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AEW currently boasts a number of former WWE names, some of whom - like Swerve Strickland, Toni Storm, Mercedes Mone, and The Hurt Syndicate - have benefited greatly with respect to their booking and presentation since jumping ship. The promotion has packed rosters across both the men's and women's divisions, although debates persist as to whether the company's locker room is too bloated or not.
Since the start of 2025, WWE has let several of its talents go, in addition to other releases over the past two years. While Tony Khan is no doubt keeping a close eye on free agents who have previously performed in the Stamford-based company, he needs to be wise when deciding which of these wrestlers he should sign at the moment.
With that in mind, let us consider two stars the AEW CEO should think about bringing in, and two he should not.
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#1: Should hire - Cedric Alexander becomes All Elite
After impressing fans with his ROH run, Cedric Alexander signed with WWE in 2016. He served as a key player of the company's budding Cruiserweight Division and was called up to the main roster in just three years. The North Carolina native locked horns with popular names such as Cesaro, Drew McIntyre, AJ Styles, and Sami Zayn, and later feuded with The Hurt Business before joining the stable himself in 2020.
Unfortunately, Alexander's career in the promotion failed to take off because of how the dominant faction ended up being underutilized. Cut to 2024, and all three of its founding members - MVP, Shelton Benjamin, and Bobby Lashley - are now signed with and thriving in AEW. Since Cedric himself was released by WWE earlier this year, he now has the opportunity to reunite with his teammates. The 35-year-old even paraphrased the now-rechristened Hurt Syndicate's catchphrase at a recent indie show, further stoking rumors of his All Elite arrival.
Alexander's in-ring prowess and athleticism make him an easy fit for AEW. Furthermore, both MVP and Lashley seemed open to the idea of a reunion with Queen City's Favorite Son in an interview from last month. Tony Khan should therefore sign Alexander and possibly debut him as a solo competitor or as a challenger for MJF's hard-earned spot in The Syndicate.
#2: Should hire - Dakota Kai joins AEW's women's division
Dakota Kai's pro-wrestling journey took her to WWE after a prolific start on the independent circuit. She started in the promotion's developmental brand NXT, filling out its fledgling women's division along with the likes of Shayna Baszler, Bianca Belair, Candice LeRae, Tegan Nox, IYO SKY, and more. Although she was released in April 2022, she was brought back months later at SummerSlam.
Dakota's main roster run saw her team, along with her Damage Control stablemates, dominate the RAW and SmackDown locker rooms. More recently, she participated in a tournament to crown the inaugural Women's Intercontinental Champion, albeit losing in the finals. Months after her last match in the company, it was revealed this past May that Kai had been released once again.
While AEW's women's division is arguably quite whole at the moment, Dakota Kai (or perhaps Evie) would undoubtedly be a valuable addition to the company. A seventeen-year veteran of the sport, the New Zealander has all the tools necessary to compete against the promotion's best, including home-grown names like Kris Statlander and Willow Nightingale as well as established stars like Mercedes Mone, Athena, and Toni Storm.
#3: Should avoid - Braun Strowman
Braun Strowman made an immediate and unforgettable impression when he debuted as the Wyatt Family's "black sheep" on WWE RAW in 2015. The Monster Among Men went on to have an incredibly successful run in the company, working with various top stars, including Roman Reigns, Seth Rollins, Bray Wyatt, and Kevin Owens. He held multiple titles throughout his career, including the WWE Universal Championship.
Despite being released in 2021, Strowman returned to the company the following year and competed against Ricochet, Gunther, Bronson Reed, and more. He feuded with the New Bloodline and Jacob Fatu this past April, but was let go by WWE once again the following month. While this may seem like an opportunity for AEW to snatch him up, there are also compelling reasons for the promotion not to do so.
For starters, rumors suggest that Strowman could be brought back by WWE at some point in the future, not to mention the fact that he is set to host a TV series on the USA Network, the same network that airs SmackDown. Furthermore, The Monster of All Monsters had openly questioned the probable longevity of AEW, called its product "trash" and claimed that the now-inactive Control Your Narrative brand would outlast it. It can be argued, therefore, that signing Strowman to AEW may not be a worthwhile investment past the shock value factor.
#4: Should avoid - Matt Riddle
Matt Riddle's masterful transition from mixed martial arts to pro wrestling led to WWE offering him a contract in 2018. The Original Bro showed off his skills in NXT before he was eventually called up to the main roster in 2020. He feuded with industry veterans like AJ Styles, Sheamus, and Bobby Lashley. He was part of an immensely popular tag team with Randy Orton that had run-ins with Roman Reigns and The Usos during the early chapters of the Bloodline saga.
More recently, Riddle worked with Seth Rollins, continued his rivalry with The Bloodline, challenged Gunther for the IC Title, and teamed with Drew McIntyre to take on the Viking Raiders. However, WWE released him in 2023, after which The King of Bros returned to the independents. He even wrestled for NJPW and CMLL, but has yet to compete in AEW. Despite being seemingly cut from the same athletic cloth as many All Elite stars, Riddle may not be the best signing for the company right now.
Setting aside the numerous controversies from the former US Champion's past, AEW's men's division is currently too full to make room for a name as prominent as Riddle's. Furthermore, as of last year, Tony Khan has supposedly expressed no interest in bringing him in. Regardless of Riddle's willingness, therefore, All Elite Wrestling necessarily should not be the 39-year-old's next destination.
