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5 AEW stars who are unlikely to return to WWE

AEW and WWE are currently two of the top pro wrestling promotions in the world. Both companies have swapped talent to and from their respective locker rooms over the past five years, with Cody Rhodes, Jade Cargill, CM Punk, and Ethan Page jumping ship to the sports entertainment juggernaut, whereas names such as Adam Copeland, Ricochet, and more recently MVP on the other hand signing with the Jacksonville-based company.

Although rumors currently abound about certain All Elite figures who could be headed over to World Wrestling Entertainment, there are quite a few stars on the AEW roster who are unlikely to leave the promotion for some time. Let us take a look at five such individuals.


#5. Former AEW World Champion Swerve Strickland

Not a lot of names from All Elite Wrestling can claim to have experienced an ascent to stardom like Swerve Strickland's. The New Flavor has solidified his status as a top player through his heated feud with "Hangman" Adam Page and his incredible AEW World Championship run this year.

Strickland also recently signed a new deal with the Tony Khan-led promotion, reportedly so lucrative as to seemingly elicit the disapproval of his former workplace.

During a recent interview, the 33-year-old star revealed that he had no desire to go back to WWE any time soon, and heaped praise on Tony Khan for providing him the platform and opportunity to grow as a star and as a performer.

All this considered, it would not be far-fetched to assume that Swerve will continue to be a major figure in AEW moving forward.


#2. TBS Champion Mercedes Mone

Mercedes Mone, formerly known as Sasha Banks, made her blockbuster AEW debut at Dynamite: Big Business earlier this year. The CEO has been a dominant force in the Jacksonville-based promotion's women's division since her arrival, and is currently a double-champion, holding both the TBS Championship and the NJPW Strong Women's Championship.

Moreover, according to rumors, Mone happens to be one of the most highly-paid female talents in the company.

Despite her previous star-making run in WWE, The Boss seemingly hinted at her disinterest in a possible return to the Stamford-based company in a recent interview, pointing to her current booking and presentation in All Elite Wrestling.

As such, the 32-year-old star is most likely going to stay in AEW for quite a while.


#3. WWE legend Dustin Rhodes

Dustin Rhodes, formerly known as Goldust, has been a constant presence in AEW since the foundation of the promotion. Even after wrestling for over four decades now, The Natural has shown no signs of slowing down. He has recently claimed gold, having won the ROH World Six-Man Tag Team Championship with The Von Erichs and the ROH World Tag Team Championship with Sammy Guevara.

However, with his contract reported to expire around the fall of this year, conjecture began to circulate regarding the possibility of Rhodes returning to his old stomping grounds and joining his brother, Cody Rhodes, in WWE.

However, a recent update on the matter has claimed that Dustin is expected to re-sign with AEW. The 55-year-old veteran has been outspoken about his love for All Elite Wrestling, and considering the opportunities and exposure the promotion has provided him as of late, in all likelihood, Rhodes will continue to be All Elite for at least a while longer.


#4. Former AEW Women's World Champion Saraya

Saraya's journey in All Elite Wrestling has been polarizing, according to a number of viewers. The Anti-Diva made her debut two years ago at Dynamite: Grand Slam, and has been featured prominently on television since then. She even briefly held the AEW Women's World Championship, a title she won in her hometown at All In 2023.

However, Saraya's recent creative utilization has been arguably somewhat lackluster. After she was scheduled to face Jamie Hayter at Grand Slam 2024, several fans speculated that the former WWE Divas Champion could be on her way out of All Elite Wrestling, potentially to head back to the Stamford-based company.

However, Fightful Select recently reported that Saraya has signed a new agreement with AEW. Despite losing to Hayter in their Saraya's Rules bout at Grand Slam Collision, it seems that The Diva of Tomorrow is not finished with All Elite Wrestling for the time being.


#5. AEW World Championship contender Jon Moxley

Jon Moxley has been a key player of the All Elite Wrestling roster since 2019. Time and again, The Purveyor of Violence has proven himself to be one of the Tony Khan-led promotion's most consistently reliable performers, and his formidable booking has reflected the high regard in which he is held in the company.

The former AEW World Champion is currently in the middle of a major program with his former Blackpool Combat Club teammate, Bryan Danielson, whom he is scheduled to face for the AEW World Title at WrestleDream 2024, with many speculating that Moxley could potentially be the one to dethrone The American Dragon and end his full-time wrestling career.

In a report from June, Fightful reported that the Ohio native's All Elite contract is set to expire towards the end of 2027. Considering how solid and rewarding his position in the company has been over the past five years, in contrast with his presentation towards the tail end of his WWE run, it can be guessed with some confidence that Jon Moxley is likely going to stay in All Elite Wrestling for the foreseeable future.


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