AEW shelves Asheville training center plan over cost

All Elite Wrestling explored opening a dedicated training center in Asheville, North Carolina earlier this year but shelved the project after internal discussions concluded the cost of building and operating such a facility was prohibitive, according to people familiar with the talks.

The proposed center was described by those sources as more than a ring and weights. Officials and insiders envisioned a full fledged developmental system to identify and train future AEW performers, mirroring the structured pipeline used by other major wrestling promotions. The plan reportedly included hiring veteran wrestlers and coaches to provide hands on mentoring and skill development.

Several high profile names were mentioned in connection with the initiative. FTR members Dax Harwood and Cash Wheeler, and the married duo Adam Copeland and Beth Phoenix, were said to have been lined up to play prominent coaching roles. At one point, longtime producer and trainer Ace Steel was discussed as a potential leader for the program, though he left the company in 2022. The facility’s location in Asheville was not accidental. Sources noted that several of the proposed coaches have personal ties to the...