A new backstage update has surfaced regarding whether All Elite Wrestling (AEW) plans to bring onboard some former WWE stars who were recently released by the Stamford-based promotion.
Since AEW’s founding in 2019, the Jacksonville-based promotion and WWE have been rivals. In its early days, AEW relied heavily on former WWE talent to garner attention and achieve quick success. Over time, however, Tony Khan’s promotion has established stability with a solid core roster. Now, the movement of stars between the two promotions has become more common and functions as a two-way street.
Recently, the futures of four former WWE wrestlers came under the spotlight: Trey Miguel, Zachary Wentz, Myron Reed (collectively known as the Rascalz), and Wes Lee. Trey Miguel and Zachary Wentz, currently signed with WWE’s partner company TNA, are nearing the end of their contracts. Wes Lee was released by WWE earlier this month, while Myron Reed has been working independently.
A new report by Fightful clarifies whether these stars will join AEW, and for now, the answer is no. Sean Ross Sapp, in the latest edition of Fightful Select, revealed that AEW has no specific interest at this time in signing the aforementioned talents. However, he noted that this situation could evolve in 2026.
### Tony Khan Takes a Cautious Approach with Ex-WWE Talent
In an earlier report, Fightful’s Sean Ross Sapp detailed how AEW President Tony Khan has adopted a more meticulous strategy for evaluating free agents who recently left WWE before deciding to bring them into AEW.
In the past, AEW has not shied away from signing former WWE superstars, including high-profile names such as Chris Jericho, Adam Copeland (Edge), Jon Moxley, Bryan Danielson, and CM Punk. However, Sapp mentioned that some signings have presented challenges, with certain wrestlers expressing dissatisfaction with their roles in AEW.
The most notable example is CM Punk’s tenure at All Elite Wrestling, which was marked by controversy and backstage tension, ultimately leading to his termination.
All of these factors have contributed to Tony Khan becoming more selective when it comes to signing wrestlers from WWE, particularly ex-WWE stars.
For now, AEW appears to be focusing on building its roster internally, but the door remains open for future signings as circumstances evolve. Fans will be watching closely to see how this ongoing rivalry between AEW and WWE continues to shape the wrestling landscape.
https://www.sportskeeda.com/aew/news-backstage-update-former-wwe-stars-joining-aew-not-reports
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