16 AEW Wrestlers Who Left WWE Earlier This Year

2021 has been a rougher year than most to be a professional wrestling. The pandemic has affected everyone, and while live shows are happening again, the industry is going through some shake-ups. Ring of Honor is going on a hiatus, and throughout the year, WWE had released over 75 wrestlers due to “budget cuts.”

All Elite Wrestling is quickly becoming the place many wrestlers hope to land in their professional careers. So after many WWE superstars were released or left on their own accord, they landed on one of AEW’s weekly shows: Dark, Dynamite, or Rampage.

While all of these wrestlers have wrestled in AEW this year, not every former WWE wrestler you’ll see below is signed with All Elite Wrestling. Some of them have had a match or two, and that’s it so far. Check out below every wrestler who made the switch from WWE to AEW in 2021.

Released from WWE: June 25

First AEW appearance: August 4

Last WWE appearance: NXT TakeOver 36 (August 11)

First AEW appearance: All Out (September 5)

Released from WWE: March 21

First AEW appearance: June 4

Left WWE: May 4

First AEW appearance: All Out (September 5)

Released from WWE: June 2

First AEW appearance: July 7

Last WWE appearance: January 4

First AEW appearance: Double or Nothing (May 30)

Last WWE appearance: January 4

First AEW appearance: February 24

Released from WWE: June 2

First AEW appearance: All Out (September 5)

Released from WWE: August 6

First AEW appearance: October 6

Released from WWE: June 2

First AEW appearance: October 6

Released from WWE: June 25

First AEW appearance: October 23

Released from WWE: June 25

First AEW appearance: October 23

Released from WWE: June 25

First AEW appearance: November 12

Released from WWE: June 25

First AEW appearance: October 26

Released from WWE: August 6

First AEW appearance: September 11