Multiple AEW Stars Reportedly Interested In Going To WWE

WWE has seen a number of high-profile stars jump ship to AEW, but the shoe could soon be on the other foot.

According to a report from the latest Wrestling Observer Newsletter (h/t WrestleTalk), multiple AEW stars have expressed interest in jumping ship to WWE but were informed by other AEW talents that they should “stay put until 2024” when AEW will likely have a significantly bigger talent budget.

AEW is widely expected to agree to a much larger TV deal within the next two years, at which point the company will be able to add to its already stacked roster. One problem AEW definitely doesn’t have is a lack of talent, after all. Although WWE’s roster is more top-heavy, AEW’s is much deeper, especially when it comes to its tag team division and its midcard.

MORE FROM FORBESWWE Reportedly Delaying Roman Reigns Vs. Drew McIntyre MatchBy Blake Oestriecher

Because of that reality and the recent additions of top names like Adam Cole, CM Punk and Bryan Danielson to name a few, numerous AEW stars—some of which have had stints in WWE, like Andrade El Idolo and Malakai Black—find themselves struggling to get consistent TV time. Any company with such a jam-packed roster is going to find it difficult to continuously feature even its most talented acts, which is why ex-AEW names jumping ship to WWE may become the norm sooner rather than later.

Cody Rhodes started that potential trend earlier this year and has already been a big hit in WWE since returning at WrestleMania 38, and WWE is reportedly interested in a plethora of marquee AEW stars, including Jade Cargill, MJF and Wardlow. Ironically enough, WWE has previously missed its opportunity to sign each of those stars, but MJF—whether he’s “working” the fans or not—has publicly expressed his interest in going to WWE if the price is right.

WWE just recorded its highest quarterly revenue in company history, and after releasing so many talents over the past couple of years, it has plenty of money to invest in talent moving forward. Bray Wyatt, who was released by WWE last year despite consistently being a borderline main eventer, was reportedly earning $4 million annually, and that’s a number that could be very enticing to current AEW stars who are pondering a potential jump to WWE.

The early success of Rhodes’ current WWE run has to be an encouraging sign for any AEW name who is dissatisfied with their booking and/or is looking to cash in with a big payday from WWE. While it isn’t clearly which AEW stars have contracts running out soon or which stars are even interested in making a move to WWE, we’ve seen the contracts of multiple AEW stars recently expire—and AEW made the decision not to re-sign them.

That should become the new trend for the foreseeable future, especially because AEW has loaded up the top of the card with names like Punk and Danielson who aren’t coming in cheap. At some point, AEW is going to have to consider cutting bait with underused and/or highly paid talents as a means of cutting costs and getting the most out of its roster.

So, any AEW talent who fits the bill of being underutilized, nearing their contract expiration, looking to make more money or some combination of those three would have to be considered a strong candidate to look at following in the footsteps of Rhodes and cross over into enemy territory.