When Cody Rhodes made the leap from AEW to WWE, he was - and still is - treated like a very big deal. Some might argue Vince McMahon initially wanted to stick it to Tony Khan after one of his founding EVPs returned home, but what about other wrestlers hoping to make the jump to the big time?
Well, they need only look at Jade Cargill for proof WWE isn't looking to bury AEW talent and will treat those who have made a name for themselves there as huge stars. While we don't anticipate her past being referenced too overly moving forward, WWE is making it clear to fans that Cargill's upcoming debut means an awful lot.
Cargill, meanwhile, spoke with The Ringer Wrestling Show about why she decided WWE was the place she needed to be.
"You know, I feel like I was just in preparation for the grand stage. I felt like this was always the mission. I felt like, you know, the shoe fit. I felt like this was gonna happen. Honestly, this is all expected. So I'm excited to be here."
"One thing I am is a businesswoman and I think I made the best route at the time. WWE is a great company, you know, but I took what I had and I bet on myself, and the outcome obviously paid off.”
"I want to create a legacy. I want to be in the Hall of Fame. I want to wrestle with the best women in the world. I mean, there's no grander stage than this stage. You know, the opportunities are endless for this company. It's a no-brainer. It was very welcoming. I didn't have any second thoughts about it at all. It was just the easy choice."
After saying she's come to WWE to "create [a] legacy" and become a "household name," Cargill was asked if she hit a glass ceiling as part of AEW.
"I wouldn't say it was a ceiling, I would just say that the route that I wanted to take was different and the route that I wanted to embark on was different and I didn't see over there where I could get it, and the only way I could do it was coming to the WWE Universe. So I bet on myself and I made the best decision by coming here."
MJF's contract is supposed to be up next year and we'd be shocked if he didn't consider following Cargill and Rhodes to WWE given the money and fame that's on the table. Ultimately, it will all boil down to how loyal he is to Khan and his company.
Going back to Cargill, though, it's currently unclear whether she'll debut on RAW, SmackDown, or NXT.