8 AEW Nightmares That Could Come True In 2026
4. More Stars Flee To WWE
Then, there's talent going the other way.
Look, this isn’t true for every single wrestler walking the earth, but most workers do fancy plying their trade in WWE at some point. For every Josh Alexander who just wants to wrestle and have fun doing so, there are loads more with ambitions to work on WrestleMania or tick off bucket list items like, ‘First Raw match’ or ‘Entered the Royal Rumble’.
This will be a perpetual worry for Tony Khan throughout AEW's lifespan. He’ll always be fighting against the lure of WWE, and he doesn't quite have the same razzle dazzle to shake in front of faces during negotiations (at least not with younger workers or those breaking into the business from other areas). WWE will always be number one - that should be crystal clear to everyone by now.
Whilst it's defo great that AEW exists and gives wrestlers another place to make good money, it...isn't WWE. They don't have 'Mania, they don't have the Rumble, they don't have SummerSlam, Raw or SmackDown. Hell, there's a case to be made right now that All Elite Wrestling is lagging behind WWE developmental brand NXT as a must see product.
Triple H can offer things Tony cannot. Of course, Khan can point to certain freedoms WWE won't allow too, but the bottom line is this: If somebody has grown up loving WWE, then they're probably going to fancy working there at some point. Mariah Mae trading Dynamite success for a chance on NXT as Blake Monroe is living proof of that lure WWE holds.
It's considered the real big time, so who's to say more wrestlers won't flee the AEW nest in 2026?