AEW could not pass on a talent like Bandido, contract reportedly offered after AEW Dynamite

Coming out of the September 28 edition of AEW Dynamite, Bandido has caught the attention of the wrestling industry. This shouldn’t be a surprise, because those familiar with the Mexican star are aware of what he can do in the ring. Still, Dave Meltzer of Wrestling Observer reported that Bandido was offered a contract with AEW immediately after the show. This move is a no-brainer for the promotion, but it is interesting to speculate where he would fit into the company.

At 27 years old, Bandido is one of those performers that can easily catch the attention of the wrestling viewer. He steps into the ring with a flare about him that draws some comparison to “Macho Man” Randy Savage, which is an excellent comparison for a young performer to receive. With eleven years in the industry, Bandido has captured belts in DDT, PROGRESS, and PWG. But he is also a former Ring of Honor World Champion and perhaps this is best where Bandido fits as a part of the All Elite Wrestling banner.

Three years into AEW’s run there’s one developing narrative about the company around the size and utilization of its roster. The promotion has an expansive and talented group of men and women signed, but some struggle to get the use that fans want to see. That is a justifiable debate to have, yet AEW could not pass on a talent like Bandido and make sure he’s available for the future.

Bandido is another individual that could help shore up whatever Ring of Honor is planned to be. Questions continue to boil about how the ROH brand will be used. Are they secondary titles in AEW? Is ROH going to become a well of streaming content for a platform like Hulu, Netflix, Amazon Prime, or something else? No one other than Tony Khan knows the answer to that question. If putting the title on Chris Jericho after Claudio Castagnoli took it from Jon Gresham elevates the brand of ROH, Bandido is a name that can help that continued boost.

Plus, Bandido was already a hot prospect throughout professional wrestling. Seeing him on AEW Dynamite and the fans’ reaction to him makes him a more enticing piece to competitors. News of WWE reaching out to contracted AEW names shows that the company is paying attention to who is performing well under the AEW brand. Not making the move on Bandido quickly creates the space where WWE could make a play for him, driving up the intensity and the cost of the matter.

AEW made the right move to offer Bandido a contract after his reception and performance on AEW Dynamite. Now, the question turns to how he will be used as both sides of the debate are watching closely. Either way, he’s a talent that the company could not pass on.