Every AEW star who left in 2023: Where are they now?
AEW has signed numerous world-class talents in the last two years. Tony Khan's ventures as a promotor have favored the Jacksonville-based promotion, helping them acquire the hottest talents in the free agent market.
All Elite Wrestling has emerged as an alternative for quality international wrestlers, who only had the choice of going to WWE if they wished to wrestle in front of an American audience.
However, a number of stars have also parted ways with All Elite Wrestling in recent times. While some stars had an amicable split with the Tony Khan-led company, certain other names left the promotion not on the best terms. The year 2023 was a particularly chaotic one for AEW, as many of the company's stars deflected towards WWE.
In this article, let's look at every star AEW that exited the company in 2023 and what they are up to these days.
#15. Leva Bates is no longer in AEW
Leva Bates made her debut at Fyter Fest 2019. The 41-year-old star had embraced 'The Librarian' gimmick during her initial days in the Jacksonville-based promotion, which sadly didn't lead to much success. Bates was a handy commodity for the company backstage, where she assisted Brandi Rhodes initially, before becoming a key member of the team working on AEW Heels fan club.
In May 2023, Bates' run with the Jacksonville-based promotion officially ended after the management refused to renew her deal for another term. Since her departure, she has directed her attention towards other ventures like streaming on Twitch.
Leva Bates continues to hone her craft on the independent circuit and actively competes in promotions like Fantasy Super Cosplay Wrestling. The former AEW star was also spotted participating in the Netflix reality show, Squid Game: The Challenge, where she bit the dust in the first round.
#14. Zack Clayton departed All Elite Wrestling in 2023
Zack Clayton only got a handful of major opportunities during his stint with All Elite Wrestling. The Reality made his debut in 2020 and went on to be a regular feature on AEW Dark. Clayton wrestled the likes of QT Marshall, Wheeler Yuta, and HOOK before he was eventually let go by the company in October 2023.
The 29-year-old star briefly competed on TNA Wrestling earlier this year, where he joined the F.B.I. faction, alongside Guido and Ray Jaz. In a recent Instagram post, Clayton laid down future plans for his current stable, stating that they were ready to take over TNA Wrestling.
#13. Allie 'The Bunny' was a recognized name in the AEW Women's division
Allie 'The Bunny' was among the earliest female stars who were added to the AEW roster. During her four-year-long run, Allie wrestled several top performers, including Jade Cargill and Britt Baker. The Bunny was also a part of an alliance called 'The Nightmare Sisters' alongside Brandi Rhodes.
In November 2023, the 37-year-old star mutually agreed to part ways with the Jacksonville-based promotion. The star has taken a break from the pro wrestling business since departing AEW. Allie now hosts her own podcast and does toy unboxing on her Instagram. The Bunny is also interested in trying her hand at acting amid her absence from the squared circle.
#12. Trench was one of Swerve Strickland's allies
Before his rise into the main event scene, Swerve Strickland used to be the leader of The Mogul Affiliates, whose members were Parker Boudreaux and Trench. Trench, in particular, was an interesting character, whose distinct face tattoos caught the attention of the AEW audience.
Unfortunately, the 31-year-old star was released from the Tony Khan-led company in July 2023. The monstrous individual has seemingly distanced himself from the pro wrestling industry for the time being and has taken a hiatus from his social media activities.
#11. Brock Anderson was touted to be the next big thing
Brock Anderson, son of wrestling legend Arn Anderson, debuted on All Elite Wrestling programming in June 2021. Trained by QT Marshall, Anderson joined The Nightmare Factory upon his arrival in the Jacksonville-based promotion. Owing to his lack of experience, the 27-year-old star mainly wrestled on AEW Dark and AEW Dark: Elevation.
Following the expiry of his AEW contract, Brock Anderson officially left the company in October 2023. The young star is now a part of the Major League Wrestling (MLW) roster, where he finds himself in an alliance with C.W. Anderson, Bobby Fish, and Brett Ryan Gosselin.
