Damian Priest Almost Signed With AEW Before WWE Offered Seven-Figure Deal

Damian Priest almost ended up in AEW before re-signing with WWE back in 2024 — but a massive offer reportedly changed everything.

Self Made Pro revealed during a Self Made session on March 9, 2026 that Priest was very close to signing with AEW back in 2024 before WWE moved quickly to lock him down with a seven-figure contract. The report explained that AEW had serious interest in bringing Priest in at the time and the situation had progressed far enough that a deal was close to happening.

“Damian Priest almost got signed by AEW in 2024, and WWE swooped in with seven-figure money.”

The report gives more insight into Priest’s April 2024 WWE contract extension. At the time, WWE finalized a multi-year agreement with him just as his previous deal was nearing its expiration. WWE ultimately kept Priest on the roster, and he went on to become one of the company’s major stars, even capturing the World Heavyweight Championship shortly after signing the new deal.

Looking back now, the report suggests the situation may have been much closer to an AEW move than fans realized — until WWE stepped in with the kind of money that’s difficult to walk away from.

What do you think about Damian Priest almost signing with AEW before WWE made the seven-figure move to keep him? Let us know your thoughts in the comments.

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