Austin Aries Says He ‘Politely Declined’ Six-Figure Contract

Austin Aries left Impact Wrestling and some got the impression that he did so without leaving on good terms. However, he is now signed with MLW and living his best life.

While speaking to the Journal Sentinel, A Double revealed that after he left Impact Wrestling he received a “six-figure” offer. He didn’t reveal who offered him that kind of cash, but he politely declined the deal.

“Really, since I left Impact Wrestling – some people say controversially – I’ve been really laying low,” he said. “I’ve had contract offers. Even after (Impact) there was a six-figure contract on the table at the end of last year that I politely declined.”

“MLW had contacted me previously about maybe wanting to come in and do some things with them, but it wasn’t the right timing. I just decided for the first half of this year just to reset. I’m also in the mindset that at this point in my career, I don’t really want to work for anybody. But I will work with anybody.”

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“Then I actually reached out to MLW and I said to them, ‘Hey guys, I know we talked a few months back and you had expressed some interest. It wasn’t really the right time. I said, ‘You’re going to be in my hometown. That interests me.’ I’m not motivated by money and I never really had been. I’m probably not motivated by a lot things that people think I am.”

“But this was an opportunity to come back home and see my family and see my friends. That, to me, had a value that probably trumped anything creatively or monetarily, you know?’”

There are a few places that might be able to offer Aries that kind of deal. WWE is one of them. It is very interesting that he seemed coy about revealing who it was, but he obviously picked MLW over anywhere else.