#10. B.J. Whitmer was fired from AEW in 2023
B.J. Whitmer is a well-recognized figure in the wrestling industry, who found notable success in Ring of Honor (ROH). In 2019, Whitmer joined All Elite Wrestling as a coach, before domestic violence allegations led to his contract being terminated in June 2023.
In March 2024, Whitmer was sentenced to serve 120 days of house arrest, and five years of probation, after he had accepted an Alford plea in the aforementioned case.
#9. Fuego Del Sol was a popular figure among the AEW audience
Despite only being around for a brief period, Fuego Del Sol was able to captivate the AEW audience with his breathtaking athleticism. The popular luchador was particularly known for his insane Tornado DDT, which resulted in a pop every time he performed the move.
Del Sol's best moments in All Elite Wrestling occurred while he was briefly aligned with Sammy Guevara. Interestingly, The Spanish God was the individual who offered the luchador his official contract with the Tony Khan-led company.
Fuego Del Sol wrestled his final AEW match against Juice Robinson in February 2023, before eventually leaving the company in June 2023. Del Sol is currently grinding on the independent circuit and has been active in numerous promotions in the last few months.
The 29-year-old star keeps making appearances in companies like Game Changer Wrestling (GCW) and House of Glory Wrestling, while also being a consistent streamer on Twitch.
#8. Sonny Kiss was released from AEW in September 2023
Soon after its inception in 2019, AEW added Sonny Kiss to its roster. The 30-year-old made quite an impact in the Jacksonville-based promotion and was given opportunities to battle top stars like Cody Rhodes, Chris Jericho, and Kenny Omega.
The Pride of Jersey City also teamed up with Joey Janela during her time in All Elite Wrestling. In September 2023, Kiss was removed from the company's roster sheet after the management decided to not renew her deal.
Sonny Kiss is now a member of the TNA Wrestling roster, having made her debut at Bound for Glory 2023. In November that year, Kiss wrestled Trinity (aka Naomi) for the Knockouts World Championship, but could not secure the victory.
#7. Vickie Guerrero parted ways with AEW in 2023
Vickie Guerrero is remembered as one of the most obnoxious heels of the Ruthless Aggression era. The former WWE SmackDown General Manager debuted in AEW in December 2019 as a guest commentator, before eventually becoming Nyla Rose's manager a few months later.
One of the highlights of Guerrero's run in All Elite Wrestling involved her introducing Andrade El Idolo to the fans in June 2021. Ultimately, the veteran was let go by the Jacksonville-based promotion after her deal ended in February 2023.
The originator of the "Excuse Me" catchphrase has seemingly shifted her focus towards other ventures. Despite not being very active in the pro wrestling world, Vickie Guerrero was recently spotted attending the premiere episode of WWE Smackdown on the USA Network.
#6. Ace Steel had a controversial exit from the Tony Khan-led company
Ace Steel had a brief yet chaotic run in All Elite Wrestling. After joining the company in a backstage role, Steel made his first on-screen appearance in August 2022 to convince his old friend, CM Punk, to fight Jon Moxley at All Out that year.
The Forgotten Saint was one of the many names involved in the "Brawl Out 2022" incident, which led to the suspensions of CM Punk, Kenny Omega, and The Young Bucks. Steel was handed his release from the Jacksonville-based promotion in October 2022, before ultimately being rehired seven months later.
Unfortunately, The Best in the World's exit paved the way for Ace Steel's final departure from AEW in September 2023. The Forgotten Saint now works as a backstage producer in TNA Wrestling, having joined the company in February 2024.
Steel was also recently involved in a fierce feud between Joe Hendry and Frankie Kazarian.
#5. Shawn Spears is now back in WWE NXT
Following years of underutilization in WWE, Shawn Spears (fka Tye Dillinger) took his talents to AEW in 2019. The Chairman immediately inserted himself into a feud with Cody Rhodes, which helped him establish himself as a top star in the company.
Spears later joined the MJF-led faction, The Pinnacle, allowing him to work alongside names like FTR and Wardlow. However, the 43-year-old star could not crack into the main event scene, as he was overshadowed by other well-established stars.
