AEW Stars To Retire In WWE

AEW has assembled one of the most star studded and talented rosters ever seen from a wrestling promotion.

Filled with stars from NJPW, the indies and WWE, these stars have made their name elsewhere, but have made AEW their home. However, that does not mean their careers will end in the company.

Looking at the current roster, there are countless talents that may just make the move to WWE at some point in their career and could do so to close things out and retire there.

Here are six AEW stars to potentially retire in WWE.

6. Billy Gunn

Back in 2019, Billy Gunn was one of the first signings for All Elite Wrestling brought on to be both an in-ring competitor and backstage coach.

Over the course of the past six years, Gunn has introduced his sons Colten and Austin Gunn as a duo and played the role of manager as well as tag team partner to Anthony Bowens and Max Caster of The Acclaimed.

However, it seems like there is not much for Gunn to do now in 2026 with his partnership with The Acclaimed coming to an end in 2025.

It might be time for Billy Gunn to reunite with his D-Generation X stablemates who are all working backstage roles and part of management for WWE.

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5. Dustin Rhodes

On the July 31 edition of AEW Collision, Kyle Fletcher defeated Dustin Rhodes in a Chicago Street Fight to win the TNT Championship.

Ever since this loss, Rhodes has been out of action to recover from knee replacement surgery.

Despite re-signing with AEW and ROH in 2025, it has always felt like Dustin will one day reunite with his brother Cody Rhodes back in WWE.

Considering his brother is now sitting atop of the promotion as Undisputed WWE Champion, Dustin could one day head back to the company when he decides he wants to close out his career once and for all.

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4. Jeff Jarrett

At the start of 2025, Jeff Jarrett appeared to reveal that he had signed a one-year deal with All Elite Wrestling.

Looking to get one last run with the AEW World Title, Jarrett set his sights on the top prize in the company.

After a much maligned program with MJF, Jarrett was removed from AEW television and has only been featured on the pay-per-view pre-shows.

Jarrett returning to WWE to go on a retirement tour would be interesting to see him finally hang up the boots in the promotion he first made his name for in the 1990s.

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3. Christian Cage

Back in 2021, Christian Cage signed with All Elite Wrestling as a big time free agent signing.

Since then, Cage has been featured consistently as a top star for the company and a two-time TNT Champion as well as a former AEW World Trios Champion.

Now reunited with his best friend and longtime tag team partner Adam Copeland, it seems like Christian is closer to the end of his career than the start.

At 52 years old, Christian could finish up with AEW and make his way to WWE for one last run before retiring and more than likely being inducted into the Hall of Fame.

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2. Adam Copeland

Speaking of Christian Cage, his longtime friend and partner Adam Copeland is another AEW star who feels like they are approaching the end of his time in the ring.

“The Rated R Superstar” is still one of the biggest and most popular stars in All Elite Wrestling today.

Since signing with AEW in 2023, Copeland has won the TNT Championship twice and put on a memorable feud with Christian.

However, it only seems right that when Copeland wants to hang up his boots, he does it back in WWE where he can finish things off as Edge one final time.

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1. Mercedes Moné

Mercedes Mone has taken the entire pro wrestling world by storm ever since walking out of WWE back in 2022.

First heading over to Japan for NJPW and STARDOM, Mone proved that she wanted to make her mark across multiple different promotions. Now in AEW, “The CEO” has become one of the most decorated female stars in wrestling ever.

In 2025, Mone set the record for holding the most belts than any other performer by collecting 13 championships across different companies throughout the year.

Now facing a downfall as she loses her titles at a rapid rate, it might lead to the end of her run in AEW with Mercedes eventually making her way back to WWE to close out her illustrious career.

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