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AEW Stars To Never Join WWE

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While the company has only been around for 7 years, AEW has acquired several major stars who have remained loyal to the promotion.

With the likes of Cody Rhodes, Jade Cargill, Ricky Starks, Penta, Rey Fenix, Ethan Page and CM Punk all making the jump from the promotion to WWE, there are others who would not even think of making the same move.

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From former AEW World Champions to those who the company will be built around for years to come, fans could see any number of names from the AEW roster who will stick with Tony Khan’s promotion.

Here are eight AEW stars to potentially never join WWE.

8. Will Ospreay

AEW star Will Ospreay

In a recent interview with Ariel Helwani, Will Ospreay was broached with a question in regards to his past talks with WWE.

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Being open and honest, Ospreay admitted that he has never been a WWE guy and has turned down several offers from the company.

“The Aerial Assassin” is now firmly one of the faces of All Elite Wrestling and is set to challenge Kenny Omega for the AEW World Title at All In London 2026.

Ahead of his Wembley Stadium headliner, it seems clear that Ospreay has no intentions of ever leaving AEW to go to WWE in his career.

7. Kyle Fletcher

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Looking at the AEW roster, there might not be anyone more prepared to be a top star right now than Kyle Fletcher.

At just 27 years old, Fletcher has already cemented himself as a future main eventer for the company.

“The Protostar” is the current AEW International Champion and a former two-time TNT Champion.

With his future seemingly destined in AEW, there doesn’t seem to be a chance for Fletcher to leave for WWE anytime soon.

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6. “Timeless” Toni Storm

After leaving WWE at the end of 2021, Toni Storm went on to sign with AEW in 2022.

Just over one year later, Storm adopted her now iconic “Timeless” character that helped propel her career to new heights.

Now regarded as the greatest AEW Women’s World Champion of all time, Storm has created a legacy unlike any other female star in company’s history.

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While she may want to complete unfinished business down the road, Storm staying in AEW seems like a foregone conclusion more than most.

5. Cope & Cage (Adam Copeland & Christian Cage)

There might not be more shocking names to include on this list like Adam Copeland and Christian Cage.

During the late 1990s and early 2000s, Cope and Cage made a name for themselves as Edge and Christian as one of the three teams with The Hardys and The Dudleys that revolutionized tag team wrestling in the promotion.

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After their time as a duo, Copeland went on to become a 11-time WWE World Champion, while Christian held the WWE World Heavyweight Championship twice.

While they have their share of accolades in WWE, it feels like Cope and Cage are winding their careers down and hope to close things out together in All Elite Wrestling.

4. Willow Nightingale

In 2025, Willow Nightingale re-signed with All Elite Wrestling to a multi-year deal.

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Since then, Nightingale became one half of the inaugural AEW Women’s World Tag Team Champions, a two-time TBS Champion and now the current AEW Women’s World Champion.

On her way to the biggest match of her career, Nightingale is set to defend the title against Mercedes Monè at AEW All In London 2026.

With this huge match and everything she has accomplished during her time in the company, it feels unfathomable to see Willow willingly leave AEW anytime soon.

3. Jon Moxley

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Another former WWE star who has made AEW their home in a major way is Jon Moxley.

Since signing with the promotion in 2019, Moxley has established himself as “the ace” of the company.

Moxley is a four-time AEW World Champion, former AEW International Champion and the leader of The Death Riders.

From everything he has done in AEW to everything he’s said about WWE since leaving, it is clear that Mox will never be Dean Ambrose in his old home ever again.

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2. The Young Bucks (Matt & Nick Jackson)

When All Elite Wrestling first started, Tony Khan, Cody Rhodes and The Young Bucks were at the helm.

Over the course of the last seven years, The Bucks have cemented themselves as the faces of the AEW tag team division.

Matt and Nick Jackson are three-time AEW World Tag Team Champions and will look to make history as four-time titleholders when they challenge Adam Copeland and Christian Cage for the titles at All In London 2026.

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With rumors circulating that they could be under their last AEW contract, it doesn’t seem like The Young Bucks will ever step foot in WWE in their legendary careers.

1. Kenny Omega

Speaking of The Young Bucks, Kenny Omega is another AEW star who seems unlikely to head to WWE.

In 2026, Omega has stated that he is looking to wind down his career, but he is still at the top of his game as the current AEW World Champion.

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Now with a headliner at Wembley Stadium on August 30, Omega seems more prepared than ever for this main event showdown with Will Ospreay at All In London 2026.

At 42 years old, it just makes sense that Omega will close his career in AEW than head elsewhere with his history of injuries in recent years.

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SP3 joined the WrestleTalk team as a feature writer in 2021. Known from his Tru Heel Heat Wrestling YouTube channel and co-host of Alex McCarthy's Wrestling Daily, SP3 brings his views and outlooks on professional wrestling in written form here. A long-time fan of WWE, WCW, ECW, NJPW, IMPACT and now AEW, SP3 will offer a wide range of features expressing his love affair with the business.

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