AEW could be headed for a significant roster shakeup over the coming months, though not through a single mass-release wave.
According to Self Made Pro, several lower-card talents have been informed that their contracts may not be renewed beginning in October. The evaluation is said to center on wrestlers who have been given opportunities in ROH but have not shown enough growth in their character work, presentation, or physical conditioning.
“And the people that are like that, I’m telling you for a fact, been told that when it hits October or later in this year, those are the people that are not going to get renewed.
You have to show out when you get a chance. You have to try to reinvent yourself. You got to be in the best shape you can be.”
That lines up with a recent report from Bryan Alvarez on Wrestling Observer Live. Alvarez said he came away with the impression that several AEW contracts will simply be allowed to expire over the next six to 18 months, as Tony Khan has generally avoided cutting talent before their deals run out.
Khan himself recently acknowledged the competition for TV time within the company. The AEW president said he has to be highly selective with new signings because so many wrestlers are already vying for spots on Dynamite, Collision, and the pay-per-views.
Ortiz, Scorpio Sky, and Britt Baker all have deals set to expire in the second half of 2026. None of the three, however, were named by Self Made Pro as being among the talent at risk of non-renewal.