Backstage Update on Austin Aries’ Status with TNA Wrestling

New reports from PWInsider.com have provided a backstage update on Austin Aries’ status with TNA Wrestling as of June 23. As previously reported, Aries’ TNA contract is set to expire following the company’s “Slammiversary” Pay-Per-View on June 28.

As of June 23, it does not seem as though TNA and Aries have come to terms on a new deal, as TNA constantly announces when they’ve re-signed talent to new contracts. While it is unclear whether or not the two parties have, or will agree to a new agreement, it has been rumored that Aries might leave the company following the expiration of their current deal for months.

Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter claimed in May that Aries may leave TNA following the end of his current contract. He wrote,

“Austin Aries’ contract expires after the next set of TV tapings. If he doesn’t sign a new deal, he’d probably finish up on the PPV with the final Wolves vs. Dirty Heels match. He’s an awesome wrestler but it’s hard to see his options. 

WWE was never interested in him in the past, although I could see them using him in NXT now since he’d fit in well. But the mentality is to not sign former TNA guys, so they’d have to change that. 

He could probably go to ROH, but they’re pretty full and on a tight budget, and Lucha Underground can’t do anything right now until they get the funding and TV deals to make a second season viable. He can do all the indies he wants now even if he signs a new TNA deal.”

Aries’ is slated to face off against The Wolves with “Dirty Heels” partner Bobby Roode in the fifth and final match in the “Best of Five” match series to determine the new TNA Tag Team Champions at the June 28 PPV. However, even if Aries does no sign with the company to continue working for TNA, he will still likely be featured on the five-to-six television episodes following “Slammiversary,” as TNA is going to be filming material for “IMPACT WRESTLING” before “Slammiversary” goes live on June 28.

Editor’s Note:

I’d love to see Aries in NXT. I know I’m not the only one.