Real Reason Josh Alexander Didn’t Join AEW At Launch Revealed

TNA Wrestling

Josh Alexander has opened up about reaching out to AEW in its early days before he chose to sign with TNA Wrestling.

The former TNA World Champion made his AEW debut on April 16, 2025, with his signing being confirmed by Tony Khan.

This wasn’t the first time that Alexander had taken an interest in AEW, however, having revealed he had been in touch with the Young Bucks before the company was even named.

During a recent appearance on The Wrestling Classic, Alexander spoke about his conversation with Matt & Nick Jackson and the level of interest they had in signing him at the time, saying:

“Full disclosure, before I signed with TNA, I heard murmurs of this new company starting up. It didn’t have a name at the time, nothing had been announced.

“I had worked with the Bucks, so I reached out to one of them and was like, ‘Is this a real thing?’ They were like, ‘Yeah.’ ‘Would there be any interest in me because I would love to be part of something like this.’ They said, ‘Not right now.’

“That’s when TNA came along and I went there. I was very lucky to have the opportunity to go to TNA.

“Being older and little wiser, I’ve come to understand that everything does happen for a reason and you have to follow the path that you’re on. It might get rocky at times, but everything works out in the end.”

AEW was founded on January 1, 2019, by Tony Khan, with The Young Bucks, Kenny Omega and Cody Rhodes all serving as co-executive vice presidents.

Having appeared during 2018 as enhancement talent, Josh Alexander signed a three-year contract with TNA Wrestling in February 2019.

A two-time World Tag Team Champion (with Ethan Page), Alexander would also hold the X Division Championship.

As a two-time Impact World Champion, Alexander has the longest reign to date at 335 days (and, conversely, the shortest).

At Bound For Glory in 2021, Alexander defeated Christian Cage to win the Impact World Championship, only for Moose to cash in his Call Your Shot opportunity moments later, becoming the new champion.

Transcript from nodq.com.

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• josh alexander
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