WWE and AEW Stars Trending Toward Leaving Their Company in 2024

Etsuo Hara/Getty Images

The wrestling world may be focused on the road to WWE’s WrestleMania 40 and the upcoming retirement match for AEW star Sting, but there are performers from both companies who could jump ship to the other brand in 2024.

While all eyes are on Mercedes Mone and Kazuchika Okada and where they will sign, rumors have run rampant about other names like AJ Styles, Drew McIntyre and Ricky Starks making the transition to the competition.

Here are the WWE and AEW Superstars likely to leave their respective companies in 2024.

AJ Styles

One of the biggest possible free agents in 2024 would be AJ Styles, assuming the report from Fightful that he signed a five-year contract in 2019 is correct. If the TNA legend decides to test free agency, AEW should pull out all the stops to sign him.

There is no doubt Styles has surpassed all expectations following his shocking debut at the 2016 Royal Rumble, bucking the trend of Vince McMahon and company burying top stars from other brands.

In recent months, though, Styles has been an afterthought in long-term booking, with his in-ring skills being utilized to put other people over. At 46 years old, it’s time for the Phenomenal One to take on a new challenge against fresh faces on Dynamite, Rampage, and Collision.

Styles would immediately be thrown into the world championship scene where he could either rekindle old rivalries with Jon Moxley and Samoa Joe, reform a stable with the Young Bucks and Kenny Omega or fight against the next generation like Daniel Garcia and Darby Allin.

Styles has commented on his desire to stay with WWE for the remainder of his career, but with the company’s landscape changing behind the scenes, maybe a change of pace is exactly what he needs for the twilight of his career.

Drew McIntyre

One of the worst-kept secrets in wrestling is the contract negotiations between Drew McIntyre and WWE, with his current deal expected to expire in April, according to Dave Meltzer on Wrestling Observer Radio.

Despite being one of the best aspects of WWE Programming for months and likely sliding into CM Punk’s position on the Road to WrestleMania, there is a chance McIntyre will test the open market and show up in AEW.

In a world of professional wrestling that lacks larger-than-life characters, McIntyre comes off as a legitimate tough guy. With the ability to play both a believable heel or face, along with his mainstream marketability as an articulate international performer, AEW would have a cornerstone piece as it continues to build out its audience.

Triple H and his team should do everything possible to keep McIntyre on the WWE roster, but it may not be enough to keep the talented former world champion from testing the waters elsewhere.

In today’s landscape, nothing says McIntyre couldn’t spend a year or two in AEW before coming back to Raw or SmackDown.

Ricky Starks

One of the AEW performers that many fans speculated would jump ship when his contract expired is Ricky Starks, mostly because of his close personal connections to both Cody Rhodes and Jade Cargill.

While it is unclear when his contract expires, reports surfaced in the fall that WWE would be interested in signing Starks when he becomes a free agent. After the AEW star was spotted last year at a WWE show, speculation ran rampant.

Starks has been a workhorse for AEW, wrestling in 15 marquee matches since September 2023, including elite bouts against Bryan Danielson and Sammy Guevara, as well as winning the tag team titles with Big Bill.

With Rhodes winning his second consecutive Royal Rumble, it is clear the American Nightmare has the support of Triple H and company. With the ear of the people in power, Rhodes will likely do everything he can to get his friend on the WWE roster.

For more wrestling talk, listen to Ring Rust Radio for all of the hot topics or catch the latest episode in the player above (warning: profanity).