A WWE hiring freeze that followed Vince McMahon’s return to the company in late 2022 once stalled a potential opportunity for the tag team The Righteous. Now, it appears their path to the promotion has reopened. According to a report from Fightful Select, Vinny and Dutch have begun informing promoters that they are wrapping up their independent bookings over the next few months, fueling strong rumors within WWE that a signing is likely.
The duo’s potential arrival comes after a previous, unsuccessful attempt to join the company. In December 2022, The Righteous participated in a tryout exclusively for independent wrestlers. However, McMahon’s return shortly after triggered a halt on new talent acquisitions that lasted for several months, effectively closing the door at that time. Following the tryout, the team signed with AEW and performed under the Ring of Honor brand before securing their release earlier this year.
Interest in the team from within WWE is not new. The report notes that multiple figures have advocated for the duo. The late Bray Wyatt reportedly pushed for the company to hire them following their 2022 tryout. Additionally, Elijah (formerly known as Elias) was involved with the team, having filmed vignettes with them at one point.
This potential talent acquisition occurs during a year defined by direct and aggressive competition between WWE and AEW. Throughout 2025, WWE has consistently scheduled major events to counter AEW’s pay-per-views. This strategy included running shows during AEW’s Double or Nothing weekend in May and scheduling a trio of events in Atlanta opposite AEW All In: Texas in July.
More recently, reports in August indicated WWE was considering scheduling a Saturday Night’s Main Event, potentially featuring John Cena’s retirement match, on December 27, the same night as AEW’s Worlds End pay-per-view. The potential signing of a team recently featured on AEW/ROH programming aligns with this competitive landscape.