10 Wrestlers Who Could Leave AEW In 2022
AEW's growing roster means increasingly limited TV time - and perhaps roster cuts...
All Elite Wrestling has thus far refrained from the kind of widescale personnel cuts that defined WWE in 2020 and 2021, with owner Tony Khan staying true to his vow not to release wrestlers prior to their contract expiring.
Generally, if you sign a multi-year AEW deal, that term will be fulfilled. Though the likes of Jimmy Havoc stand as understandable exceptions, the promotion honours its contracts.
In December, Big Swole became the latest wrestler to leave AEW, bringing the total number of contracted wrestlers who have parted ways with the company since its inception to eight. This number will likely increase in 2022. The first round of three-year deals signed in early 2019 is coming up and with the stream of new talent coming in still flowing steadily, competition for spots is increasing. Professional obligations will end - and people will likely leave without extension.
Note the "could" in our title, not "will" or "should." Nobody wants anybody to lose their job. Khan's promise ensures that no round of AEW releases will feel as brutal as WWE's cynical "budget cuts," but it still sucks to see people lose a paying gig. In an ideal world, everyone named on this list would earn a healthy pro wrestling living for as long as they want.
But not everyone will be in AEW forever. Speculatively, that may include these people...