AEW have featured a whole host of wrestlers over the last few years, some of which are still major players in the company today whilst others haven’t remained in the promotion following the expiration of their deal or being released. In fact, there are some who have disappeared, hardly featuring in the professional wrestling world since leaving AEW.
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Many of these were signed to deals, whereas others were more one-off appearances. Either way, professional wrestling doesn’t end up being for everyone, and many of those who were once under the AEW banner have taken their business elsewhere.
10 Jake Atlas
Jake Atlas signed with AEW following his release from NXT, and at first it looked as though AEW had some big plans for him, especially after a strong showing against Adam Cole. However, Atlas was injured in that match and was never seen again.
This was due to the emergence of allegations against Atlas, which led to a quiet firing from AEW. Atlas hasn’t re-entered the professional wrestling world ever since his name became mired in controversy, completely disappearing off the pro wrestling map.
9 AQA
AQA debuted in AEW as someone to further put over Jade Cargill as a dominant and unstoppable force as an undefeated wrestler. However, her performance turned heads and she looked like someone with a whole load of potential.
She was quickly signed up by AEW following this breakout performance, settling into the likes of AEW Dark. The young prospect would soon request her release from AEW and left the professional wrestling business altogether. She has only recently emerged on social media after a couple of years away.
8 Trench
Trench debuted in AEW as an unknown name to the AEW audience, with zero professional wrestling experience. He was brought in as a part of the Mogul Affiliates, acting as a henchman to Swerve Strickland alongside Parker Boudreaux.
His time in AEW didn’t last for too long, getting his release from the company without even wrestling a single match. He hasn’t shown up anywhere else since, clearly not pursuing a career in the business at this point in time.
7 Luigi Primo
Luigi Primo was never signed to AEW, but he was brought in amidst some online buzz and going viral due to his gimmick. He was involved in a segment with Chris Jericho, but shortly following this the interest in him died right down.
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Sure, he is still wrestling here and there on the independent scene, but his gimmick didn’t get over in a similar manner to the likes of other unique characters like Orange Cassidy. It was a brief five minutes of fame for the pizza man that didn’t really benefit him.
6 Cezar Bononi
Cezar Bononi was involved in the The Wingmen faction which mostly lived on AEW Dark, but did now and again find themselves on Dynamite & Rampage as a jobber act. For Bononi, his highest profile match in AEW came against Jon Moxley back in 2021.
Ever since AEW Dark was brought to an end, The Wingmen disbanded for the most part, with Bononi no longer getting any dates with AEW. Aside from one NWA dark match, Bononi has not wrestled again, disappearing into oblivion.
5 Glacier
Glacier only had one appearance with AEW, not signing with the promotion. However, his surprise appearance in the Double or Nothing 2019 Casino Battle Royale didn’t lead to a career resurgence for the former WCW wrestler.
Aside from a few more matches here and there, Glacier is a non-factor in the professional wrestling sphere. His last match came in 2022, not competing at all in 2023.
4 Ariane Andrew
The former “Cameron” made a surprise appearance in AEW back in 2019 as part of the Deadly Draw Women’s Tag Team Tournament. Ariane Andrew teamed up with Nyla Rose, losing out in the first round of the tournament.
This was her first wrestling appearance in three years, and following this she didn’t remain in AEW. Apart from one brief return at the 2022 Women’s Royal Rumble, Ariane has not remained a part of professional wrestling in any way.
3 Mel
The Nightmare Collective were among the very worst acts in AEW history, and Mel was a part of it. She was used as a plant in the audience who joined the weird and spooky cult led by Brandi Rhodes. Tony Khan, following a lot of fan backlash, pulled the plug on this act due to it being so bad.
Mel was never seen again in an AEW ring, not being used in any sort of capacity in AEW. She has only popped up here and there on the independent scene, but hasn’t wrestled since last year.
2 Jimmy Havoc
Jimmy Havoc was in AEW in the early days, representing more of a deathmatch style. His signature certainly lived up to the company bringing in a lot of different types of wrestlers, but things wouldn’t end up going well for Havoc ultimately.
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He was named amidst the Speaking Out Movement in 2020 during the lockdown period, and it led to AEW parting ways with him pretty quickly. He has not wrestled ever since his AEW release, not showing up anywhere since June 2020, falling off the face of the earth.
1 Sadie Gibbs
Back in 2019, Sadie Gibbs signed with AEW, becoming one of the new names involved in building their women’s division. She debuted at All Out 2019, but wrestled minimally from there.
The British wrestler would not be free to work throughout the pandemic period like several other wrestlers at the time, and this eventually led to his release from the promotion. On AEW Dark all the way back in 2019, Gibbs wrestled her last match and would leave the business altogether, focusing on other ventures.
