5 stars who could quietly leave AEW without appearing on TV again
AEW seems to be riddled with "the problem of plenty" at the moment. The Jacksonville-based promotion has a very large roster of stars, but it can only feature a handful of these talents on a fair and consistent basis.
Several stars are currently absent from the Tony Khan-led company. While some of these talents are unavailable due to health issues, others have been kept on the sidelines seemingly due to a lack of creative plans.
Long periods of absence have negatively affected the careers of many AEW stars. Many signed performers have been off-screen for a very long time, and it is unlikely that they will appear in the Jacksonville-based promotion ever again.
In this article, let's look at five AEW stars who could quietly leave the company without making an appearance on television ever again.
#5. Aaron Solo has not got much opportunities in All Elite Wrestling
Aaron Solo has been a member of the AEW roster since July 2020. While Solo has been a part of a few Battle Royals in the Jacksonville-based promotion, he has not had many opportunities to prove his worth. The 37-year-old star remained associated with QT Marshall in the past, which remains one of the few highlights of his AEW career.
While Solo does make appearances in Ring of Honor (ROH), he almost never features on Dynamite or Collision. The former ACW Tag Team Champion has a disappointing 20-83 career record, which makes him appear as an afterthought on the roster.
Aaron Solo has only competed in one match on AEW television this year, which he sadly couldn't win. Unless Tony Khan decides to take a chance with the 37-year-old star, it is quite likely that Solo may end up leaving AEW very soon.
#4. Miro could be on his way out of AEW
Miro (fka Rusev) was one of the first few individuals who decided to jump ship from WWE to AEW. Following years of poor booking in WWE, the former WWE United States Champion joined the Tony Khan-led company to revitalize his wrestling career.
The Redeemer was off to a good start in the company, as he emerged as one of the most entertaining heels in 2020-21. Unfortunately, a string of injuries forced Miro to sit on the sidelines, destroying all the momentum he had accumulated over the years.
Following his in-ring return, the former TNT Champion could not regain the dominating presence he once had. Miro found himself involved in many underwhelming feuds. His rivalry with Andrade El Idolo and CJ Perry drew divisive reactions from the fans, who were disappointed by a lack of onscreen chemistry between the three stars.
Miro was supposed to feature in the "Meat Madness" match at Revolution 2024 before he was abruptly pulled from the contest due to an undisclosed injury. Being sidelined for long periods has affected Miro's popularity to a great extent, as he has now apparently fallen down the ranks on the roster.
Now that All Elite Wrestling has seemingly moved on from him, The Redeemer may opt for an early exit to look for better opportunities elsewhere.
#3. Wardlow has lost tons of momentum in recent years
Wardlow's feud against Maxwell Jacob Friedman (MJF) established him as one of the hottest acts in the pro wrestling business. Fans were in awe of Mr. Mayhem, who brought along a great combination of strength and charisma.
The former TNT Champion had tons of momentum by his side at one point, with the audience demanding a world title shot for the 36-year-old wrestler. Unfortunately, an underwhelming run as the TNT Champion destroyed all the credibility Wardlow had gained over the years.
The TNT Championship lost its prestige to a great extent during Wardlow's reign, causing the fans to withdraw their investment in the gigantic star.
At the moment, Mr. Mayhem finds himself stuck in The Undisputed Kingdom. The 36-year-old star has only appeared in five matches this year, as he spent the majority of his time on the sidelines in 2024. Despite being medically cleared, AEW has not used Wardlow in any capacity, which is a concerning sign for his in-ring career.
If Tony Khan does not book him in a prominent storyline soon, Mr. Mayhem could decide to leave the company with immediate effect.
#2. Danhausen could bid goodbye to the Jacksonville-based promotion
Danhausen made his All Elite Wrestling debut in January 2022. A popular name on the indie circuit, Danhausen was signed by Tony Khan owing to his unique persona.
The 33-year-old star has had a few great moments in the Jacksonville-based promotion. The "Very Nice, Very Evil" performer has been a source of comic relief for the AEW audience. In a company that primarily focuses on the quality of in-ring competition, Danhausen brought an element of sports entertainment to the AEW programming.
Unfortunately, Danhausen has remained absent from the Tony Khan-led company for several months now. The 11-year veteran last competed on television in December 2023, when he wrestled on the pre-show of the Worlds End Pay-Per-View. While Danhausen has continued to perform on the indie circuit, he has not wrestled a single match in the Jacksonville-based promotion this year.
With Tony Khan recently signing the likes of Will Ospreay and Kazuchika Okada, it is evident that the company is strictly focusing on making a better in-ring wrestling product. While there is still room for comedic characters in the company, Danhausen's complicated gimmick may not be a fit for All Elite Wrestling anymore.
As Tony Khan is unlikely to involve him in a prominent role, the Very Nice Very Evil star could be on his way out of AEW.
#1. Ricky Starks could leave AEW in the upcoming months
Ricky Starks last appeared on the AEW television in March 2024. Since then, The Absolute One has strangely been on an in-ring hiatus, despite being medically cleared to compete.
The creative team seemingly does not have any major plans for The Stroke Daddy, which has extended his stay on the sidelines. Many feel that it was Stark's misfortune that Tony Khan has not been able to come up with a meaningful storyline for him, who is one of the most charismatic stars on a huge AEW roster.
Despite being a reliable asset to his boss, the former FTW Champion has surprisingly never been given a consistent run in the main event scene. While Tony Khan did express his desire to present Ricky Starks in a prominent position, the AEW CEO has yet to bring back The Absolute One on television.
If Khan continues to neglect the former FTW Champion, it wouldn't be surprising if we see Starks in WWE the next time he appears on television.