Shawn Dean has made it clear that he is not looking to leave AEW for WWE at this stage of his career. The AEW talent recently spoke about his future and explained why he remains committed to the company.
During an interview with Kings of the Ring and Digital Bricks Network, Dean was asked if he would ever consider making a move to WWE. He responded by saying that right now, he has no reason to look elsewhere. Dean believes he has built a strong position for himself in AEW and values the role he plays within the promotion.
He said, “Uh, man, I think like at the moment I don’t, you know what I’m saying? And that’s just because at AEW, I have carved out a lane for myself. I’ve put myself in a position to where I’m respected by my peers. I’m making a difference and I’m part of something that’s growing, something that’s going to be around for a long time.”
Shawn Dean AEW future WWE move
Dean also addressed the long-term outlook of his career. He noted that even if an opportunity with WWE were to come years from now, he does not expect to still be an active wrestler by that point. Instead, his focus is already shifting toward helping develop future talent.
He said, “So for me, even if that time was to come in 10, 15 years, in 10, 15 years I don’t plan on wrestling that long. So I want to be able, I’m already in a position now where I’m changing the future and establishing the next crop of people. So for me at the moment right now, man, AEW is where my heart is at.”
Dean credited AEW for giving him opportunities and helping other wrestlers gain exposure. He pointed out that many performers have used their time in AEW to move on to other promotions, including WWE, TNA, MLW, and international companies.
He said, “AEW is where, you know, that took a chance on me and put me in a position to be able to get people to go to other places if it’s not AEW. They’re going to WWE, they’re going to TNA, they’re in MLW, they’re going overseas. A lot of them have got these opportunities based off of something that they did on AEW Dark, something that they probably would have never got a chance to do on the other side.”
Dean added that AEW has played a major role in expanding the wrestling industry by creating new chances for talent and breaking the monopoly that once existed.
He said, “AEW has opened the door for so many people to get exposure that it’s really crazy how it changed the game for wrestling in general. You went from one entity running the whole thing to now you got another one that’s producing just as much talent, if not better talent, on this side.”
For Dean, his main goal is to contribute to that growth. He wants to help shape the future rather than chase personal fame.
He said, “I want to be on a side where we’re continuing to change and grow and knowing that I got a part in that. That’s my place in history. I choose legacy over fame any day.”
Dean did not completely rule out what could happen later in his career. However, his current focus is clear. He sees himself as part of AEW’s ongoing development and is committed to helping the company and its talent continue to grow.
Shawn Dean Explains Why AEW Remains His Priority Over WWE
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