AEW Releases: Every Wrestler Released In 2025

As a company, AEW has historically veered away from outright releasing contract talents. For the majority of talents to have departed the promotion in previous years, it's been a case of their contracts simply expiring and AEW opting not to renew them.

That said, 2025 has already seen several notable names released by AEW. But while receiving your release is usually not a good thing for a talent, there have been certain now-former AEW stars who had actually been requesting that release, with the Tony Khan-helmed organisation deciding to grant this request and allow some grapplers out of their deals early.

At the time of this writing, we've had a batch of three big names released at the same time, there's been a straight-up firing, some contracts have been allowed to naturally expire, and one star was finally granted their release after months of uncertainty over their future.

Now, while we hope we won't have to update this list too much throughout the year due to a spate of firings or mass releases, this article is very much a fluid one that will be refreshed if and when further names find themselves heading for the AEW exit door as 2025 rolls on.

So, with that in mind, let's get things started with an Absolute superstar who's already made a mark for themselves with AEW in their rearview mirror.

Ricky Starks

After nearly a year sat on the sidelines - despite being fit, healthy, and eager to work - Ricky Starks was one of three names granted their AEW release in February.

For many fans, they were constantly baffled by Tony Khan's decision to keep such a talented performer benched, and Ricky's frustrations could clearly be felt when he spoke to us at WhatCulture last May. Regardless of not using the Stroke Daddy, AEW opted to trigger a one-year contract extension last year that would've kept him with the company until the second half of 2025.

Thankfully, those in power opted to finally grant Ricky his release last month, and Absolute wasted no time whatsoever - seriously, it was the very next day - in signing with WWE and making an immediate impact in NXT.

It's early days for Ricky in NXT, but he's already grasping that stage and spotlight with both hands under the new moniker of Ricky Saints.

Malakai Black

Alongside Ricky Starks, February saw Malakai Black granted his AEW release.

For Black, it had been somewhat of a strange few stop-start years under the AEW banner. Case in point, Malakai only had five singles matches in AEW across 2024, and he had zero singles matches for the company in 2023.

On top of those, it felt like every few months stories would surface of Black requesting his release or just generally being unhappy in Tony Khan's promotion. Likewise, there were also regular rumblings of the Dutchman not willing to do the J.O.B., although only the talent and AEW management will know if there was any truth to such reports.

As of this writing, Malakai Black is still a free agent - one of the hottest in the business, no less - with all signs pointing to a WWE return as Aleister Black. While the former NXT Champion's previous run on the WWE main roster was massively fumbled, one has to imagine that Black in a Triple H-driven WWE would be an entirely different scenario, with the Game presenting the one-time Tommy End as a major deal during his time in NXT.

Miro

Rounding out the trio of simultaneous February releases, Miro was another who was granted his AEW exit.

Once he found his footing as the Redeemer, the Bulgarian Brute was an absolute badass and a regular highlight of AEW programming, cracking skulls and snapping backs. In fact, you could legitimately make an argument that Miro's run as the TNT Champion was the greatest run in that title's history.

And then, well then, just as Miro seemed on the cusp of cementing a genuine main event spot and potentially becoming AEW World Champion, the former Rusev soon vanished. To emphasise that point, Miro wrestled just 13 AEW matches since dropping the TNT Title to Sammy Guevara in September 2021 - four of which were in 2022, seven coming in 2023, and a stark zero matches in 2024.

Away from the ring, Miro and CJ Perry went through a divorce last year, though the two are said to be open to working together in the future. As for what the future holds for Miro, he's another one rumoured for a WWE return.

Bear Boulder

AEW fired Bear Boulder - real name Thomas Wansaw - in February as soon as the company learned of the wrestler's arrest the previous month.

Wansaw was arrested for battery by strangulation on 13 January after police were called to his Florida home after reports from his fiancé that she'd been "physically battered" by him.

For his part, Wansaw's statement to the police was consistent with what the victim reported. The case remains open as of this writing, with Wansaw ordered to have no "hostile/violent contact with the victim".

Leyla Hirsch

Making her AEW debut in late 2020, Leyla Hirsch often impressed when given the chance of some TV time. Unfortunately for Legit Leyla, though, the bulk of that TV in recent times came on Ring of Honor rather than on AEW programming.

With a smash-mash style of heavy strikes, snug submissions, and a dash of high-flying thrown in for good measure, Hirsch has plenty of upside and should find herself with no shortage of suitors away from AEW. As for her AEW exit, this was a simple case of Tony Khan opting to not renew the 28-year-old's contract.

By all accounts, Leyla Hirsch's existing AEW/ROH deal was up at the end of February, meaning she is in the early days of free agency. Where Hirsch turns up next remains to be seen, but any promotion worth their salt should be keeping an eye on the Russian grappler.

Rey Fenix

Another case of finally with this one...

Throughout so much of 2024, we saw the future of the Lucha Bros regularly in news cycles. Both Penta and Rey Fenix were reportedly eyeing their AEW exits, with the siblings keen on jumping ship to WWE. And while Penta landed in WWE in January after the expiration of his AEW deal last year, things were a little different for Fenix.

Due to certain spells on the sidelines through injury, Rey found time tacked on to his AEW contract, with it believed he'd be tied to AEW through until the second half of this year. However, this month brought word that AEW had instead decided to grant Fenix his release.

Unsurprisingly, Rey Fenix is expected to join Penta in WWE, with the former AEW International Champion already being speculated about for a spot at WrestleMania 41.

Zak Knight

Much like Lelya Hirsch, Zak Knight is another wrestler whose contract AEW chose not to renew.

The brother of Saraya, Knight last competed for AEW back in June 2024 - a dark match win over Auron West - and his most notable work in the promotion was a rivalry against Angelo Parker and Ruby Soho. In addition to AEW, the 33-year-old second-generation talent also worked a handful of ROH dates during his time contracted to Tony Khan's organisation.

Somewhat surprisingly, Zak only had one televised AEW match, with that coming against Parker on an April '24 episode of the now-cancelled Rampage. Knight has worked several matches on the European scene throughout the second half of last year and into 2025, including for his family's WAW promotion out of Norfolk, England.