Kevin Kelly Alleges AEW Took Back Severance Package After Firing

Kevin Kelly, a well-known figure in the world of professional wrestling with a storied career in WWE, Ring of Honor, and New Japan Pro-Wrestling, has recently been at the center of controversy following his departure from AEW.

Reports suggest that Kelly’s exit was linked to a contentious rant he made just before the AEW Revolution pay-per-view, which has since led to a series of events involving legal matters and public criticism.

Kelly’s sudden absence and subsequent return to AEW had already sparked speculation among fans, but the situation escalated when Kelly publicly criticized fellow commentator Ian Riccaboni just before AEW Revolution. Kelly accused Riccaboni of defamation and claimed that his own value within the company was being overlooked.

“But the idea of what I bring to the table is lost there because Ian libeled me. So I sit on the bench, valued by my peers, waiting to get my number called,” Kelly stated.

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Following his departure from AEW, Kelly revealed during an appearance on the Refin’ It Up podcast that the company initially provided him with a severance package, only to retract it later.

According to Kelly, the severance was withdrawn because he had not signed a required form. Kelly expressed his frustration with how the situation was handled, criticizing the company for their actions. He hinted that more details would be revealed in the future, outlining the sequence of events and reasons behind his departure.

“And of course, they fired me and it was real just sh*tty and picky. They gave me a… what do you call it? A little severance package. Very little. Then they took it back. They put it into my account and then a couple of days later, they took it back, because I didn’t sign some form or something like that,” Kelly explained. “So, it’ll all come out eventually, and when the time is right, I can say, okay, here’s all the things that happened: A, B, C, D and E. Here’s times that it happened and here’s the reason why we’re doing what we’re doing.”

In addition to his frustrations with AEW, Kelly has taken legal action against the company, further intensifying the situation. He has also publicly criticized AEW President Tony Khan, questioning his management skills. As the legal proceedings unfold, it remains to be seen how this dispute will evolve and whether any resolution will be reached.

Given the ongoing nature of the legal matter, more details may emerge in the coming months, shedding further light on the situation.

What’s your view on Kevin Kelly’s accusation against AEW? Do you feel the situation could have been handled better? Let us know in the comments section below!