William Regal Reportedly WWE Bound, Possibly Leaving AEW In Shocking Development

William Regal is believed to be WWE bound just weeks after becoming a focal point in a top AEW storyline

“All signs are that William Regal, 54, will be World Wrestling Entertainment-bound shortly,” wrote Mike Johnson of PWInsider.

“Although we have heard nothing official from the company, there have been rumblings within WWE of late about Regal returning in a backstage role. That would mean Regal would be exiting AEW, where it certainly appeared that he was written out of storylines last night on Dynamite, having been attacked by AEW Champion MJF.”

Regal was stretchered out of the Indiana Farmers Coliseum Wednesday night during AEW Dynamite, where MJF made his first appearance as AEW world champion. After another stellar—if not long—promo, featuring the reveal of a new belt designed dubbed the “Big Burberry Belt,” MJF used Regal’s patented brass knuckles to knock Regal out despite Regal’s recent heel turn.

“MJF exclusively hires top talent and top world-class athletes. When you’re one of them, send me your stuff,” said MJF as a nod to an email Regal sent him when he was trying to break into WWE.

Speculation of Regal’s possible AEW exit began last week following a curious promo from Jon Moxley, who demanded that William Regal leave AEW and never come back. Regal solemnly exited stage left, leading to immediate conjecture on whether or not this would be his final AEW appearance. That Saturday, Triple H tweeted a highlight reel of Regal ahead of WWE Survivor Series: WarGames.

Regal was a fixture during the glory days of WWE NXT alongside Triple H. His firing during last year’s budget cuts was seen as a sign that Triple H was out of power in Stamford due to their close relationship. With Triple H now at the helm of WWE amid Vince McMahon’s retirement/resignation, many Triple H hires have found their way back to WWE both on and off camera.

With Triple H back in power, Regal’s return felt like an inevitability. But few, however, thought it would be this soon, especially after Dave Meltzer of the Wrestling Observer Newsletter recently claimed Regal’s AEW contract was for three years.

“Everyone’s going to think Regal’s leaving, and he might be,” said Meltzer on “Wrestling Observer Radio.”

“There’s stuff that I can’t say…but, you know…it’s like…whatever the three-year contract is, there’s something up here. It is certainly a possibility that he’s going back.”

Regal’s AEW exit throws yet another MJF storyline out of whack. Regal was 1a to MJF as the top heel in the company, but instead of getting any type of heat, Regal was promptly cannibalized by MJF and he may not be around long enough to get his comeuppance from a babyface. MJF’s previous world title storyline alongside CM Punk was put on hold following Punk’s injury on the night of MJF’s pipebomb promo, and they were scrapped altogether after Punk’s AEW Media Scrum meltdown.

WWE’s counter-programming and undermining of AEW has only intensified in the Triple H Era. Paul Levesque seems borderline obsessed with getting revenge on the company stemming from his career-altering loss to AEW during the Wednesday Night Wars. By potentially stealing a key figure on AEW TV for a prominent backstage role, Triple H’s revenge tour is going according to plan.