According to Dave Meltzer of The Wrestling Observer Newsletter, WWE is the likeliest to sign former Ring of Honor talent, Marty Scurll.
During the latest edition of The Wrestling Observer Radio, Meltzer noted that the company were very keen to hire Marty Scurll prior to him signing his future to ROH and, thanks to the stigma Scurll received from sexual assault accusations made against him during the 2020 #SpeakingOut movement, would be one of only two promotions willing to give him a second chance.
However, the noted journalist also told of how Scurll will be eager to secure a contract in the United States because currently, he does not hold American citizenship:
“It’s really interesting what’s going to happen to him because he’s got to have a job to stay here. I think that’s part of the provisions of his deal. He owns a home, so he’s going to be forced out the country if he doesn’t get another job. A year ago, he got the biggest contract in ROH history and he got big offers from WWE and AEW, and AEW at one point thought he was going and ROH really wanted to keep him, he was going to be the head of creative and the whole thing happened with the allegation.”
Dave then moved on to state that Scurll was an original target for WWE prior to the ROH contract being signed and why either the Stamford based business or New Japan Pro Wrestling will be his likeliest destinations:
“But WWE was very interested in him as well but there’s a stigma of everything. We don’t know what it is and how long it is, but for AEW it’s going to be difficult just because there’s a lot of heat that anyone’s going to get for hiring him. WWE does not feel that heat, they’re going to do what they want to do, but it’s one thing to have a guy that’s on your roster – and they have several – and just go ‘they didn’t do it’ and ‘there’s no criminal charges’, because the thing is, over the years, them and New Japan and Vince has been in charge for 38 years, and in 38 years there have been a million things and charges that involved talent. Some true, and some not true and people will go, ‘how can they do this’, and for a new company, they can go in there and they can be like, ‘oh we don’t want the bad heat’ and everything, where as the old companies can go, ‘we’ve been in this business and this isn’t an easy business and stuff’s going to happen and this is how we operate and we’re going to do what we want to do and we’re not going to be dictated to.'”
However, the original plan for ‘The Villain’ was to make his AEW debut all the way back on December 18, 2019, but that never occurred after he was offered what was said to be the most lucrative contract in Ring of Honor history:
“It’s a weird one because I’m sure there’s, like in a lot of cases, there’s thoughts of what you can do and what you can’t do and I don’t anticipate AEW taking him. I mean, it’s possible, obviously he was friends with all those guys. And when AEW started the assumption was that, and this was never a hundred percent but the assumption was that when Marty’s done with his contract he’s coming over. He would have for sure been there with the first group except for his contract. Because his contract has another year to go that he couldn’t be there for the first group. I know AEW expected that on December 18 [2019] that Marty was going to be at the end of the show. That was the plan and obviously Marty stayed with Ring of Honor.”
The British talent is now looking for a new home after parting ways with Ring of Honor on January 4.
Inside the Ropes will keep you up to date with where Marty Scurll lands next.