-- Over the last week, three AEW wrestlers - Malakai Black, Ricky Starks and Miro - had their profiles removed from the company's official online roster, signalling their departures and there are more details on each of their cases as per fightfulselect.com.
-- Malakai Black's original contract with AEW ran all the way into 2027 based on public comments made by President Tony Khan at a time when there were rumors that Black wanted out so he could return to WWE. However, as it turns out, Black leaving AEW was all but a given as recently as December and by the time the calendar flipped to 2025, it was confirmed that he wasn't going to be used on TV as his contract winded down.
-- Miro has not wrestled for AEW since 2023 but is healthy and cleared for action. There had been creative discussions related to his character throughout 2024, however ideas stopped flowing around the middle of the year and ultimately, he asked for his release. Communication between AEW and Miro went "radio silent" for quite a long time before the company granted him his exit. Many in AEW were not surprised by his release as they did not expect him back. The veteran wrestler signed a long-term contract extension with AEW back in 2022 that was to run until 2026 so he is getting out at least a year early.
-- Finally, Ricky Starks has been at odds with AEW dating back to 2023 at which time he asked the company not to pick up the option on his deal - originally scheduled to expire in the spring of 2024 - however, they did it anyway but never used him after that. Starks was said to be open to working for AEW while his contract ran its course while working some indie dates. The company didn't have anything for him in AEW and ended up blocking a series of GCW shows before finally granting him his release this month. Even if they didn't, Starks contract was set to expire in a few months, presumably in the spring of 2025 if the assumption that a one-year option was picked up by AEW last year.
-- The futures of all three of these wrestlers is unclear but it should be noted that all of them are free and clear to immediately start working for any other wrestling promotions, as none of the exits came with non-compete clauses. It is widely assumed that WWE will have interest in bringing back Black and possibly signing Starks while a Miro return under his old Rusev character is also a possibility.
