All Elite Wrestling has announced another new signing as the company inked former New Japan Pro Wrestling star Lance Archer to a multi-year contract. Archer’s signing comes on the heels of former WWE superstar Luke Harper, aka Brodie Lee, agreeing to a contract as well. The addition of Archer continues the expansion of AEW’s small roster of wrestlers. Combat sports fans are preparing for some big events in mixed martial arts and wrestling this spring. Fans can visit silentbet.com to get a bet bonus and tips before wagering on combat sports’ biggest bouts such as Khabib versus Tony Ferguson.
AEW announced Archer’s signing via a press release on February 26th. He will likely be available to appear on the next AEW Dynamite show. Archer’s signing may not be one that many American wrestling fans unfamiliar with NJPW will get excited about. Yet, his signing could be a significant one for the new promotion.
Coming to America
Archer begin wrestling in the early 2000s and made stop-offs in TNA and the WWE’s ECW brand. He was released in 2010 after nearly 18 months with the company. It was after leaving the WWE that Archer’s wrestling career really took off.
In 2011, the 6ft 8in Texan joined NJPW and later won the IWGP Tag Team Championship with partner Davey Boy Smith Jr as the Killer Elite Squad. The duo would go onto work in Pro Wrestling Noah winning the GCH Tag Team belts.
A second run in NJPW resulted in Archer winning the IWGP United States Championship. However, his biggest moment in NJPW came in the summer of 2019 when he competed in the G1 Climax Tournament.
Archer’s impact on wrestling
Archer’s signing to AEW should actually have a big impact on wrestling. Firstly, he is another foreign wrestler that NJPW built up that has now left the company. Archer joins a list that includes Kenny Omega, Luke Gallows, and Karl Anderson to leave NJPW after years of success for the WWE or AEW. NJPW now has a lot of competition from AEW and the wrestlers it used to employ.
Although some have claimed AEW has a very deep roster, it doesn’t appear that deep from week to week on Dynamite. Archer’s arrival will give the company another person to plug into storylines. The 42-year-old is a long-time veteran of the business, which is something AEW needs. His experience in the WWE and NJPW will help other AEW roster members inside and outside the ring.
Finally, Archer looks like a classic pro wrestler. He is nearly 7ft tall and weighs in at more than 250 pounds. AEW needs bigger guys that look more like classic pro wrestlers than many of the smaller competitors on its roster.
Archer will not be reuniting with former K.E.S. tag partner Smith in AEW. Smith is currently under contract with Major League Wrestling but is rumored to be going back to the WWE. The wheels of wrestler movement continue to turn and more stars could arrive in AEW in the coming weeks. Archer and Lee could just be the tip of the iceberg.
