As PWMania.com previously reported, WWE Hall of Famer Mark Henry made his AEW debut at the Double or Nothing PPV. Former WWE star Lio Rush also made his debut as the “Joker” entrant in the Casino Battle Royale.
During the AEW Double or Nothing post-show press conference, AEW President Tony Khan addressed Henry joining the company:
“Mark Henry and I are friends. Mark told me he was available and to do things that I would be really interested in doing. I thought that would be really interesting because he’s not only a good friend but a really respected person in the wrestling business. A great wrestler, a great mind, a great scout, and a great analyst in wrestling. He gives his opinions on the radio, but he provides great scouting reports and he really has helped mentor a lot of wrestlers in addition to being a great wrestling mind. I think he could be not only a great on-air personality but a great backstage influence. He’s a great friend and person, so it’s just great to have Mark in the AEW family, and it was great to announce it on such a special show.”
Khan also commented on Rush’s status with WWE:
“I haven’t got pen to paper but Lio and I have a handshake where he can work here and New Japan. He wanted to keep working here and I think we’ve worked something good out on a handshake. I think he has a handshake with New Japan too and that’s what we’ve been doing and it’s been pretty good. I think it’s a good way to work. So far, so good.”