Details Behind AEW Releases
Added 2025-02-10 22:24:30 +0000 UTCThree talent are now gone from AEW.
Malakai Black, Miro and Ricky Starks are all no longer under contract to AEW, Fightful Select has confirmed. All three had been looking to make their exits for quite some time and were removed from the AEW roster page on February 10.
Malakai Black's original deal could have seen him signed well into 2027, at least per Tony Khan's own words a couple of years back. Fightful had reported in December that Malakai Black would be leaving AEW in the coming months, and by January had reported that he would no longer be on TV.
Miro has not wrestled since 2023, and had been discussed for potential creative throughout the year. He's healthy and has been cleared for quite some time, but Fightful reported that he'd asked for his release quite a while back. We're told the situation had gone radio silent for quite some time before the release was official. Miro had not been brought up creatively from what we've heard in about six months, and most everyone we spoke to in AEW had not expected to see him again. Miro signed a long-term contract extension in early 2022 that could have kept him in the company until at least early 2026.
Ricky Starks had asked AEW in late 2023 to not pick up his option that was coming due in the Spring of 2024. AEW did, and then didn't use Starks after that period. We're told he was open to still working and seeing out his AEW deal. Starks was blocked from working a series of GCW shows before his release. His deal would have been up in a few months.
We're told all of these talent are free to go wherever they choose and there are not non-competes associated with the releases.
Comments
Lol starks already on NXT tv
Kyle Longwar
2025-02-12 03:56:44 +0000 UTCVERY happy to see this. I thought AEW, entering 2025 with their new TV deal, should have done a one-time "If you don't want to be here, we will let you go." You don't do it often as it pretty much negates the whole point of contracts.
Lynchman
2025-02-12 00:32:48 +0000 UTCI think Miro is in for a rude awakening. From what I gather, he saw himself as a main eventer in AEW, above most of the roster. Never did a clean job, I think he passed out twice, but never took a pin. I think he will be an upper level guy in WWE, but will be doing the jobs to the top level talent. I don't ever see him being a main eventer upon his return. Ricky has potential, but I just don't see him as a star. Maybe I am wrong. but I always saw him as interesting but not star material. Just my opinion.
Lynchman
2025-02-12 00:30:46 +0000 UTCRicky probably is never going to be THE guy, but he's a solid mid-carder, and that's not an insult to him at all.
rocksolid124
2025-02-11 20:02:50 +0000 UTCI like Ricky Starks but he's a guy I feel is something special be cause I read it on the internet a lot. From a relatively non biased standpoint he's good but I don't see him breaking out into super stardom. Hopefully he proves me wrong.
John Thee Punisher
2025-02-11 19:27:43 +0000 UTCI want them all to succeed, but I’m not interested in seeing Miro transform back into Rusev. Really hoping to see Starks and Black on the other side tho.
Chance
2025-02-11 19:07:49 +0000 UTCGood, they were treated like shit. Black and Miro i can see doing good in WWE, if they decide on that destination. Starks can be a huge star for WWE, if booked right.
Jonas Tiger
2025-02-11 12:23:24 +0000 UTCIt boggles the mind AEW never put legitimate singles gold on Malakai Black.
Andrew Bates
2025-02-11 04:07:40 +0000 UTCRicky for GCW please
Amanda Marie
2025-02-11 01:46:13 +0000 UTCNot saying I expect anyone to show up tonight… but Raw is in Nashville & Miro lives in Nashville… (at least he used to, not sure if he still does)
Kayfabe Smayfabe
2025-02-11 01:24:02 +0000 UTCRicky's going to flourish in WWE if he chooses to go, I think.
Tracey Barch
2025-02-11 01:13:48 +0000 UTCI don’t about, this is the same company that didn’t even sign him to a main roster contract
Jordan Lassiter
2025-02-11 01:07:27 +0000 UTCStarks and Black are destined for WWE. Wouldn't hate to see Miro back either
Scott Payne
2025-02-11 01:03:42 +0000 UTCRight, it's fine, but you can't claim that you're also this really nice, friendly guy who cares about wrestler's rights more than WWE if you pull the same malicious shit with these contract options that they do. If you aren't planning on booking your talent, let them go somewhere else so their career isn't hurt in the process. You're not making money off of them anymore, you're LOSING money. Picking up a contractual option only to not book the guy seems like a dumb business move AND personal move, and AEW right now can't really afford to continue to make dumb business moves.
