After many notable departures in 2025, many of which landed in WWE, 2026 has already seen several AEW stars removed from the company’s roster.
Here are 16 AEW departures both early this year and in 2025.
We wish them all the best with whatever is ahead of them in the future.
16. Powerhouse Hobbs
The biggest news story in wrestling over the past seven days has been the AEW departure of former TNT, and as until recently AEW World Trios Champion, Powerhouse Hobbs.
Following several reports throughout the week, Hobbs’ exit was officially confirmed following the airing of the Saturday, January 17 episode of AEW Collision – the show which held what looks set to be Hobbs’ final match in the company.
With reports of an impending WWE move circulating, it seems as if it may not be long before we see him back on TV once again.
Reportedly expected to bypass NXT in favor for the main roster, Hobbs will have a fresh start after almost six years in AEW.
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15. Trey Miguel
The most recent AEW release, Trey Miguel was reportedly let go from his contract before making an appearance for the company.
After his TNA exit was confirmed on Tuesday, January 13, Miguel was confirmed to be All Elite along with Dezmond Xavier, Myron Reed & Zachary Wentz the following day – with a vignette teasing the group’s arrival airing during AEW Dynamite: Maximum Carnage.
The January 17 episode of AEW Collision saw Xavier, Wentz and Reed debut during a backstage interview segment, however, Miguel was not present alongside them.
Following speculation regarding his status, Miguel announced that he was “taking a break from wrestling” on social media, before it was then reported by Fightful Select that Miguel had been released from his contract. We at WrestleTalk wish Miguel all the best during his wrestling hiatus.
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14. Chris Jericho
While not a 100% confirmed exit at the time of writing, reports of Chris Jericho being bound for a AEW exit and WWE return have dominated the headlines for several months now.
With his last match in AEW coming all the way back in April, Jericho’s ongoing absence has led to continued questions regarding his status, with Tony Khan only stating how important Y2J has been to AEW when asked about him.
And Jericho has been incredibly important to AEW, that’s undisputed. Being both the company’s marquee signing in 2019 upon its inception and its first-ever World Champion, Jericho helped establish AEW to become what it is today.
However, despite his character reinventions, Jericho began to fall out of favor with the AEW fanbase, meaning a WWE return is likely the best outcome for all involved.
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13. Danhausen
The only other entry on this list that is yet to be 100% confirmed to be out the door in AEW is Danhausen.
The “Very Nice, Very Evil” star has been largely absent from AEW for over two years, with his last match on AEW TV being Worlds End in December 2023.
While he did make a return to ROH for one night only at ROH Final Battle 2024, Danhausen would disappear again afterwards.
With his AEW contract said to have been extended due to injury time missed, Danhausen will reportedly be free to move elsewhere in February 2026.
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12. Mercedes Martinez
Along with Powerhouse Hobbs, another AEW exit confirmed in 2026 was Mercedes Martinez.
Despite still being listed on the roster page until January 5, Martinez hadn’t appeared for the company in over a year and a half, with her last match coming for ROH in April 2024.
While she would win the ROH Women’s World Title two years before then, Martinez wasn’t predominantly featured for much of her AEW tenure.
After continuing to compete on the independent scene throughout her AEW absence, Martinez recently announced that 2026 will be her final year as a full-time wrestler – calling time on her active career after 25 years.
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11. Matt Taven
As well as Mercedes Martinez, Matt Taven also exited AEW in early January following the expiry of his contract.
Taven, like Martinez, found most of his success in ROH rather than AEW, with he and Mike Bennett enjoying a 234 day ROH World Tag Team Title win.
This run came during Taven and Bennett’s time in the Undisputed Kingdom, a storyline that was derailed by Adam Cole’s serious ankle injury.
Bennett, at the time of writing, remains on the AEW roster page, with Taven recently returning to the independent scene following his own departure.
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10. Alex Abrahantes
The last of the three names who departed AEW following their contracts expiring in early January was Alex Abrahantes.
Abrahantes arrived in AEW in 2019, initially as a Spanish language announcer and host, before later serving as a manager for Penta, Rey Fenix and Komander.
Following his exit, Abrahantes sent out a heartfelt message on social media thanking the fans, his former peers in AEW and the company’s president Tony Khan.
After his time in AEW, it’s unclear what Abrahantes will be doing next in the world of pro wrestling, but we wish him well in his next steps.
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9. Mariah May (Blake Monroe)
Going further back now, one of the biggest departures from AEW in 2025 was Mariah May.
May’s two years in AEW saw the English star win the AEW Women’s World Title and be involved in arguably the company’s best ever women’s division storyline with Toni Storm.
After competing in the acclaimed “Hollywood Ending” match with Toni Storm at AEW Revolution, May departed the company two months later.
May would eventually reemerge as Blake Monroe in WWE, debuting on the NXT brand, where she has remained since. Amid rumors of a potential trial impending main roster call-up, Monroe has become NXT Women’s North American Champion in this time and looks poised for more success in the future.
