AJ Styles and the 10 WWE and AEW Stars Most Likely to Jump Ship to the Other Company

For some time, American pro wrestling felt like a one-dog fight. WWE occupied the top of the mountain and everybody else was fighting for scraps.

That has all changed over the last decade. All Elite Wrestling has taken up the No. 2 spot, TNA is a viable option for talents once more, international promotions such as New Japan Pro-Wrestling and CMLL can give wrestlers a good paycheck, and the indie scene may be healthier than ever.

The spirit of competition is alive, but most importantly, wrestlers have more options if they are unhappy at their current promotion or end up being released.

Look at Adam Copeland as a prime example. He could have remained with WWE and made a lot of money, but facing new names was appealing enough for him to give All Elite Wrestling a shot. This has led to a career resurgence for The Rated-R Superstar.

Let's look at some of the WWE and AEW stars most likely to jump ship in the coming months.

Wardlow

The Wardlow saga in AEW has been one of the most uneven runs for anyone in a major promotion over the past five years.

The 36-year-old came into AEW as a bodyguard-type character for MJF but eventually earned a way to break his contract by decimating his former boss in a match with 10 powerbombs at Double or Nothing in 2022.

Some success with the TNT title gave hope that AEW realized the kind of talent he had, but the last year has been his most inconsistent.

He aligned with Adam Cole and The Undisputed Kingdom, but that alliance seemed to fizzle out without much notice.

The Wardog is a special kind of talent. He has the agility of a man half his size and the power to lift a man twice his size. That kind of combination is valuable, and it may be better utilized elsewhere.

Big guys like Wardlow do well in WWE but seem to struggle in AEW. It's unclear why, but being a gigantic powerhouse doesn't get you far there.

AJ Styles

AJ Styles is one of the most well-traveled wrestlers in the world. He has worked in Ring of Honor, TNA, NJPW and WWE. The one place he hasn't tried yet is AEW.

The Phenomenal One has been vocal about being closer to the end of his career than the start. He's even used that fact as part of a recent storyline with Cody Rhodes.

The 47-year-old could be the first person to hold a world title in AEW, WWE, TNA and NJPW if he did win gold in Tony Khan's promotion. And an accolade like that may be too appealing to pass up.

Styles vs. Kenny Omega, Jon Moxley, a more violent Bryan Danielson or MJF would be matches that could main-event any AEW pay-per-view and sell out the building.

In addition to the main events, there are other potential bangers he could have in AEW against guys such as Daniel Garcia, Komander, Wheeler Yuta, Rush and many more.

The two-time WWE champion may not be going anywhere right now, but his future isn't set in stone. A jump to AEW would be one of the most newsworthy events of the year.

Miro

Miro has only had seven matches in the past two years in AEW. Let that sink in for a moment.

Seven matches is nothing. Many wrestlers rack up that many in a week or two, but The Bulgarian Brute has had a strange run in AEW.

His career has been affected by injuries and personal issues, but if anybody was a lock to not re-sign, it's Miro.

If WWE wanted him back, the 38-year-old would fit right in again. He was a popular act, especially during his Rusev Day gimmick, but many WWE fans would also enjoy seeing his Redeemer character.

If Miro and AEW allow his deal to run out, he will be a big-ticket free agent. Let's hope he lands at a company with a TV deal.

Sami Zayn

Sami Zayn's deal expires this year, and while WWE has been very good to him in recent years, he is in a spot similar to Styles.

The former intercontinental champion is now a family man. The WWE schedule is not easy on someone with people at home, but the AEW schedule would give him a lot more freedom.

Zayn would be able to travel less while having dozens of matches against people he has never faced and people he hasn't fought in a long time.

In fact, we might even get to see El Generico again. The masked Superstar disappeared when Zayn signed with WWE and has not been seen since. The 40-year-old's departure from WWE may bring Generico out of hiding.

The biggest thing working in WWE's favor is how well it has booked Zayn. He is one of the most popular babyfaces on the roster and has been part of some of the biggest stories and moments over the past few years.

Lucha Bros

Penta El Zero Miedo and Rey Fenix have been big players in AEW since the early days, but with their current deals set to expire soon, WWE is likely to show a lot of interest.

