WWE roster cuts: Which released stars could join AEW?

The latest round of WWE roster cuts has left more than forty wrestlers without contracts, and the question for fans is which of those names will land in AEW. Recent waves of releases, combined with contract expirations, have created an unusually deep free-agent pool that Tony Khan has already started to mine. The pattern matters because AEW needs depth in the women’s division and credible veteran reinforcement in the tag and trios ranks.

Timing of the cuts

WWE trimmed its roster in three distinct stages this year. The largest group departed right after WrestleMania 42 in April, followed by a Labor Day weekend sweep of NXT talent and a steady trickle of contract expirations through the fall. Each wave carried different notice periods, so some wrestlers cleared non-compete clauses weeks ago while others remain weeks away from availability.

The staggered schedule gives AEW flexibility to stagger its own signings. Khan has already used that window to bring in Ilja Dragunov and the Motor City Machine Guns, proving the promotion can move quickly when it wants to fill specific gaps. The next window opens in late October, when several high-profile names finish their notice periods.

Budget discipline inside WWE accelerated the cuts, yet the talent level remains high. That combination has turned the current free-agent class into the most closely watched pipeline between the two companies in several years.

New Day precedent

Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods declined pay cuts rumored at fifty to seventy-five percent and signed with AEW within weeks. Rebranded as The New Level with Austin Creed, the trio captured the World Trios Championship at All In London. The move showed that recognizable main-roster veterans can transition and win gold without a lengthy rebuilding period.

The speed of the deal surprised some observers. Kingston reportedly fielded multiple offers within forty-eight hours, and AEW locked in the group before other promotions could counter. That precedent now colors every rumor about the next batch of available talent.

The New Level’s success also eased concerns inside AEW about how veteran acts would be received by the existing locker room. Early backstage reports indicate the addition strengthened morale rather than disrupting it.

Dragunov’s quick path

Ilja Dragunov’s contract simply expired in August, freeing him from any non-compete. He debuted on the October 21 episode of Dynamite and received an immediate endorsement from Khan as a “tremendous wrestler.” The signing underscored AEW’s appetite for in-ring focused performers who can deliver intense matches out of the gate.

Dragunov’s arrival also highlighted AEW’s willingness to absorb international talent despite visa complications that sometimes delay paperwork. Those logistical issues have become routine rather than deal-breakers, provided the wrestler clears the necessary paperwork before television tapings.

His addition gives AEW another credible opponent for the world title picture while the promotion waits for larger names to become available later in the fall.

Sheamus as top unsigned name

Sheamus remains the highest-profile wrestler still on the open market after turning down a restructured deal last summer. The four-time world champion has not wrestled since late 2025, yet he retains mainstream recognition that few free agents can match.

Multiple AEW roster members have privately voiced support for the signing, citing his work rate and willingness to put younger talent over. Khan has not confirmed interest on the record, but industry chatter continues to link the Celtic Warrior to upcoming television tapings in November.

If Sheamus stays unsigned through the winter, the conversation will shift toward possible retirement or a part-time schedule. For now, he sits at the center of every “WWE roster cuts” rumor thread.

Kairi Sane’s division fit

Kairi Sane was released in the April wave while still involved in Damage CTRL storylines. Tony Khan called her a “fantastic wrestler” at the post-WrestleDream press conference and admitted he was “very intrigued.” Those comments elevated her above most unsigned women on the radar.

AEW’s women’s division has struggled with depth since injuries thinned the upper card. Sane’s arrival would provide an immediate veteran presence who already has history with several current talents, including Mercedes Moné. Multiple promotions in Japan have also inquired, giving her leverage in negotiations.

Her timeline remains fluid because she is weighing options rather than rushing to sign. AEW holds the inside track if it can guarantee a prominent television role rather than a developmental deal.

Tag team reinforcement

The Motor City Machine Guns signed with AEW three months after their April release and immediately stabilized the tag division. Their experience across WWE, TNA, ROH, and NJPW gave them instant credibility with both fans and bookers.

That signing set a template for future tag-team acquisitions. AEW continues to seek trios depth, and the remaining unsigned teams from the WWE cuts could fill that lane without requiring long introductory angles.

Internal discussions suggest at least two more tag teams remain on Khan’s short list, though no deals have closed. The Guns’ success removed much of the hesitation around bringing in established duos.

Wyatt Sicks group status

The Wyatt Sicks were released as a unit in April, ending a months-long tribute storyline. Individual members have taken different routes since then, with Nikki Cross purchasing Progress Wrestling and others pursuing independent bookings.

No confirmed interest exists in re-signing the group intact. AEW has enough supernatural-adjacent characters already, and the promotion rarely absorbs entire factions at once. Individual conversations remain possible if any member wants a fresh start on weekly television.

The split illustrates how budget decisions can dissolve long-term creative plans inside WWE and scatter talent across multiple post-release paths.

Developmental names moving fast

The September NXT cuts included ten talents whose thirty-day clauses expired quickly, allowing immediate indie bookings. Jasper Troy, now rebranded Kairo D. Reign, and Wendy Choo have already appeared on several independent shows and generated early buzz.

AEW’s developmental program, Ring of Honor, could absorb a handful of these names for seasoning before a potential Dynamite call-up. The shorter non-compete windows make these wrestlers more attractive for short-term storylines than higher-profile free agents still tied to notice periods.

Early social-media chatter shows fans tracking their indie dates, creating organic interest that AEW could convert into future signings without large guarantees.

Next steps for unsigned talent

Seven or more recently released wrestlers are reportedly waiting for AEW offers, according to multiple industry accounts. The next clear window opens after November television tapings, when several notice periods end simultaneously.

Khan’s track record this year shows he prefers targeted additions over mass signings. That approach keeps payroll manageable while still addressing specific roster gaps in the women’s and trios divisions.

Fans tracking “WWE roster cuts” should expect another wave of announcements before the year ends, likely starting with the highest-profile remaining names and followed by developmental depth pieces.

Market continues to shift

The current free-agent cycle has already altered the competitive balance between WWE and AEW more than any single year since AEW’s launch. Successful transitions by The New Level and Dragunov prove that established names can thrive after leaving WWE, while unsigned talent such as Sheamus and Kairi Sane keep the rumor cycle alive.

How AEW manages the remaining pool will determine whether the promotion deepens its bench or simply rotates through familiar faces. The next six weeks should answer that question with concrete signings rather than speculation.