Ladies and gentlemen, the rumor mill is buzzing, and the name on everyone’s lips is Daniel Garcia. After weeks of speculation and uncertainty, Garcia made a dramatic return to AEW at All In on August 25, where he stopped MJF from beating Will Ospreay. Now, with a match against MJF set for All Out on September 7, the burning question remains: Has Garcia signed a new deal with AEW?
According to the ever-reliable Dave Meltzer in the Wrestling Observer Newsletter, the answer is a bit of a mixed bag. Technically, Garcia hasn’t put pen to paper on a new AEW contract. But don’t start throwing goodbye parties just yet—things are looking good for him to stay. WWE reportedly put an offer on the table, and Garcia gave it some serious thought. However, word on the street is that he’s leaning towards sticking with AEW. The storyline with MJF sure seems to hint at that, but there’s a twist: If Garcia loses to MJF at All Out, it could signal that he’s actually on his way out, using the match as a grand finale.
AEW President Tony Khan has been keeping his cards close to the chest, dodging direct questions about Garcia’s contract status after All In. Despite the lack of confirmation, sources close to Garcia are confident that he’s not going anywhere and will remain an AEW fixture.
And what about WWE? Well, it seems they’re not exactly throwing confetti over Garcia’s decision to possibly stay with AEW. In fact, officials are reportedly less than thrilled, especially since they believe Tony Khan might be shelling out more cash than Garcia is worth. It’s not just about losing a talent—it’s about concerns that inflating salaries could be bad for the wrestling business as a whole. Meltzer also pointed out that AEW might need to tread carefully with its finances, particularly with ongoing negotiations for a new media rights deal with Warner Bros. Discovery.
So, while Garcia’s future isn’t set in stone, the signs point to him staying with AEW—for now. Whether this saga ends with him signing on the dotted line or taking his talents elsewhere, one thing’s for sure: Daniel Garcia is one to watch.