The tag team division in WWE is decent, but it could still use some work. An experienced team such as The Lucha Bros would add a lot of credibility to the lineup.

The best part is that both men can be great singles stars, too. Fenix won the International Championship from Moxley in AEW, while Penta has held world titles in TNA and AAA.

WWE is always looking to expand its international appeal, so adding two of the world's best-known and most respected luchadors would be a huge bonus.

There are some potential dream matches for the duo in WWE with the likes of Rey Mysterio and Kevin Owens. It would be a lot of fun to see them show up at a PPV and treat the WWE Universe to their brand of high-flying entertainment.

Giovanni Vinci

Giovanni Vinci hasn't been seen since Gunther and Ludwig Kaiser unceremoniously kicked him out of Imperium in April, so he doesn't exactly have a lot of reason to stay with WWE when his contract expires.

Vinci, formerly known as Fabian Aichner, would be a good addition to any roster. He's a versatile worker who would be an especially good fit in Ring of Honor.

ROH needs dedicated talents to the brand. Most weeks, it still feels like AEW-lite, so giving it some stars who only work in the promotion could change that perception.

Vinci, 34, would be a great TV or pure champion and provide every opponent with a great match. He may not have been a breakout character in WWE, but he is still a good asset to any promotion.

Anna Jay

After a short time working the indie scene, Anna Jay, then 21, was signed to AEW in 2019. Over the past five years, we have seen her grow by leaps and bounds.

Not only has Jay continued to hone her craft, but she has also competed in some bloody matches, which have earned her a lot of respect from fans for being willing to go to those lengths.

Sadly, it's never quite felt like AEW has put all of its weight behind her. She has usually been associated with a larger group like The Dark Order and Jericho Appreciation Society, but rarely does she feel like the center of attention, especially without any reigns as a champion.

WWE would probably jump at the chance to sign the 26-year-old for NXT and eventually the main roster. She's young, athletic, has a great base of experience and a marketable look.

There would be no downside for either party if WWE took on Jay once her AEW contract was up. In fact, it would be mutually beneficial.

Shinsuke Nakamura

The booking of Shinsuke Nakamura in WWE remains a mystery. He's popular, talented and experienced, so there's no reason why he shouldn't be just as successful as Styles has been.

Not only would going to AEW give him a fresh start and a new list of potential rivals, but it would also allow him to reignite some past feuds thanks to the company's relationship with NJPW.

In addition to some old rivals in Japan, the 44-year-old also has experience with some members of the AEW roster who were in NJPW at the same time as him, so there are many great possibilities for him there.

Kazuchika Okada, Kenny Omega, Kota Ibushi and Swerve Strickland are just some of the opponents The King of Strong Style could face in epic PPV encounters.

Red Velvet

Like Jay, Red Velvet has blossomed into a well-rounded performer without a title reign.

Much of Velvet's time in AEW was spent as Jade Cargill's righthand woman, so she didn't really have much of a chance to branch out on her own.

NXT, Raw and SmackDown would all make excellent homes for the 32-year-old, but most interestingly, she has a built-in storyline with Cargill that WWE could tap into.

They could play it one of two ways. Velvet could either claim to be bitter about Cargill ditching her, or The Storm could play the villain and act as her former ally threatens her.

Down the line, a reconciliation and run with the tag titles would bring them full circle and make them feel like equals instead of a star and a member of her posse.

Mia Yim

Try to think of a woman in WWE who has been underutilized more than Mia Yim.

Go on. We'll wait.

Even if we put aside the ill-fated and short-lived run as a member of Retribution, it's never felt like WWE had faith in the 35-year-old, and that makes absolutely no sense.

If you saw her original run in NXT, you know Yim has great skill, charisma and a presence that can't be taught. If she was given a real push, she would easily clear every hurdle.

Aligning her with Styles and The Club has done nothing to elevate her, but the 15-year veteran would feel like a big deal in AEW.

Yim is a former TNA Knockouts and Shimmer champion, and if she did sign with AEW, there is a good chance she would be a champion there, too.

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All of these names are viable possibilities to jump ship, but they aren't alone. Who do you think is most likely to change promotions in the near future?