Backstage Note On David Finlay’s WWE Offer Before Signing With AEW

David Finlay had an offer from WWE before he signed with AEW, and a new report has details on the matter. As noted, Finlay made his AEW debut on this week’s AEW Dynamite, allying with his former NJPW stablemates Gabe Kidd and Clark Connors as The Dogs. The trio were announced by Tony Khan as All Elite and Fightful Select confirmed they were all signed to the company. Finlay’s deal is said to be a multi-year one.

It had been previously reported that Finlay had some contact with WWE once he became a free agent after his NJPW contract expired. Bodyslam+ reports that according to sources in WWE, Finlay was offered a deal that would have seen him start off in NXT. WWE refused to budge on the offer, and Finlay ended up going with AEW as a result. He made his debut by joining Kidd and Connors in assaulting Darby Allin and Orange Cassidy.

The Dogs’ name, as noted, is a reference to the Bullet Club War Dogs of which Finlay, Kidd, and Connors were members (Finlay the leader) in New Japan. Finlay was the leader of the group, which disbanded at NJPW New Year Dash and merged with the Unaffiliated to become Unbound Co.