Erick Redbeard never had any interest in joining AEW, and that was to honor the late, great Brodie Lee.
Making an appearance on NBC Sports Boston for an interview with Steve Fall, Redbeard spoke about whether or not ever considered signing to All Elite Wrestling. Erick Redbeard, known as Erick Rowan in WWE, made a few appearances in the promotion, but never signed a contract, saying that he’s been focusing on other opportunities.
Not just that, but Erick Redbeard didn’t want to consistently remind fans of Brodie Lee shortly after his death. Also, Redbeard said that he didn’t want to give off the misconception that he was a member of Dark Order, because he wanted the faction to be just associated with Lee, rather than him.
“It was never a conversation. I was doing and pursuing my own things. It was just never a thing, and I didn’t, at that time especially, I didn’t wanna be the guy that distract and always made you remind people of a loss, especially that quickly. With the Dark Order, I wanted nothing to do it. That’s nothing to say that I’m better, no. What I’m saying is, I didn’t want anything to do with it because that’s his legacy. If it’s gonna fizzle out, I want it to fizzle out.
But he made and created that in such a quick amount of time that he had left, that I want that to be the memory of him, his TNT Championship, his dog collar matches. I want that all to be held up here, and I wanted nothing to do with that. So even if there was a conversation, I wouldn’t have seen myself having a spot there.”