WWE Re-Signs Roman Reigns to Contract Extension

WWE has been on a signing spree of late, locking up talent ahead of AEW’s main launch on TNT this October. Earlier this week, the company announced that it has re-signed its face, confirming a multi-year contract extension with Roman Reigns. Reigns, 34, has been the centerpiece of WWE television since John Cena became a part-time wrestler in order to pursue a movie career. Terms of the deal, including the length, were not disclosed but multiple media outlets have reported that it’s a multi-year extension for Reigns. In recent months, Luke Gallows, Karl Anderson, Jinder Mahal, Dash Wilder and Scott Dawson have all reportedly signing new contracts.

After battling leukemia at the end of last year, Reigns returned to WWE in February and had a short-lived reunion with The Shield and then feuded with Drew McIntyre through WrestleMania. Since being moved to SmackDown Live during the Superstar Shakeup, Reigns has been feuding with Daniel Bryan.

“Reigns is one of WWE’s most decorated Superstars, having held the WWE, Universal, Intercontinental, United States and Tag Team Championships during his career,” WWE said in a statement. “Earlier this year, Reigns won the first-ever WWE Moment ESPY after his return to the ring from battling leukemia.”

This past week on SmackDown, Reigns wrestled up-and-comer Buddy Murphy in what many are hailing as a star-making moment for Murphy, who lost the match but looked strong against WWE’s most-protected star. Reigns is also in the Hobbs and Shaw movie, which is currently in theaters, and will also be on the cover of the WWE2K20 video game, along with Becky Lynch.

Reigns’ re-signing probably isn’t the direct result of AEW coming into the marketplace, but the slew of mid-level re-signings could be, especially since Jon Moxley (formerly Dean Ambrose) left WWE earlier this year and had signed with AEW in a matter of weeks.

It was reported this week by BodySlam.net that Dolph Ziggler was supposed to be released from WWE this week after losing to Goldberg at SummerSlam. The report says that Ziggler had a handshake agreement with Vince McMahon where Ziggler would return to work — as he did earlier this year — and work through SummerSlam before being released so he could pursue other projects; Ziggler has dipped his foot into standup comedy in recent years. However, McMahon reportedly renegged on that deal this week at TV, telling Ziggler that it was better for WWE to pay him to sit at home. If the report is true, this is likely only because WWE is fearful Ziggler would sign with AEW.

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