Can Dual Contracts Help AEW, NJPW & CMLL Compete with WWE?

With WWE once again pushing for global expansion, wrestling promotions outside its sphere of influence must find strategic ways to retain talent and remain competitive.

One powerful countermeasure? Dual contracts. This system allows talent to work with more than one promotion, offering financial flexibility and broader exposure.

WWE’s Targeted Moves in Latin America

Reports have surfaced that WWE is targeting talent from CMLL. Not just to strengthen its own roster or aid its developing relationship with AAA, but also as a strategic move to undermine both AEW and CMLL. By acquiring key names from rival promotions, WWE weakens its competitors while expanding its international reach… Especially in the Latin American wrestling market.

This isn’t new. WWE has historically leveraged its global brand, large-scale events, and financial muscle to lure top-tier talent. In some cases, they’ve offered less money than other promotions, relying instead on the prestige of their brand and the dream of the WrestleMania moment.

One potential solution for promotions like AEW, NJPW, and CMLL lies in the dual contract model, a structure that allows a wrestler to appear for two companies simultaneously. A current example is Konosuke Takeshita, who is under contract with both AEW and NJPW.

While AEW remains his primary promotion, the agreement allows him to work in Japan and maintain visibility in two major markets. For non-WWE promotions, offering dual contracts isn’t just a perk anymore, it’s becoming a strategic necessity. AEW and NJPW already have a working relationship, and CMLL’s historical ties with both can further expand this network.

Still, WWE holds a trump card: WrestleMania. The cultural weight of performing on WWE’s grandest stage is a dream for many. For some, that dream outweighs even more lucrative offers elsewhere. WWE knows this and uses it to their advantage, offering increased visibility and global prestige instead of higher pay.

But if AEW, NJPW, and CMLL can continue building their own marquee moments like AEW’s All In, NJPW’s Wrestle Kingdom, or a future co-branded mega event like Forbidden Door, they can begin to close that emotional gap and offer their own versions of the WrestleMania moment.

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About Post Author

Juan Carlos Reneo

Juan Carlos Reneo is one of the original writers at The Scrap, contributing since the site’s inception. Hailing from Spain, he is a passionate professional wrestling enthusiast who primarily writes opinionated articles focused on AEW. With a large and devoted following on X, Juan brings unique insights and a dedicated perspective to his coverage of the wrestling world.

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