FTR are certainly one of the hottest acts in wrestling right now. Reportedly even gaining interest off their former employers, WWE.
FTR recently responded to reports of WWE’s interest in bringing them back, with Dax Harwood saying that they would never talk to another company whilst being contracted to AEW, out of respect for Tony Khan.
Since then, FTR have appeared on The Session with Renee Paquette, and they spoke some more about the reported interest from WWE, and also naming some of their goals for the future:
“I think we know about as much as everyone else does. We left that place because they didn’t put a focus on tag team wrestling and we knew there was a ceiling to where we could go in the company. We wanted to do more. We wanted to be known as the greatest tag team of all time. We had to leave there to do that and we knew that. That’s why we were so insistent on them getting us our releases.
Now, I see the screenshot of all the different news outlets saying they want to re-sign us and that’s flattering and cool, we got some more time. I told Tony (Khan), because obviously, he heard about it, I told him, ‘There is no way we would ever talk contracts with anybody while we’re working for him.’ We have way too much respect for him and our word means something. I started thinking, do they want us or do they want AEW to not have us? It’s cool for Cody (Rhodes) to do what he’s done, but there are so many unknowns there. Will they ever focus on tag team wrestling like we’ve been able to for the last two years?
Money is not everything for us. I do have a family, so I have to take care of them, but it’s not all about the money, it’s about what we leave behind for wrestling,”
– Dax Harwood
Cash Wheeler would then go on to give his thoughts about WWE’s interest and also mentions the goals FTR, including wanting to win the IWGP Tag Team Titles (NJPW):
I was driving to the airport when he sent me the screenshot. I was like, ‘is this legit? is this a real thing?’ That’s how I found out, sitting at the airport, getting ready to board the flight, I’m thinking about how crazy this all is and how crazy this year has been. This is one more thing where I’m like, how is this real? I don’t know how much has changed there as far as what we want tag team wrestling to be. We’re getting to show everybody what tag team wrestling can be and what our vision is. It’s buzzed about right now. Tag teams are killing it everywhere, not just us. We’re at the top of that, obviously, but tag team wrestling, in general, is killing it right now and is creating buzz and we have some of the best tag teams we’ve had at the same time in the past couple of decades. Everyone in New Japan, IMPACT, AEW, WWE, MLW, there are so many ridiculously talented teams and we’re getting to help put a focus on that and that’s what we’ve always wanted to do. I was blown away when I read it and it makes you think about a bunch of different things, but right now, we’re getting to paint what we see wrestling’s tag team picture as and I’m happier than I’ve been. I make more money than I have and I don’t want to think about anything other than that and making tag team wrestling and ourselves the best ever.
I have two things that are high on the list for me. We want to be the first-ever two-time AEW Tag Team Champions. Until then, or after then, we want the IWGP Tag Team Titles. That’s very important to us and something we wanted to do for a while and wanted to make sure we do it right. We haven’t tried to do anything where we waste it because when we do it, we want tag team wrestling to be talked about and buzzed about. We think that can be something that is cool.”
– Cash Wheeler
It comes as no surprise that FTR are gaining interest from WWE, or any company for that matter. They are on one of the finest tag team runs in recent times. Currently the AAA & Ring Of Honor Tag Team Champions are set to actually face off against each other this Wednesday on AEW Dynamite, a match that many AEW fans are extremely excited for.
H/T to Fightful for the transcription
