Wrestling fans, brace yourselves for some major contract news! Earlier this week, it was reported that Buddy Matthews, a key member of the House of Black, has signed a shiny new contract with AEW. But wait, there’s more! The Wrestling Observer Newsletter just spilled additional beans on the deal, revealing that this agreement actually came together months ago. And let’s just say, it’s lucrative enough to make anyone do a double-take.
According to wrestling guru Dave Meltzer, Matthews had previously asked for his AEW release. This backs up the juicy reports from September 2022 that several AEW stars were itching to jump ship but were denied by Tony Khan. The House of Black was right in the middle of this whirlwind of speculation, though Matthews and his partner-in-crime, Brody King, made it clear they weren’t too happy with those rumors earlier this year.
Fan curiosity about Matthews’ status is also fueled by his marriage to WWE star Rhea Ripley. Sorry, shippers, but with the former WWE Cruiserweight Champion now committed to AEW for a few more years, any dreamy onscreen pairings with Ripley will have to stay in your imaginations.
The last time we saw Matthews in action was on June 15, where he, Brody King, and Malakai Black triumphed over Bullet Club Gold in a thrilling six-man tag match. But then, boom! The Patriarchy swooped in and took Matthews out of action. Fear not, though! The House of Black is seemingly being set up for an AEW World Trios Championship showdown against The Patriarchy at AEW All In next month. With the pay-per-view less than a month away, expect Matthews to make a triumphant return to the ring soon.