After much rumour, speculation, and extensive negotiations William Regal is now back with WWE.
According to a new report from PWInsider, Regal started back with the company on January 4th in an Executive Vice President position.
Regal’s return to WWE came almost a year to the day after he was released by the company as part of an overhaul of NXT and the company’s developmental programme. After initially intending to take a break from wrestling, Regal joined All Elite Wrestling two months later at the urging of Bryan Danielson. The British veteran formed an on-screen partnership with Danielson and Jon Moxley as the Blackpool Combat Club, with the trio going on to recruit Wheeler Yuta and Claudio Castagnoli.
However, at Full Gear, Regal turned his back on Moxley helping his rival MJF win the AEW World Championship. Not this union was built to last with MJF taking out the British star just two weeks later. It quickly became apparent that the storyline was a way of writing Regal off television after he privately expressed his desire to return to WWE.
William Regal Returns To WWE
AEW boss Tony Khan later confirmed that Regal asked the company not to take up the option on his contract so that he could return to WWE to work with his son. The caveat to the deal being that Regal is unable to appear in an on-screen role during 2023.
In a post on social media in December signalling his AEW exit, Regal paid tribute to everyone he had worked with while with the company.
“Yesterday was my last official day with @AEW I’d like to thank @TonyKhan Megha and all the hard working crew. Contrary to people who’ve never spoken to me or have their information from people who don’t know me or are trying to make themselves noticed, I had a lovely time working there and had a great time. Lots of talented Wrestlers, and lovely people to work for. To my fellow BCC members, it was a special, albeit brief few months but it cemented our already strong friendship. To everyone there, thank you for welcoming me. Best wishes.”
After winding down his in-ring career Regal started to become more and more influential backstage within WWE. The former Intercontinental Champion formed a formidable team with Triple H in NXT recruiting some of the best wrestlers in the world, leading the brand through it’s golden period.