By
Mat Elfring
 on

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.

2point0 (FKA Ever-Rise)

2point0 (FKA Ever-Rise)

Released from WWE: June 25

First AEW appearance: August 4

Adam Cole

Adam Cole

Last WWE appearance: NXT TakeOver 36 (August 11)

First AEW appearance: All Out (September 5)

Andrade El Idolo (FKA Andrade)

Andrade El Idolo (FKA Andrade)

Released from WWE: March 21

First AEW appearance: June 4

Bryan Danielson (FKA Daniel Bryan)

Bryan Danielson (FKA Daniel Bryan)

Left WWE: May 4

First AEW appearance: All Out (September 5)

Malakai Black (FKA Aleister Black)

Malakai Black (FKA Aleister Black)

Released from WWE: June 2

First AEW appearance: July 7

Mark Henry

Mark Henry

Last WWE appearance: January 4

First AEW appearance: Double or Nothing (May 30)

Paul Wight (FKA Big Show)

Paul Wight (FKA Big Show)

Last WWE appearance: January 4

First AEW appearance: February 24

Ruby Soho (FKA Ruby Riott)

Ruby Soho (FKA Ruby Riott)

Released from WWE: June 2

First AEW appearance: All Out (September 5)

Bobby Fish

Bobby Fish

Released from WWE: August 6

First AEW appearance: October 6

Santana Garrett

Santana Garrett

Released from WWE: June 2

First AEW appearance: October 6

Tony Nese

Tony Nese

Released from WWE: June 25

First AEW appearance: October 23

Samuray Del Sol (FKA Kalisto)

Samuray Del Sol (FKA Kalisto)

Released from WWE: June 25

First AEW appearance: October 23

Ariya Daivari

Ariya Daivari

Released from WWE: June 25

First AEW appearance: November 12

Tiger Ruas (FKA Arturo Ruas)

Tiger Ruas (FKA Arturo Ruas)

Released from WWE: June 25

First AEW appearance: October 26

Anthony Henry (FKA Asher Hale)

Anthony Henry (FKA Asher Hale)

Released from WWE: August 6

First AEW appearance: September 11