4 AEW day 1 stars who are no longer part of the company

It's been more than six years since AEW rose from the foundation built by Cody Rhodes, The Young Bucks, and their friends, who started an event in 2018 called All In just to show that a wrestling show unaffiliated with WWE could fill a big arena. The original All In sold out in a mere 30 minutes and became the first independent U.S. wrestling event to host more than 10,000 fans since 1993.

Headlined by marquee names like Kenny Omega and Kazuchika Okada, All In laid the building blocks for what we now know and love as All Elite Wrestling. The promotion was formed in 2019 and is led by its president, Tony Khan.

Tony Khan's company produced its inaugural Dynamite episode on October 2, 2019, which involved the likes of Chris Jericho, MJF, and Kenny Omega—talents who have been mainstays in the promotion since day one. However, not everyone who started on day one remained with the promotion. With that in mind, let’s examine four AEW “day one” stars who are no longer part of the company.

#4. Cody Rhodes was one of AEW's founding fathers

Cody Rhodes was a cornerstone of AEW. From his contributions at the All In event to becoming one of the promotion's inaugural champions with the TNT Championship, Cody set the tone for what the company has shaped up to become. Cody headlined the promotion's marquee events, but he also helped shape its roster and overall direction as EVP.

Cody departed AEW in 2022 and joined WWE due to his desire to become the Undisputed WWE Champion. His exit also came amid speculation about contract frustrations. Since his return to WWE, he’s headlined WrestleMania twice and realized his dream of winning the company's World Championship.

#3. Brandi Rhodes

Brandi Rhodes, Cody's real-life partner, was an important part of AEW. During her time with the company, she worked as both a backstage producer and a performer in the ring. Brandi was ever-present since Day 1. She even played a part on-screen in major storylines. She was the company's chief branding officer and executive vice president behind the scenes.

Brandi also left All Elite Wrestling in 2022, along with her husband, Cody. She said it was for personal reasons and because she wanted to focus on starting her own business and broadcasting. Brandi has since been busy with her projects and remains a well-known figure in the wrestling world.

#2. Mike Santana

Mike Santana, with former partner Ortiz (aka Proud & Powerful), played a huge part in putting AEW's tag team division on the map. The duo made their debut at All Out in 2019 and main-evented the inaugural Dynamite show, teaming with Chris Jericho. They later joined his faction, the Inner Circle.

While Santana and Ortiz never won the World Tag Team Championship, the two were fan favorites due to their chemistry and street-fighting style. However, due to creative differences, Santana split from Ortiz in 2023. They went on to have a feud and faced each other in a falls count anywhere match.

While Ortiz still plies his trade in All Elite Wrestling, Santana left the company in 2024, marking the end of a five-year tenure with Tony Khan's promotion.

#1. Jake Hager

Chris Jericho recruited Jake Hager to join AEW as part of his faction, The Inner Circle. During his time in the Jacksonville-based promotion, he competed against notable opponents, including Jon Moxley and Cody Rhodes. His unyielding, tough heel persona became the reason fans started supporting him.

Hager left the Jacksonville-based promotion when his contract expired in 2024, ending a four-year stint with the company. He has since pivoted into MMA full-time.