Kyle O’Reilly Explains Why He Chose To Join AEW Instead Of WWE

Kyle O’Reilly was certainly one of the top Superstars in NXT and his in-ring prowess has been on full display over the past few years. After Adam Cole broke up the Undisputed Era, he feuded with Kyle O’Reilly. Now 3/4 of the UE are All Elite.

Kyle O’Reilly’s WWE contract previously expired, so many fans were wondering whether he will make his way to AEW as well. That is exactly what happened on a previous week’s episode of AEW Dynamite as Kyle O’Reilly made his debut during Adam Cole’s match against Orange Cassidy.

While speaking on Talk Is Jericho, Kyle O’Reilly explained why he chose to join AEW instead of re-signing with WWE. It ultimately came down to him wanting to reunite with Bobby Fish and Adam Cole.

“Seeing Bobby and Adam come [to AEW], how could you not want to be back with these guys and part of a group like AEW where every week it’s like a TakeOver crowd, just on TV. We talk about the natural progression and next steps of one’s career and it felt like, for me, it was the next logical step for me. NXT 2.0 rebrand happened and it felt like, before the rebrand, Kyle O’Reilly was a top guy in NXT and after the rebrand, plans shifted.

Advertising

Advertising

That’s fine, it’s business. I’m totally willing to do what I can do get anyone else get over and for the last few months there, I tried my damndest to do so with everyone I worked with. I just wanted to be excited about going to work again and I felt like I left a ton on the table with New Japan and then here, I know there is a good relationship with New Japan. It seemed like a new frontier. There are so many talented guys, so many exciting matchups, so many exciting tag matches because the tag division is stacked and I love tag team wrestling and my tag team partner, the company released and now he’s [in AEW].

My deal was done, it was coming up in December, and I ended up doing a week extension just to finish up and do good business by them and finish with WarGames and TV to put Von Wagner over and do business right. I’m happy to do so. The opportunity came to come here, sorting a deal out with Tony (Khan) a day or two before my debut and here we are,”

Adam Cole is set to square off against Orange Cassidy in a Lights Out match on this week’s episode of AEW Dynamite. O’Reilly will certainly be in Cole’s corner for the match as well.

h/t to Fightful for the quotes