'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Tony Khan hired many top wrestlers from the pro wrestling world during the inception of AEW. But he couldn't sign Bandido.
A few years ago, the Luchador signed a full-time contract with ROH. He refused a contract offer from "the biggest pro wrestling company in the world" (i.e. WWE) to work for Ring of Honor. He later signed with All Elite Wrestling in November 2022.
At Ring of Honor Final Battle, the fans saw sparks of a new rivalry igniting between Chris Jericho and Bandido. Speaking on the ROH Final battle post-show media scrum, Tony Khan stated he wanted to sign Bandido to AEW during its launch but couldn't because he chose to work under ROH:
Trending
"It was really great to see him back. When I first acquired ROH, Bandido had been the reigning champion and ofcourse we had the match to crown the Undisputed ROH Champion, he was the lineal champion at the time. And it was great to get Bandido, who actually missed Final Battle due to, I believe he missed Final Battle 2021 due to COVID and we crowned an interim champion and then we crowned the undisputed champion at my first-ever event, Supercard. That was my first time working with Bandido."
Former WWE writer buries Judgment Day HERE
He continued:
"I really wanted to sign Bandido when we first launched AEW. And he actually made a choice and signed with ROH. He became a great World Champion for them and then when things changed in the world of wrestling, when I acquired the company, Bandido became a great asset to AEW and ROH." [From 01:07:07 to 01:07:55]
Check out the video below:
AEW star Bandido saved Matt Cardona from Chris Jericho's attack
Matt Cardona unsuccessfully challenged Chris Jericho for the ROH World Championship at ROH Final Battle on December 20, 2024, at the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City, New York. The Demo God had help from Bryan Keith in pinning his opponent and retaining his title.
Following the match, The Learning Tree members attacked The Indy God. The fans then saw Bandido make a surprise return to save Cardona. It was the 29-year-old's first appearance after 18 months, he was out of action due to a wrist injury he suffered at the Rampage taping on June 14, 2023.
