While 2025 has seen several AEW stars jump ship for WWE already, there is potentially others that could pop-up at WWE NXT’s next premium live event – Battleground on Sunday, May 25.
While some have been benched for some time – others have already departed the company and are contractually free to show up in WWE imminently.
Here are eight AEW stars who could debut at WWE Battleground.
8. Wardlow
Similarly to current NXT star Ricky Saints, a curious disappearance in AEW throughout 2024 and now 2025 has been that of Wardlow.
Last seen back at AEW Big Business in March 2024, Wardlow lost a match to Samoa Joe via referee’s decision and was never seen again in competition.
Fellow AEW star Matt Taven previously said that Wardlow was rehabbing a knee injury, but more details were never confirmed by AEW or Wardlow himself.
While his contract status with AEW remains unclear, in theory at least – Wardlow could pop up at WWE Battleground should he exit Tony Khan’s company between now and May 25.
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7. Mike Santana
Since departing AEW, Mike Santana has undergone a career transformation in TNA Wrestling.
Finding new life as a singles star since returning to TNA – perhaps Mike Santana is poised to be the next star from the brand to make a crossover appearance in NXT.
With the upcoming AAA crossover show with NXT Worlds Collide coming up on June 7, if the event were to also include any stars from TNA Wrestling, Santana would be a solid choice.
Making his debut appearance in WWE at Battleground would be an iconic way to introduce himself to NXT fans and set up a feud on WWE TV in the process.
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6. Ryan Nemeth
Since anything truly is possible in professional wrestling, it isn’t beyond the realm of comprehension that Ryan Nemeth could make a surprise appearance in WWE.
The former AEW star is currently one-half of the TNA Wrestling Tag Team Championship along with real-life brother and Nic Nemeth (fka Dolph Zigger in WWE).
After the Hardy Boyz made a series of appearances in NXT during their recent run as TNA Wrestling Tag Team Champions – perhaps we could see this brother duo do the same.
While this one might be a long shot, especially given his issues with CM Punk, the Nemeth brothers are not the only team he could show up at Battleground…
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5. The Righteous (Vincent & Dutch)
NXT fans already gave a very warm reception to the returning Elijah (fka Elias in WWE) when he recently appeared in a battle royal on the brand.
Around the same time, AEW and ROH stars The Righteous (Vincent & Dutch) took to social media to share that they had been granted release from their contracts with Tony Khan.
It would seemingly make sense to see The Righteous appear at NXT Battleground, with the duo potentially stepping up as future challengers for the NXT Tag Team Championship held by Hank Walker and Tank Ledger.
Whether or not The Righteous plan on signing with WWE, TNA Wrestling or somewhere else entirely – they would be fun to see in NXT.
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4. Mariah May
Entirely absent from AEW after losing the “Hollywood Ending” match at AEW Revolution against Timeless Toni Storm, Mariah May remains quiet about her future plans.
When it recently emerged that her contract comes up in 2025, some immediately began to wonder if her sudden disappearance from AEW wasn’t related.
Even more speculation kicked up when reports claimed that Mariah May was set to sign with WWE, despite AEW trying to keep her on their roster.
While it remains to be seen what is next for Mariah May – a shock debut at WWE Battleground would make complete sense if she’s contractually able to do so.
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3. Paige
Having officially departed Tony Khan’s company, fans could finally get their wish by seeing Paige return to WWE.
While she signed with AEW as Saraya, the former Divas Champion was clear that she as open to a future WWE return, continuing to note that she will never say never.
With the aforementioned Evolution 2 still rumored for July, a comeback for Paige at WWE Battleground would be a great segue between NXT and the main roster on behalf of all of the women’s division in WWE.
Whether or not she returns to in-ring competition is another story entirely but it would be great to see Paige back in WWE and especially where it all began for her back in NXT.
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2. Tay Melo
After making her in-ring return in STARDOM in Japan back in January 2025, Tay Melo has yet to make an AEW or ROH in-ring return.
Before announcing her pregnancy in May 2023, she had not actually featured in an AEW match since January 2023 making her absence even longer from the company.
While her status with AEW is unknown, it is possible the former NXT star could make her way back to WWE.
She was previously released from WWE in April 2020 and would later go on to sign with AEW several months later in September 2020.
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1. Danhausen
Danhausen remains absent from AEW and there is no indication that he’ll be called off the bench anytime soon – unless he debuts in NXT.
With an intriguing pattern of appearances -with his last match for a Tony Khan owned company coming in December 2023 and then nothing until a one-off appearance in ROH in December of 2024 – it doesn’t seem like Danhausen will be making a return to AEW.
However while he remains off of TV in AEW and ROH, he continues to be active in indie wrestling, makes wrestling appearances and regularly posts on social media.
Danhausen is a character that could join NXT and instantly become a WWE fan favorite – hopefully he gets a chance to continue his career sometime soon, whether in WWE or otherwise.
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