Renee Paquette confirms she was in talks with WWE before signing with AEW

– Renee Paquette has confirmed reports that she was in discussions with WWE before she ultimately signed with AEW. It had been reported in October that WWE made an offer to Paquette that she ultimately turned down in favor of AEW, and she spoke about those discussions while on Vickie Guerrero’s Excuse Me podcast. You can check out the highlights below (per Fightful):

On her conversations with WWE:

“I had been talking to WWE, that had gotten leaked out before I debuted with AEW, I had been having conversations with WWE about all the things they have going on over there. The more I was thinking about it and figuring out what that looks like and what the future looks like, I was like, ‘No, I want to be in AEW.’ I want to be part of this company that is growing and developing. I want to help. I want to help lend whatever knowledge I have in this space to make things good, I want to do a good job, I want to be on the road with my husband, that makes life easier. It was more so that and it was more conversations Jon and I were having. That was one of those first big moments, ‘We have to make a decision as a family.’ Not that I can’t do what I want, if that’s what I decided to do, it would have been fine, but you have family conversations about what makes the most sense for everyone.”

On enjoying what she’s doing in AEW:

“There was that sparkle in my eye. I love the way…even my time now having spent in AEW and being able to work there, I love being able to collaborate with people, I love doing the backstage segments and talking to Sonjay, talking to different talent, talking to Don Callis. It’s fun. It’s fun trying to figure out what those things are rather than just being handed a piece of paper and go and do that. That’s fine too, I enjoyed that for many years, but it’s fun being able to do it this way.”