Sheamus becoming a free agent may have opened the door for an AEW move, but his agent’s ugly history with the company could turn negotiations into a complete mess.
D-Von Dudley addressed the situation on the D-Von and the Duke podcast after Duke brought up Ringside News’ coverage of Nick LoPiccolo. The agent has publicly accused Tony Khan and AEW’s office of bullying and harassing him, while claiming the conflict damaged his previous talent-management business.
LoPiccolo still lists Sheamus as a client, which means AEW may have to deal directly with someone who has spent months firing shots at the company if it wants to bring the former WWE Champion onto its roster.
Duke asked D-Von whether he had ever seen an agent’s personal issues with a wrestling company become a potential obstacle in contract talks. D-Von said he had seen negotiations fall apart over money, but the bullying accusation was new territory for him.
“I’ve heard of agents not being able to cut a deal because they were so far off, but never to the point where an agent accused the company of bullying. I’ve never heard of that.”
Duke pointed out that wrestling promoters, including Vince McMahon, have clashed with agents plenty of times through the years. D-Von agreed, but the discussion returned to LoPiccolo’s specific claim that AEW’s office bullied him and contributed to him no longer working with talent connected to the company.
D-Von made it clear that he was not inside the room for any of those conversations and could not personally confirm what happened. Still, he said LoPiccolo’s account should not simply be brushed aside. D-Von then added one final line about LoPiccolo’s position.
“It’s hard for me to look at Tony Khan as being a bully, but I don’t know. I’m not in the room, and I’m not there with the negotiation. So, you’ve got to take him at his word. That’s what he felt.”
“Can’t deny the man.”
The situation could become even more complicated if AEW makes a serious attempt to sign Sheamus. LoPiccolo has already made his feelings about Tony Khan and the company clear, and any negotiations would force both sides to deal with a relationship that appears badly damaged.
D-Von did not accuse AEW of bullying LoPiccolo himself, but he also refused to dismiss the agent’s claims without knowing what happened behind closed doors. With Sheamus available and AEW always looking for established names, this could become a major test of whether business can overcome personal conflict.
Do you think Nick LoPiccolo’s issues with AEW could stop Sheamus from signing with the company, or will both sides put their problems aside to make a deal? Let us know what you think in the comments.
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