In December 2023, Shawn Spears confirmed his decision to leave All Elite Wrestling at the end of his deal. The Chairman then proceeded to make his return to WWE NXT, where he immediately inserted himself in a rivalry with Ridge Holland. At the moment, Shawn Spears is nursing an arm injury, which has forced him to stay away from in-ring competition.
However, Spears continues to be featured on the NXT programming as the mentor of Brooks Jensen.
#4. Lexis King left All Elite Wrestling to join WWE NXT
Lexis King (fka Brian Pillman Jr.) was one of the many participants in the first-ever Casino Battle Royale at AEW Double or Nothing 2019. It was only in July 2021 that King was signed to an official contract with the Tony Khan-led company.
While he did get to wrestle in singles matches against recognized talents like Shawn Spears and Brian Cage, the 31-year-old star majorly featured on television as part of The Varsity Blonds, a faction that also included Griff Garrison and Julia Hart.
Following the expiration of his deal in July 2023, Uncle Brian decided to move on from AEW. Lexis King eventually joined WWE NXT the following month, where he continues to be a top player to this day. King currently finds himself embroiled in a feud with the No-Quarter Catch Crew, with William Regal serving as his mentor.
#3. Andrade is now back on WWE SmackDown
Andrade debuted in All Elite Wrestling in the summer of 2021. While he participated in several incredible matches during his two-year run, the Mexican star could not become a main event player in the Jacksonville-based promotion. The inconsistent pushes hurt El Idolo's credibility to a great extent, which is reflected in his lack of championship success in AEW.
At Royal Rumble 2024, the former WWE United States Champion finally made his return to the Stamford-based promotion. El Idolo is currently a part of the SmackDown brand, where he has been involved in a blockbuster rivalry with Carmelo Hayes.
The duo have competed in seven incredible matches against each other over the past few months, which has led to a rise in their respective stocks. Andrade was recently part of a Triple Threat Match for the United States Championship at Crown Jewel 2024, where he failed to put down the duo of Hayes and LA Knight.
#2. Jade Cargill was booked very strongly in AEW
Jade Cargill was introduced to the AEW audience in November 2020. Despite being inexperienced, Cargill got to work with many veteran stars in the first few months. The management was confident in pushing Big Money Jade as the next big thing, having recognized her potential as a future megastar.
In January 2022, Jade Cargill was crowned as the first-ever TBS Champion. The 32-year-old star was booked as an invincible force, as she went on to have a 508-day reign with the prestigious title. A few months after dropping the gold to Kris Statlander, Cargill left AEW to join WWE.
The young star made her WWE in-ring debut at Royal Rumble 2024, where she made an instant impact by eliminating Nia Jax. These days, Cargill is part of the main roster, where she currently holds the Women's Tag Team Championship alongside Bianca Belair.
#1. CM Punk returned to WWE in November 2023
After a seven-year absence from pro wrestling, CM Punk made his All Elite Wrestling debut in August 2021. It was a pivotal moment in the company's history, as Punk's arrival legitimized the promotion in the eyes of the worldwide audience.
The Best in the World went on to have a generational run in the Tony Khan-led company. The Second City Saint worked with talents like MJF, Eddie Kingston, and Jon Moxley to generate record-breaking revenue for AEW. However, things took an ugly turn in the summer of 2022, when Punk entered a backstage rivalry with The Elite and Hangman Adam Page.
After a tumultuous year-long episode, The Voice of the Voiceless departed the Jacksonville-based promotion in September 2023. Tony Khan made the decision to fire Punk after the latter was involved in a backstage brawl with Jack Perry at All In that year.
WWE Survivor Series 2023 witnessed the historic return of CM Punk to the Stamford-based promotion. It has been nearly a year since Punk's return, and he has made a huge impact on the company's product since then. The Best in the World had been involved in a fierce rivalry with Drew McIntyre, which recently culminated in a memorable Hell in a Cell Match at Bad Blood 2024.
The RAW Superstar is currently on a short hiatus from in-ring competition and is expected to be back in the upcoming weeks.