5 stars AEW wants you to forget

AEW has signed several world-class performers since its inception in 2019. From Jon Moxley to Will Ospreay, several incredible talents currently ply their trade in the Jacksonville-based promotion.

As active Tony Khan has remained in signing the hottest free agents in the market, not every deal has turned out to be fruitful for All Elite Wrestling. Many ex-WWE talents signed a deal with Tony Khan's promotion, only to prove detrimental to the company's growth.

From ex-world champions to talents dealing with serious allegations, the Jacksonville-based promotion has been home to some problematic names. In this article, let's take a look at the five stars AEW wants you to forget.

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#5. Big Swole went back and forth with Tony Khan on Twitter post her release

Former AEW star Big Swole left All Elite Wrestling after a two-year-long stint in November 2021. Shortly after her departure, Swole called out Tony Khan's promotion on her Swole World podcast for a lack of diversity.

Swole's comments caught the attention of the AEW CEO, who dismissed the allegations of his former employee. Khan mentioned several names to deny her claims of AEW having a lack of talent representation.

Apart from disagreeing with her remarks, Khan also blamed Big Swole's inferior in-ring skills as the reason for her release.

The Jaguars' owner soon found himself in hot waters for his comments on the released star. The wrestling community heavily criticized Khan's remarks, with Lio Rush calling the 41-year-old to apologize for his tweet.

#4. Jimmy Havoc was released from AEW in 2020

Jimmy Havoc was one of the members of AEW's initial roster. The 40-year-old was known for his hardcore wrestling in the indie circuit and seemed to have a bright future ahead of him.

Unfortunately, Havoc's name came up as part of the Speaking Out Movement, which prompted Tony Khan to cut his ties with the unhinged star. The sexual allegations were too serious for the promotion to overlook, which eventually led to the end of Havoc's wrestling career.

#3. Bobby Fish's run in Tony Khan's promotion was one to forget

Bobby Fish debuted in All Elite Wrestling in October 2021 and soon reunited with Adam Cole and Kyle O'Reilly. Despite a few shining moments, Fish's run with the promotion was quite forgettable.

Post his release in August 2022, the former Undisputed Era star called out Tony Khan for undervaluing his worth while presenting him with a new contract. The 47-year-old also took several shots at CM Punk, who he developed issues with during his run with the promotion.

Considering the lack of impact Bobby Fish had, the company may want to leave his name in the past.

#2. Jeff Hardy's AEW run left a lot to be desired

Following his controversial WWE exit in 2021, Jeff Hardy arrived in AEW the following year hoping for a turnaround. With Matt Hardy in his corner again, The Charismatic Enigma seemed destined for big things in the new company.

Unfortunately, Hardy's personal demons and injury struggles prevented him from leaving his mark on the audience.

In June 2022, the former WWE Champion was arrested for DUI, leading to his indefinite suspension. Although Hardy was eventually brought back, he remained a shadow of his former self.

Hardy has been out of action since February 2024, when he suffered a nose injury in his match against Sammy Guevara. With only limited dates left on his contract, it won't be a surprise if Tony Khan lets his contract expire without any renewal.

#1. CM Punk's backstage feud with The Elite led to his firing

Perhaps AEW's biggest signing ever, CM Punk had an unexpected exit from the company in September 2023. Brought in to boost the promotion's ratings, The Best in the World's issues with The Elite gave birth to the biggest controversy of modern-day pro wrestling.

Following Punk's backstage fight with Jack Perry at AEW All In last year, Tony Khan was compelled to make the tough decision of firing the beloved Voice of the Voiceless. Khan was massively disappointed with what had transpired, as CM Punk was the company's biggest rating draw.

The promotion is still struggling to recover from the CM Punk debacle, ten months after his shocking release. After bringing him out of a seven-year retirement, Tony Khan would not have ever expected to eventually cut ties with the Straight Edge Superstar.