AEW has procured quite a bit of a reputation for having a bloated roster, and a big reason for that is because they have signed any and every top level free agent that they’ve been able to get their hands on - with the roster filling up due to very few releases.
WWE may have made it the norm to release wrestlers from contracts in mass amounts, just whenever those at the top decide someone is surplus to requirements, but in AEW, Tony Khan has made it very clear that he won’t be doing the same. There have been many wrestlers who have left AEW, though the majority have been due to their contracts expiring, with AEW remaining true to the paperwork. In the case of those who have been released, they have been down to specific reasons.
9 Ace Steel
Ace Steel wasn’t an active performer in AEW, but he is certainly one of the most high profile releases. Steel was let go from AEW in the aftermath of an investigation following the All Out brawl between CM Punk and The Elite.
It was alleged that Steel was physically involved, and even bit Kenny Omega. This act of violence was the likely cause of his dismissal from the company, with it being relatively obvious that his involvement was one of the worst, given that he was the first (and only as of this writing) to be released.
8 Jake Atlas
Jake Atlas arrived at AEW following his WWE release, with fans quite optimistic about what he had to offer. Following a match with Adam Cole, Atlas was sidelined with a long-term injury, however, whenever he recovers, he won’t be back in the ring with the promotion.
Atlas was released following allegations which emerged against him, with AEW deeming the evidence sufficient to fire him. His run with the company was one of the shortest from purely an on-screen perspective.
7 Awesome Kong
When AEW began, perhaps the most recognizable name in the women’s division was Awesome Kong, following her dominant career. She became a part of the hugely unpopular Nightmare Collective act, but was eventually taken off TV due to outside commitments.
Due to the pandemic preventing her from competing, in addition to her other ventures, she was let go amicably from AEW.
6 Kylie Rae
In terms of babyfaces, Kylie Rae looked as though she had potential early on to become a huge deal in AEW’s women’s division, but she ultimately became one of the very first AEW releases.
This was due to undisclosed mental health issues, with her needing to take a break from wrestling. She would take that much-needed little break before appearing in Impact Wrestling a few months later, carrying on an independent wrestling run without being tied down to one promotion.
5 Ivelisse
It seemed as though Ivelisse had some chance of future success in AEW due to her winning the AEW Women’s Tag Team Tournament, but this was the height of her glory in the company. During a match with Thunder Rosa, things seemed to break down between the pair, with it looking as though there were legit blows thrown and some accusations of sandbagging.
In the aftermath of this communication breakdown, it was Ivelisse who received the boot. She was quite outspoken about her exit, speaking with Lucha Libre Online to state that Rosa had purposely sabotaged her spot in the company.
4 Bea Priestley
At first, Bea Priestley appeared as though she would be a force to be reckoned with in AEW, with her feuding against Britt Baker in a physical rivalry. However, due to the effects of the pandemic, with her being unable to travel from her home in Japan, it was agreed upon that she would be released.
Priestley is now back in the US, competing in NXT under the name of Blair Davenport, though she hasn’t competed in two months, with perhaps the traveling being a potential issue once again.
3 Jimmy Havoc
The Speaking Out Movement was a major talking point in professional wrestling, with many brave individuals speaking up against the darker names of the wrestling community. Jimmy Havoc was someone named during this time, and AEW took action.
There were a few wrestlers in AEW past and present whose names were brought up, though the evidence against Havoc led to him being someone who was let go by the company, unlike some others who experienced some controversy such as Sammy Guevara and Darby Allin.
2 Sadie Gibbs
Sadie Gibbs’ time in AEW was fleeting, with just a few matches at the beginning of the company, notably competing at the All Out 2019 PPV in the Casino Battle Royal.
Gibbs was another name AEW parted ways with due to the effects of the pandemic, again due to travel issues as she is from the UK. Following her release, she would announce her retirement to focus on different career paths, with a match on AEW Dark marking her final ever bout (for now).
1 AQA
AQA’s potential was noticed during a match against TBS Champion Jade Cargill, with her performance earning her a contract with AEW. She mostly wrestled on Dark and Elevation from there, until she requested her release a few months back.
The reason was that she needed a break from professional wrestling, and it is easy to see why when looking at the toll it can take on the mind and body. AQA hasn't been wrestling for around half a year at this point, but fans can hope she’s in a good place and can find a way to reach her potential in the business.