Jade Cargill, Cody Rhodes and CM Punk are three of a growing list of former AEW stars that have found success since leaving for WWE.
The success of these names and others have led to several wrestlers, even those who maybe had a WWE run prior to their AEW stint, reportedly being “more willing” to jump ship to Stamford.
The WWE Royal Rumble is the perfect time to debut or bring back names that are either currently signed to AEW or have departed the company already.
So let’s not waste any time and countdown the names potentially showing up during the 2025 WWE Royal Rumble.
6. Miro
Miro, or Rusev as most WWE fans know him, has enjoyed a great career in both AEW and WWE on paper, with championship success in both, however, it feels like The Redeemer should have achieved much more.
Unfortunately, he was unable to maintain his early momentum in AEW after dropping the TNT Championship, and has been largely inactive over the last three years.
Despite reportedly requesting his release from AEW in September, it has not yet been granted as far as we’re all aware, so it’s difficult to say that the Bulgarian Brute will be showing in WWE again any time soon.
However, stranger things have happened, so perhaps Miro does get his release and February 1 proves to be Rusev Day once again.
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5. Kylie Rae
Although Kylie Rae hasn’t been associated with AEW since its inception in 2019, her brief time in the company was arguably when he name became known among a lot of wrestling fans.
After years of competing on the indecent scene, Rae’s hard work was rewarded when she was signed to a WWE ID deal shortly after the program’s launch in the Fall.
Given that she is the most experienced competitor assigned to the WWE ID program, one would expect we see Rae make her WWE debut before the rest of the crop of prospects.
While her first run may come via NXT, there’s no hard debuting her to the larger WWE crowd via an appearance in the 2025 Royal Rumble Match.
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4. Ricky Starks
While not quite as long as Miro’s absence, Ricky Starks is another star who has not been on AEW TV for quite some with serious questions regarding his future in the company.
What exactly has happened behind-the-scenes is a mystery, with it seeming so for even Starks who has repeatedly stated that he’s unsure why he’s not been used.
Theories are in abundance, but with WWE reportedly carrying “significant interest” in his signature it seems likely we see Starks show up in WWE at some point.
His contract reportedly expires in the Spring or Summer, but there is always a chance of an early exit, potentially allowing for a surprise debut in the 2025 Royal Rumble.
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3. Awesome Kong
Much like Kylie Rae, it’s been quite some time since Awesome Kong last appeared inside an AEW ring, with her run in the company proving to be about as brief as her WWE run was.
Nevertheless Kong remains a legend in this business, and could potentially be brought back for a special Rumble appearance this year.
This would not only be a shock moment, but also a nice call-back to her showing in the men’s Rumble in 2012, just don’t expect Michael Cole to be involved this time out.
Ultimately Kharma is the one who built the path that many current women are walking on, so giving her one moment to shine inside the Royal Rumble would be a nice moment.
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2. Rey Fenix
With reports stating that AEW extended the contract of Rey Fenix late last year, his much touted move to WWE has been left uncertain, at least for the time being.
With potentially as long as a year being added on due to injury time, Fenix will likely have to wait and cheer Penta on from the sidelines until that time comes.
However, with Fenix seeming highly unlikely to be used again by AEW, perhaps some kind of early release can be worked out, opening the door for a potential Fenix debut.
Ideally, this would happen in time for the Royal Rumble, with Fenix perhaps aiding Penta during the match to a massive pop.
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1. Malakai Black
Much like Rey Fenix, the contract status of Malakai Black is anything but clear. Despite the Dutchman previously denying any notion that he was leaving AEW just mere months ago, all signs are suggesting that he is now done with the company.
Not only that but it is widely expected that he will rejoin WWE when his departure from AEW becomes official.
With Black’s wife Zelina Vega competing in WWE and his previous success working under Triple H in NXT, it seems like a no brainer.
A recent report from PWInsider has stated that Black’s contract may be officially up in February or March, causing doubt on a Rumble appearance. However, we don’t know anything for sure so a Rumble return can’t be ruled out.
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