AEW reportedly ‘in talks’ with NJPW star Lance Archer
AEW is looking to add some more big names around the pro wrestling world after signing an extended television contract with TNT, and it sounds like they are zeroing in on NJPW’s Lance Archer.
Once key parts of the New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW) product, there’s no doubt that Kenny Omega and the rest of the members of The Elite were paying close attention to this year’s two-night Wrestle Kingdom shows. And they were likely paying especially close attention when one of All Elite Wrestling’s (AEW) top stars, Jon Moxley, fought Lance Archer in a hellacious IWGP United States Championship match.
Moxley picked up the win in the “Texas Death” match, securing the US Title in the process. But while Archer lost the match, the NJPW standout may have won himself a contract with AEW after notching another solid big-match performance.
Sports Illustrated’s Justin Barrasso reports that AEW is “in talks” with the former IWGP World Tag Team Champion.
AEW’s interest in Archer comes as no surprise, as he was one of the biggest breakout stars in wrestling last year. His consistently high-level performances in the tag team division earned him a singles push, which culminated in an IWGP United States Championship victory over 2018 breakout star Juice Robinson.
Archer’s crowning win took place NJPW’s King of Pro-Wrestling show last October in a No Disqualification match. But his recent bout at Wrestle Kingdom against Moxley was honestly even better, showcasing the full brutality of Archer’s skill-set.
There’s no doubt that Archer would bring star power, name value, and a good mix of promo and in-ring ability to an AEW roster that still needs a couple of more strong pieces in the upper mid-card/main event scene.
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Hopefully, AEW is also showing interest in expanding its women’s division, in addition to giving them more time to truly shine. If so, then 2020 should be an even more exciting year for a wrestling promotion that has already had a very positive ripple effect on the industry.