Dean Malenko signs with AEW as senior producer/coach

After departing WWE last month, Dean Malenko has officially joined AEW in a behind-the-scenes role.

AEW issued a press release today announcing that Malenko has signed a multi-year deal with the promotion as a senior producer/coach. Malenko is starting in the role immediately.

“It’s not often you get an opportunity late in your career to be a part of building something from the ground floor,” Malenko said. “The freedom to be able to contribute uninhibited will only lend itself to foster creativity and produce an outstanding product. I’m excited about what the future holds for AEW, and I can’t wait to be a part of the journey.”

“Dean Malenko has been a massive force behind some of today’s biggest wrestling stars,” Cody Rhodes said. “He’s never stopped being a major talent who was part of the ECW revolution as well as a fixture in the cruiserweight movement on Nitro. He’s kept an open mind to our world from Lucha Libre to Japanese pro-wrestling. He’s the perfect fit for our sports-centric mentality, and his experience will be invaluable for our team. Welcome Coach!”

Malenko was a longtime producer for WWE before quitting his job with them last month. He started working behind the scenes in WWE after his retirement from in-ring competition in 2001.

The day after it was revealed that he had quit WWE, Malenko was announced for Starrcast II in Las Vegas.