AEW continues to enhance its roster and product quality by recruiting talent globally. Over the years, Tony Khan has prioritized bringing former WWE stars into his company. Notable names like Swerve Strickland, Chris Jericho, and Mercedes Mone transitioned from the sports entertainment giant to AEW. This year, AEW welcomed five more former WWE stars, who debuted in 2026.
Tommaso Ciampa made his AEW debut this year
Tommaso Ciampa gained prominence in NXT, securing the brand’s top title and becoming a mainstay in the black and silver division for several years. He later moved to the main roster, where he reunited with Johnny Gargano to reform DIY, winning the WWE Tag Team Titles together.
Despite his achievements in NXT, Ciampa left WWE and joined AEW earlier this year, confronting Mark Briscoe on his debut night. He soon captured the TNT Championship from Briscoe in his first match.
Ciampa’s reign as TNT Champion was short-lived, as he lost the title to Kyle Fletcher. Since then, he has been a regular on AEW television, participating in significant matches. He competed in the Casino Gauntlet match for the TNT Title at Dynasty 2026 but was unsuccessful. Undeterred, Ciampa shifted his focus to the AEW World Championship and recently challenged Darby Allin for the title on Dynamite. Although he did not win, it seems Tony Khan has big plans for him.
Ronda Rousey
Ronda Rousey rose to fame in MMA before transitioning to WWE, where her background propelled her to the top, winning multiple Women’s Championships. Despite her dominance, Rousey struggled to connect with fans and grew frustrated with the company, eventually departing. Following her exit, she openly criticized WWE and made appearances in other promotions, including Ring of Honor. Rousey debuted in AEW at Revolution 2026, confronting Toni Storm and hinting at joining the Death Riders. However, she has yet to compete in an official AEW match.
Zayda Steel
Zayda Steel joined WWE in 2024 through the ID program, becoming the third person of Moroccan descent to sign with the company. She spent much of her time in Evolve, forming The Vanity Project with Brad Taylor, Ricky Smokes, and Jackson Drake. As she began to resonate with fans, she chose not to renew her WWE ID contract and left the company.
After leaving WWE, Zayda Steel debuted on AEW’s Collision on January 10, 2026, accompanying SkyFlight in their match against the Death Riders. She made her in-ring debut shortly after on Collision Maximum Carnage, facing Marina Shafir but losing. Her most significant match occurred when she teamed with Top Flight against the Death Riders in a mixed tag match on the March 25 episode of Dynamite, marking her in-ring debut on AEW’s flagship show.
Dezmond Xavier and Zachary Wentz
Dezmond Xavier and Zachary Wentz joined WWE in 2020 as MSK, quickly making an impact by winning the NXT Tag Team Championships. However, Wentz was released due to controversial reasons, leaving Xavier to pursue a singles career. He found success, capturing the North American Championship but struggled to maintain momentum after losing it. Wentz later returned to NXT through WWE’s partnership with TNA Wrestling, yet Xavier continued to flounder until he left WWE.
Following his departure, Xavier joined The Rascalz in TNA Wrestling. After a successful period there, Wentz and Xavier made their AEW debut earlier this year. They recently competed for the World Tag Team Titles, indicating a promising future in Tony Khan’s organization.
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Edited by Sunil Joseph
