WWE roster cuts Shake-Up: Could released stars join AEW
WWE roster cuts in September 2026 pulled ten developmental talents, creating a new pool of free agents whose 30-day non-competes are already expiring. The wave follows April’s larger post-Mania reductions and leaves names like Wendy Choo and Jasper Troy available for bookings elsewhere. Fans tracking cross-promotion traffic are asking whether AEW will sign any of them.
September 2026 release list
WWE released Wendy Choo, Jasper Troy, Adriana Rizzo, Zena Sterling, PJ Vasa, Anya Rune, Braxton Cole, referee Gary Wilson, and producers Ellen Åkesson and Marcus Brown. The cuts targeted NXT, Evolve, LFG, and Performance Center staff. No main-roster talent was affected.
Sean Ross Sapp reported on X that the list is complete and no further releases are expected this cycle. The developmental focus keeps the cuts smaller than the April 2026 wave, yet still resets several established storylines.
With the 30-day window already closing, the earliest of these wrestlers can appear on AEW programming by late September 2026.
Developmental non-compete rules
Developmental contracts carry a 30-day non-compete clause, half the length of main-roster agreements. Jasper Troy and PJ Vasa both posted “30 Days” graphics on social media after the announcement, confirming the timeline. The shorter window accelerates availability.
AEW bookers can therefore evaluate the group immediately rather than waiting through a longer blackout. That timing aligns with AEW’s upcoming television tapings and pay-per-view schedule.
By contrast, any future main-roster cuts would still sit behind a 90-day restriction, limiting their immediate impact on the free-agent market.
Names with prior TV exposure
Wendy Choo entered WWE through the 2018 Mae Young Classic and later held the Evolve Women’s title for roughly seventy days. Her dark match before the August 25 NXT episode marked her final WWE appearance. Choo’s recognizable style and title reign give her instant name value outside WWE.
Jasper Troy, 28, won LFG Season 1 and held the WWE Speed title for 105 days. His last televised match aired August 27 on Main Event. The former college football player’s athletic profile fits AEW’s emphasis on high-impact performers.
Adriana Rizzo spent time in the NXT D’Angelo Family before moving to an Evolve interviewer role. Multiple injuries limited her ring time, yet she maintained a visible on-screen presence that could translate to backstage or managerial roles elsewhere.
AEW’s recent hiring pattern
AEW has absorbed several former WWE talents in 2025 and 2026. Tommaso Ciampa debuted and captured the TNT Championship, while Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods arrived as The New Level at All In London 2026. Those moves established a working pipeline between the two rosters.
Reports indicate AEW scouts continue to monitor the WWE release cycle for cost-effective additions. Internal interest has already surfaced around names such as Ilja Dragunov and Dani Luna, suggesting the company is comfortable adding ex-WWE wrestlers when the fit is right.
The September developmental group offers a lower-risk test case, since these talents carry smaller guarantees and shorter non-compete windows than main-roster releases.
Market and roster gaps
AEW’s women’s division has lost momentum after recent departures and injuries. Wendy Choo’s championship experience and established entrance provide an immediate plug-in without extensive repackaging. Her addition would also give creative another veteran presence for younger talent.
The men’s mid-card continues to rotate through short programs. Jasper Troy’s speed title run and athletic background align with AEW’s preference for wrestlers who can deliver highlight-reel matches on weekly television.
Backstage and production staff cuts, including referee Gary Wilson, open possibilities for behind-the-camera roles if in-ring opportunities do not materialize.
Social media and fan chatter
Jasper Troy’s rebrand to Kairo D. Reign and Wendy Choo’s updated profile pictures triggered immediate speculation on wrestling forums. Fans noted that both wrestlers cleared social media bios, a common precursor to new contracts.
AEW’s official accounts have not commented, yet engagement metrics on related posts rose sharply within hours of the Fightful report. The conversation mirrors the pattern seen after the April 2026 cuts, when rumors about Kofi and Xavier circulated weeks before their All In appearance.
Industry observers expect the usual cycle of “dirt sheet” updates and podcast segments to fill the coming weeks until contracts are confirmed or denied.
Financial considerations
Developmental releases carry modest guarantees compared with main-roster deals. AEW can therefore absorb one or two signings without altering its reported budget ceiling for 2026. The move also avoids the larger negotiation windows required for established main-roster stars.
WWE’s continued cost-cutting after WrestleMania 42 suggests more releases could follow, giving AEW repeated opportunities to cherry-pick. The September group represents the first test of that ongoing supply line.
Any signings would likely begin on the independent circuit or AEW’s YouTube programming before moving to television, allowing both sides to evaluate fit without immediate prime-time pressure.
Precedents for quick transitions
Tommaso Ciampa’s debut came less than two months after his WWE release, proving AEW can fast-track talent when the roster need is clear. The New Day’s arrival at All In followed a similar accelerated timeline once their non-compete ended.
Developmental releases face fewer internal approvals, shortening the lag between interest and contract. AEW’s creative team can therefore decide on Choo or Troy within days rather than weeks.
That speed matters for pay-per-view planning; AEW’s next major event sits in early October, leaving little margin for extended negotiations.
Next steps for the released talent
Wrestlers who do not receive offers can return to the independents immediately. Troy has already advertised his availability under the Kairo D. Reign name, and Choo is expected to follow suit once the blackout window closes.
Some, like Zena Sterling, have stated they are stepping away from wrestling altogether, shrinking the active free-agent pool. The remaining names will likely field bookings on the U.S. indie circuit while waiting for larger promotions to call.
AEW retains first-mover advantage on these contracts, yet nothing guarantees a deal will materialize.
Outlook for cross-promotion traffic
The September 2026 WWE roster cuts reinforce an established pattern: developmental talent released by WWE often lands in AEW within weeks. Choo and Troy head the list of plausible candidates, backed by recent precedent and an expiring non-compete window. Whether AEW pulls the trigger will depend on creative fit and television needs rather than availability alone.
