t fork out the money to sign The Elite.
• It is unlikely for The Elite to join the likes of Cody Rhodes & CM Punk in WWE.
• The likes of NJPW & TNA don’t have the funds to sign Omega & The Young Bucks.

If The Elite don’t sign new contracts with AEW, then don’t expect them to show up anywhere else. Prior to AEW’s existence, WWE moved to bring in The Elite, failing to entice them before they decided to branch out and create a new company. In 2023, it was reported by Dave Meltzer that The Elite went “back-and-forth” on jumping ship to WWE, but ultimately remained with AEW. With their sworn enemy CM Punk in WWE, former ally Cody Rhodes as one of the top stars, with all the success they’ve had in recent years in AEW, and with WWE’s newfound approach to reducing the money they pay talent, it would be a major shock to see them sign with WWE.

Their commitment to AEW runs very deep – so much deeper than it was back in 2023, with them remaining with the promotion through both the best and worst years, crafting magical memories and moments, and putting in some of the best work of their careers. With other promotions lacking funds to sign major talents, The Elite will be in AEW or nowhere. When it comes to talk of these being their last contracts, it is very hard to imagine that being a reality.

AEW Will Likely Re-Sign The Elite In 2027

• Tony Khan won’t want to lose The Elite.
• Omega & The Young Bucks will remain in AEW even if they don’t wrestle.
• They would still be highly valuable part-timers in AEW.

Any whisperings of The Elite leaving AEW and not signing new deals could very much be fed to the media to drive up their asking price – which is incredibly commonplace in all of sport. Not only that, but if The Elite members were to start winding down, AEW would be the perfect place to give them a reduced schedule with how stacked the roster is, steadily becoming more part-time attractions as the years go on. All three men still have so much quality to give between the ropes, while they are in and around 40 years of age, one more full-time contract seems the most likely scenario.

Additionally, Tony Khan will be well aware of how important Kenny Omega, Matt Jackson & Nick Jackson are to the very foundation of AEW, and it is hard to imagine him not re-signing the group to deals that keep them in the promotion behind the scenes, provided they no longer wanted to wrestle. Will AEW still be Elite in 2027? Absolutely, even if it may end up looking a little different.