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With AEW booming in the wrestling industry, Tony Khan has seemingly made all the right decisions. A major part of AEW's success is the heavy-duty roster that is dedicated to spectacular performances. A lineup that consists of fiery young stars like Dante Martin, along with experienced veterans like CM Punk, is bound to be great.
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However, roster acquisitions and releases are a part of every wrestling promotion, and AEW is no exception. Superstars can be released depending on a large variety of reasons. Here are 5 All Elite stars who may possibly be released in 2022.
#5 Lance Archer might be let go from AEW
After making a spectacular debut on AEW Dynamite, Lance Archer went on to have an impactful run as an all elite wrestler. The MurderHawk Monster was on a roll when he fell victim to a botched move. In the match against Eddie Kingston, a failed moonsault had Lance landing on his neck, causing an injury that would put him out of commission for a while.
Although Lance Archer has recovered, he is still to be booked for matches in AEW. Unfortunately, his absence has dramatically reduced his prevalence among All Elite fans. Given the circumstances, it is possible that Tony Khan might be looking to release the former WWE star. The current AEW roster has never looked better, and releasing an absent wrestler might not make much of a difference currently.
#4 Jack Evans is hardly seen in AEW now
Jack Evans has had a career that has spanned more than a decade. He has been a part of a large number of promotions like TNA, ROH, and others. His AEW run, however, has hardly been anything remarkable.
Jack Evans joined Angelico on his debut to form The Hybrid2. However, he faced constant losses in his AEW career, which greatly affected his image. Evans' match against Orange Cassidy was also bashed by Jim Cornette in Jim Cornette's Drive-Thru podcast.
Jack Evans has also been entangled with the Mexican Police, if his tweets are any indication. THis does not bode well for the AEW Superstar either.
The general lack of connection to the audience and relevance among the fans may make Jack Evans seem expendable. A release from AEW is a distinct possibility in 2022 for Evans.
#3 Angelico hasn't fared any better than his AEW stablemate
While Angelico does not have as much experience as Jack Evans, he has still been in the wrestling industry for a long while. Despite his acrobatic displays on AAA and Lucha Underground, his run at AEW has not been any better than his Hybrid2 teammate.
Angelico & Evans had their first victory in the company just a few weeks back in an 8 man tag team match. They were partnered by Lucha Bros, who were the focus of the match. Angelico still has had no individual push as an All Elite star.
Rare bookings and under usage of Angelico is a possible reason for him being released. AEW would surely want to keep its roster in impeccable shape, and Angelico plays hardly any role in it right now. The release of the star in 2022 is very possible.
#2 Joey Janela has not been seen in AEW for a while
Joey Janela was one of the first wrestlers to be signed by Tony Khan at the inception of AEW. Janela was very interested in joining AEW, even over WWE, for reasons he explained in an interview. His run at AEW had him facing off against the likes of Adam Page and Jon Moxley, among other big names. However, Joey no longer featured prominently after his match on May 23rd, 2020.
While Joey Janela was quite popular in his active period at AEW, he has now faded to obscurity. Since his contract also ends in 2022, it might not be renewed any further.
#1 Brian Cage is no longer in prominence in AEW
Brian Cage made his debut as a surprise entrant in the Casino Ladder Match at AEW Double or Nothing. Cage won this debut match, establishing himself as a serious contender and earning him the right to challenge for the AEW World Championship.
Taz's mentoring shaped Brain Cage's AEW run very well, which led to him being considered a serious threat to Jon Moxley's championship title. However, the addition of younger stars like Ricky Starks and Powerhouse Hobbs to Team Taz led to the Machine taking a backseat. His bookings were also drastically reduced.
The underuse of Brian Cage was also alluded to in a tweet by his wife, who pointed out her husband's current role in AEW. the tweet was further clarified on by Brian Cage.
Whatever may be the case, there is a plausible chance that Brian Cage might not be invested in by AEW in 2022. A release may be on the horizon for the Machine.