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8. Ricky Starks (Ricky Saints)
While he had great success and promise in AEW throughout his four years in the company, Ricky Starks was eventually let go by the company following an almost year-long absence.
Just days after his AEW release was made official in February 2025, the renamed Ricky Saints showed up in WWE, on the NXT brand.
After making an impact almost immediately by becoming NXT North American Champion in his third match, Saints spent much of the year as one of the brand’s top babyface stars, and would eventually dethrone Oba Femi to become NXT Champion at September’s No Mercy PLE.
Having since turned heel, Saints looks set to continue being a key part of NXT in 2026.
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7. Malakai Black (Aleister Black)
Arriving in AEW in 2021 following his WWE release, Malakai Black was quickly pushed into one of the company’s top storylines with Cody Rhodes, with the Dutch star defeating “The American Nightmare” in his debut.
Black seemed poised to be a potential main event singles talent for AEW, however, instead saw much of his time competing alongside House of Black stablemates Buddy Matthews and Brody King in tag team and trios competition.
He would eventually depart AEW in February 2025, with his profile being removed from the company’s website.
Black returned to WWE two months later on the SmackDown after WrestleMania 42, and has since formed an on-screen allegiance with real-life wife Zelina Vega.
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6. Miro (Rusev)
The third star removed from AEW’s roster page in February 2025 was former TNT Champion Miro.
The Bulgarian signed with the company in 2020 following his WWE release that same year, but spent much of his tenure absent from television – only wrestling 11 times on TV in three years between 2022-2025.
Like Aleister Black, Miro returned to WWE after WrestleMania 41, readopting his Rusev name albeit with a character similar to his time as “The Redeemer” in AEW.
While he has featured regularly on WWE TV following his return, Rusev has yet to make an appearance in 2026, with his last match on Raw or SmackDown being his Last Time is Now Tournament quarterfinal with Jey Uso on November 21.
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5. Abadon
Easily one of AEW’s most unique stars throughout the company’s early years, Abadon competed regularly on AEW Dark and Dark Elevation after signing with the company in 2020.
Despite occasionally popping up for Halloween specials, Abadon’s role was somewhat limited on AEW Dynamite and Collision.
The biggest opportunity of Abadon’s AEW career came at Worlds End 2023, when they challenged Julia Hart for the TBS Championship.
After falling short in that match, Abadon would transition to ROH, where they spent the remainder of their time in AEW before departing at the end of their contract in June 2025.
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4. Saraya (Paige)
One of AEW’s biggest signings of 2022 was former WWE star Saraya (Paige).
Adding to the excitement surrounding Saraya’s AEW arrival was the fact that the English star had been retired from in-ring competition for almost five years at that point after suffering a serious neck injury in December 2017.
After returning to face Britt Baker in her first match back at Full Gear 2022, Saraya would go on to capture the AEW Women’s World Championship at All In London the following year.
Saraya exited AEW in March 2025, and has since remained absent from wrestling despite constant rumors surrounding a potential WWE return.
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3. Zak Knight
Along with Saraya’s AEW departure, her brother, Zak Knight also exited the company in 2025.
Knight’s time in AEW saw him compete predominantly on ROH, but he was paired together with his sister Harley Cameron and Ruby Soho for a spell.
As well as on ROH, Knight competed in dark matches on AEW programming, with his only televised bout coming against Angelo Parker on the April 10 episode of Rampage.
Much like Saraya, Knight also exited AEW in March 2025.
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2. The Righteous
The Righteous (Vincent & Dutch) signed with AEW in 2023, becoming regulars in ROH as they attempted to capture the brand’s Tag Team Championships.
Their most high profile attempt at doing so came at AEW All Out 2023, where they faced off with then AEW World Champion MJF in a two-on-one handicap match after MJF’s tag partner Adam Cole was forced to pull out due to injury.
The pair were most often used on ROH after this point, until they eventually requested their release from the company in May 2025.
Vincent & Dutch are now officially signed to TNA Wrestling and recently made their in-ring debut for the company at Genesis 2026, losing to The Hardys.
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1. Penta & Rey Fenix
A pair of AEW originals that joined the roster upon the company’s inception in 2019, Rey Fenix and Penta became a staple of the tag team and trios divisions in the company across their five years there.
While originally set to exit AEW at the same time, Fenix remained in the company due to his contract being extended due to injury time.
Penta debuted on the second WWE Raw of 2025 and has since become one of the brand’s most popular stars in his own right, while also coming close to capturing the Intercontinental Championship on several occasions.
Fenix would also eventually arrive in WWE in April 2025, with his fifth match in the company coming at WrestleMania 41 against El Grande Americano. He has since remained on SmackDown and spent a period of time last year teaming with Andrade, prior to his WWE release.
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