Mariah May might be off AEW television for now, but shes not out of the gamein fact, she may be playing it better than anyone.
While rumors have swirled for weeks about May jumping ship to WWE, new reports are painting a very different picture. According to Fightful Select, May isnt just sitting back while the speculation fliesshes using it to her advantage.
Sources close to the situation told Fightful, Shes being wise and maximizing her leverage and negotiating power. That insight changes the tone of the story entirely. Instead of a departure being imminent, it sounds like Mariah May is weighing her options and making sure the wrestling world knows her value.
Theres no doubt Mays absence since her loss to Toni Storm at AEW Revolution has fueled the rumors. Dave Meltzer previously said that people in WWE know she wants to go there, and Bryan Alvarez mentioned that she signed a two-year deal in November 2023. But while some in AEW do believe shes WWE-bound, others are saying shes just playing the long game.
AEW absolutely hopes to retain Mariah May, Fightful noted, making it clear that Tony Khans camp doesnt want to lose her. What really caught insiders off guard was the length of her deal. One source told Fightful, The biggest surprise among those that we spoke with was the possibility that Mariah May was only on a deal of this length.
And despite a rumor that she requested her release earlier this year, PWInsider shut that down quickly: There was a rumor making the roundsthat May had requested a release from her AEW deal but at the time we were never able to confirm that was accurate. Obviously, she has not been released.
So whats next for Mariah May? Shes in her contract year and expected to receive offers from just about every major promotion. Whether she sticks with AEW or makes a move to WWE, one things clearshes in control of the narrative.
Do you think Mariah May is playing her cards right by staying quiet and leveraging the rumors? Please share your thoughts and feedback in the comment section below.
