2025 has seen a wave of AEW performers make the jump to WWE.
Stars like Penta and Fenix have made their WWE debuts this year, stepping into the company’s spotlight for the first time; meanwhile, others such as Rusev and Aleister Black have returned to the promotion they once called home.
As the wrestling war continues unabated, there’s little sign that WWE will stop targeting AEW talent any time soon.
Here are eight more AEW stars we could see make that same move in the near future.
8. Chris Jericho
In its inaugural years, Chris Jericho was AEW’s biggest star and most recognisable name.
He became the company’s first-ever world champion and went on to win the ROH World Championship on two occasions.
Despite his historical importance to AEW, Jericho’s legacy is also deeply rooted in WWE, where he was one of the company’s biggest stars for nearly two decades – the man who famously defeated The Rock and Stone Cold in the same night!
At 54, it seems increasingly likely that Jericho will eventually return to WWE to finish his storied career.
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7. Buddy Matthews
Buddy Murphy reportedly signed a new AEW contract last year, but speculation has persisted that he could end up back in WWE someday.
Matthews is not only the real-life partner of WWE star Rhea Ripley, but also someone Paul Heyman reportedly wanted to build around during his last run – meaning he has influential supporters within WWE.
It would also make for a potential reunion with fellow House of Black member Aleister Black, who made a similar move back to SmackDown.
When his current contract expires, a return to WWE and the re-debut of Buddy Matthews seems like a very real possibility.
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6. Mariah May
WWE’s women’s division is currently firing on all cylinders, with NXT in particular delivering consistently excellent in-ring performances from its standout female talent.
However, the NXT roster has just lost ultra-charismatic Japanese star Giulia to SmackDown, and it appears Roxanne Perez will soon be officially moved to Raw.
The addition of AEW’s Mariah May would go a long way toward filling the gap left by those departures.
Last seen lying bloodied and motionless after a brutal classic with Toni Storm at AEW Revolution, May’s AEW contract reportedly expires this summer – making a debut in NXT a real possibility.
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5. Austin, Colten & Billy Gunn
Billy Gunn has experienced a career resurgence in AEW, reaching a level of relevance with The Acclaimed that he hadn’t enjoyed since first leaving WWE in 2004.
Now that the team has split, his future direction with the company appears unclear.
With his D-Generation X stablemates now holding key positions behind the scenes in WWE, a return seems almost inevitable.
An added twist could see his underutilised sons, Austin and Colten Gunn, also make the jump from AEW to WWE, forming a Gunn Family stable.
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4. Paul Wight
Arriving at the height of WWE’s Attitude Era – debuting as Paul Wight at St. Valentine’s Day Massacre in 1999 – The Big Show quickly became one of the company’s most recognisable figures.
Over the next 20 years, he remained one of WWE’s most prominent and enduring characters.
Leaving WWE in 2021, he joined AEW, where he wrestled only nine times over four years while primarily serving as a commentator.
Not yet inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame, a return to the company where he reached iconic status – and an eventual induction – feels inevitable.
3. Wardlow
Wardlow was one of AEW’s most prominently featured stars during the company’s early years.
Touted as a future main eventer and aligned with MJF, he was positioned to become AEW’s answer to Goldberg – something recognised by fans and even acknowledged by Goldberg himself.
However, that momentum stalled due to inconsistent booking, injuries, and long absences from television.
Despite that, Wardlow’s potential remains undeniable, and a move to WWE when his contract ends could provide the fresh start his career needs.
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2. HOOK
Beginning as an on-screen character in Team Taz before making his in-ring debut, HOOK quickly went from cult favourite to breakout star with the AEW audience.
Since his debut, he’s maintained a strong level of popularity and has improved significantly in the ring.
While currently part of the Opps faction, his momentum has noticeably stalled over recent years, he remains at the same level on the card without any real progression.
With a look and style well-suited for NXT, HOOK seems like someone WWE would be eager to sign – so it wouldn’t be a surprise if, once his contract ends, he explores his options and appears on WWE programming.
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1. FTR
WWE is clearly placing renewed emphasis on its tag team division, particularly on SmackDown, where teams like The Street Profits, Fraxiom, The Motor City Machine Guns, and DIY have been delivering standout matches.
The division looks very different from the one FTR – as The Revival – left behind after years of frustration under the previous regime.
In AEW, FTR have enjoyed an undeniably impressive run and remain prominent – the two-time tag champions are set to face Daniel Garcia and the returning British great, Nigel McGuinness, at Double or Nothing on May 25.
But with the tag division thriving again and FTR originally rising to prominence under Triple H’s NXT, a return to WWE – and a re-debut of The Revival – may soon be on the cards.
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