4 stars who are seemingly not on AEW TV due to WWE rumors
AEW currently hosts, without a doubt, one of the most stacked pro wrestling rosters in the industry currently. However, the recent success of the Tony Khan-led promotion has heightened competition between All Elite Wrestling and its rival company, WWE. The sports entertainment juggernaut, undeniably thriving under Triple H's creative leadership, has brought in a number of former All Elite talent over the last couple of years, including CM Punk, Jade Cargill, NXT Champion Ethan Page, and Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes.
Recent reports have indicated that World Wrestling Entertainment is interested in a few other current AEW stars, who are incidentally not being utilized on television as of late. Let us take a closer look at the speculations surrounding the names alluded to above.
#1: Ricky Starks is believed to be WWE-bound
Ricky Starks has been one of AEW's most entertaining and popular figures over the last several years. Despite having proved his caliber against the likes of MJF, Chris Jericho, CM Punk, and Bryan Danielson, The Absolute has not been featured on AEW television since March. Interestingly, a report from PWI a month ago claimed that WWE was interested in multiple All Elite Wrestling names whose contracts are nearing expiry or who have been absent from recent programming, including Starks.
Given previous reports which suggest that the former AEW World Tag Team Champion will be heading over to the Stamford-based company once his current deal runs out, and his alleged unhappiness regarding his status in All Elite Wrestling, it remains to be seen whether Starks joining Punk, Cody Rhodes, and Jade Cargill on WWE programming is simply a matter of time.
#2: Triple H is supposedly impressed by AEW's Daniel Garcia
After Daniel Garcia returned to cost MJF his American Title at All In 2024, many were convinced that the up-and-coming star had re-signed with All Elite Wrestling. It was later reported, however, that the two sides had yet to reach an agreement, and as of this writing, his commitment to a future in AEW seems uncertain, with rumors suggesting that The Red Death was also considering a jump over to WWE.
Adding to speculations, it was claimed earlier this month that Triple H supposedly thinks highly of Garcia's promise as the "next great technical wrestler" of the sport. Considering the former ROH Pure Champion's loss to MJF at All Out 2024 and his television absence since then, the likelihood of Daniel Garcia leaving for WWE cannot be entirely dismissed, although neither can the possibility of his staying on at All Elite Wrestling.
#3 & #4: Penta El Zero Miedo and Rey Fenix are All Elite for the time being
The Lucha Brothers have been a mainstay of AEW's tag team division since the promotion's foundation. Given their immense popularity among fans, reports suggesting that Penta El Zero Miedo and Rey Fenix were on their way out of All Elite Wrestling came as a surprise to many, not to mention rumors claiming that the duo had signed with WWE already.
These reports have been debunked recently, with Fightful citing a WWE source in claiming that The Man of a Thousand Lives is still under contract with All Elite Wrestling.
The Lucha Bros have not appeared on AEW TV since scoring a victory over Private Party in July. Notably, it has been reported that Tony Khan could hold on to Rey Fenix, extending the tenure of his services due to injury time. While retaining Penta and Fenix could prove beneficial for the current tag team scene in All Elite Wrestling, their programming hiatus could also very well be signaling their imminent departure for WWE, especially considering the promotion's interest in the former World Tag Team and Trios Champions.