Since AEW’s rise took place in 2019, a lot of former WWE Superstars joined Tony Khan‘s roster. In 2020, All Elite Wrestling was looking forward to adding more Superstars and catching more eyeballs, while Vince McMahon was on a mission of clean-up. Under Vince McMahon, WWE saw an all-time low. McMahon stepped down as CEO and chairman of WWE on June 17, 2022.
Superstars such as Bray Wyatt, Braun Strowman, Johnny Gargano, Karrion Kross, Dexter Lumes, Dakota Kai and The O.C were realised by WWE but they later joined the business again after the departure of the former CEO.
Few of the released superstars such as Heath Slater, Zack Ryder, Curtis Axel, Lana, Bo Dallas and more are living their life away from WWE. While some of the released professionals joined Tony Khan’s AEW. And let’s take a look at our list of 7 Superstars who left WWE for AEW.
7 Superstars who left WWE for AEW
7. Paul Wight (Formerly known as Big Show)
Paul Wight was under contract with WWE by his ring name The Big Show. The World’s Largest Athlete was released by WWE in 2020 after 26 years of service. He dominated WWE during his whole career. His Feuds with Sheamus and Rey Mysterio made him an unforgettable superstar for WWE fans.
6. Malakai Black (Formerly known as Aleister Black)
Aleister Black always followed a dark and horrific theme. His gimmick was always intriguing and he had the calibre of being the WWE Champion but Vince McMahon never found his as an A-lister. And that’s the reason why he joined AEW.
5. Ruby Soho (Formerly known as Ruby Riott)
Ruby Riott was among the most popular women in the locker room. She had a trio with Sarah Logan and Liv Morgan during her time in the business. But with the release of several Wrestlers, Riott was also released by WWE.
4. Jeff Hardy
The lead of Hardy Boyz and also known as the Daredevil, Jeff Hardy gave WWE a lot of WOW moments. Jeff Hardy was also the master of TLC matches. The Hardy Boyz Vs. Edge & Christian Vs. The Dudley Boyz gave us a lot of breathtaking memories. But after Elimination Chamber 2019, Jeff Hardy was also released by WWE under Vince McMahon.
3. Bryan Danielson (Formerly known as Daniel Bryan)
Daniel Bryan always had a love-and-hate relationship with WWE, from losing the title in 13 seconds to defeating Triple H in WrestleMania. He was also a babyface in the business, but his return in 2019 as a heel wasn’t a huge success. Also because of his relationship with Vince McMahon, the superstar joined AEW.
2. Jon Moxley (Formerly known as Dean Ambrose)
Member of the Iconic Shield, Dean Ambrose gained popularity in WWE alongside Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns. He was among the most entertaining and adored WWE stars and his release is totally absurd. Dean Ambrose was the main man of the SmackDown brand during his spell in WWE and his feuds with AJ Styles and Chris Jericho were brilliant.
1. CM Punk
CM Punk held the WWE title for more than a year and he also indulged in feuds with John Cena and The Undertaker. Breaking several hearts, Punk left WWE as a fan favourite. He went on to pursue a career in UFC but he failed. And later he signed for AEW.
Also Read: Top 5 most amazing WrestleMania matchups of all time featuring Bret Hart, Edge, and Steve Austin
