What Wrestling Promotion Is The Best For Nick Aldis To Sign With?
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Nick Aldis held the 10 Pounds of Gold and the title of World Champion for over 1,000 days, a feat that very few have done in any promotion. Now that the ship has sailed and Aldis is leaving the NWA, what’s next for this formidable star?
Nick Aldis Leaves The NWA After A Half Decade With The Company
“73, the first St. Louis show, once that business was done, it was done for me.”
Aldis has been the face of the NWA since 2016. With two very successful title runs, the second of which being the aforementioned 1000+ day reign, he has established himself as a star inside the NWA and beyond. Nick Aldis is a traditionalist inside the sport. He himself said he wanted, “red, white and blue ‘rasslin.”
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After changes were made and Nick was removed from the world title picture, he knew he was on the way out. Now as we near the end of 2022, Nick Aldis will hit the free agent market for the first time in five years with a much higher price tag attached than in 2016.
“It wouldn’t be alarming to anyone following the product… I was the perennial face of the brand… It (NWA) had moved away from what I wanted it to be… What I had laid the groundwork for it to be… I thought, this isn’t for me anymore.”
EXTERNAL: Why Did Nick Aldis Leave the NWA? Exclusive Interview
Why Nick Aldis Could Move To WWE Or AEW But Maybe Shouldn't
Although both AEW and WWE can give the paycheck Aldis would want, they will have tighter leashes than the star is used to. Creative control is big for Nick. One of the defining moments in his exit was the lack of creative freedom and the direction Billy and the NWA were taking his career. Nick has stated how important it is to stay true to who he is now, and not have to rebrand himself all over again.
Production value for WWE is through the roof. They can offer all the bells and whistles because they are the top of the business. To Nick Aldis, a wrestling purist, bright lights and big cities aren’t as attractive as keeping wrestling true to its roots. The cushy schedule and lucrative contracts also comes with limited resources in outside gigs. Nick Aldis is highly involved with outside ventures and getting tied up in a WWE contract might limit some of these side hustles.
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AEW, like WWE, offers a contract bigger than almost anyone. The connections AEW has with NJPW, NOAH Pro Wrestling, and AAA make it a desired landing spot because of the worldwide exposure through multiple working arrangements. AEW also has an enormous roster. They have three hours of TV on two networks for over 100 superstars. This is a struggle week over week giving everyone TV time.
A Return To Impact Wrestling Might Be The Best Option For Nick Aldis
Impact offers Aldis a few different things. Creative freedom from Scott D’Amore, for one. Impact is known for letting their stars shine however they need. As a promotion they have a longstanding history of allowing stars to grow organically from inside their system. With Aldis’s history in the company, as a former Impact World Champion, it wouldn’t be a complete rebranding. This means we could see a blending of Nick Aldis and Magnus.
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The financial side of the deal would also make sense. Impact finds themselves in a lucky situation as NWA is on a different level of compensation as Impact, AEW, and WWE, meaning Impact wouldn’t have to break the bank to bring Aldis on. If WWE and AEW give similar offers monetarily speaking, the creative freedoms given by Impact would move them into the lead.
Traditional “Southern Wrestling” is something Aldis grew up watching. Territory wrestling and studio shows are his bread and butter. Impact Wrestling checks these boxes. Impact, although not an indy promotion or territory, still gives off very high JCP studio style vibes with their live events and PPV specials. The smaller, more intimate crowds will be similar to the NWA studio shows, but a national TV spot will continue to help his exposure.
Although no one knows where he will end up except him and Mrs. James-Aldis, the fact is Nick Aldis should and will be a hot free agent on the market in January. The only thing in question will be which company will check all the boxes for him.