Terps
2025-02-11 01:03:12 +0000 UTCI think it’s very interesting both companies/not renewing deals this week. I think both wanna make space to bring in more guys. WWE will absolutely sign Black & Starks Miro I’m 50/50 on. I think AEW probably signs Cedric & The Good brothers
Matt Hennessy
2025-02-11 00:57:49 +0000 UTCBrother I don’t need a hustler lesson. I just stated he did what he hasn’t been willing to do in the past.
Trevor D.
2025-02-11 00:56:42 +0000 UTCBlack deal was up this month. Ricky deal was up within the next 2 to 3 months & Miro had a year left. He couldn’t realistically hold up Black & Stark any longer he also picked Ricky option year up last year when he was asked not to & sat him at home for a year. Honestly outside of helping Miro & even then he sat home not being used for a year he really didn’t do anything other than let people go who didn’t want to be there & wanted out
Matt Hennessy
2025-02-11 00:55:29 +0000 UTCRandy respectfully people don’t have issues with injury tine been added it’s the facts it’s been added when he wants to leave & AEW out of spite did it & aren’t using. WWE did the same to Brodie years ago & where criticised for it now AEW gets the same criticism. Some fans are weird you like AEW & still criticise them for doing a crappy thing to a talent
Matt Hennessy
2025-02-11 00:52:12 +0000 UTCYep I get that too
Scott Newcomb
2025-02-11 00:44:47 +0000 UTCHe never refused anything
Collin Ingram
2025-02-11 00:44:16 +0000 UTCGoodluck to them all
Chocobo_Sage
2025-02-11 00:29:40 +0000 UTCI think 0% it would happen like that, as I don’t think the 3 will be in any sort of faction together. But I’d give it like a 7% chance one of the 3 make some sort of appearance tonight
Kayfabe Smayfabe
2025-02-11 00:28:09 +0000 UTCHow long until we see Alister Black and Ricky Starks (and probably Rusev) in WWE?
Shawn Hulver
2025-02-11 00:19:47 +0000 UTCHe was still tag champ in late 2023 when he asked for his contract option not be picked up. Of course he was going to have it picked up. Ricky didn’t want to play ball, he knew exactly what he was doing.
Chris Kessler
2025-02-11 00:12:08 +0000 UTCI assume it was AEW/TK taking offense to him wanting them not to pick up his option. He was a hugely over upper mid/lower main guy at the time and he just wants to walk out and go to WWE? I can see TK picking up the option and sitting him out of spite. I assume the bitching and issues from Miro/Andrade/Black probably contributed heavily(not defending but just trying to understand why this would have happened).
LostRhino
2025-02-11 00:10:28 +0000 UTCI'm sure good riddance is the same way they feel about finally being free from AEW, it's about time.
Desmond McDade
2025-02-10 23:45:49 +0000 UTCI'm disappointed in Miro and Blacks AEW run. I see them going to WWE but with them being so top heavy, I don't see a world title run in their futures there. Ricky is a NXT Champion.
Peter
2025-02-10 23:26:50 +0000 UTCGood riddance too bad rubbish
Stalla
2025-02-10 23:16:28 +0000 UTCWhat would WWE do if somebody was talking to AEW about their next contract with close to a year left on their WWE contract still? Would they be like "Ok, you can leave, and you're immediately free to go wherever you choose?"... Lmao, not a chance...
Rob Iapicca
2025-02-10 23:13:55 +0000 UTCFenix is a different story, that sets a bad precedent... Ricky Starks was always willing to work and Black was as well and fulfilled everything Tony asked of him... Fenix (and Penta) did not, and were openly negotiating with WWE behind AEW's back while Fenix had almost a year left on his deal... Penta is to blame for the Fenix issue, can't go blabbing and openly bragging about it...
Rob Iapicca
2025-02-10 23:11:53 +0000 UTCI wish them all the best. I was a big fan of all 3 of them and wish it had worked out better for them in AEW. Glad this situation has been resolved as its been one of many clouds hanging over AEW and can now move on.
Robbie Wray
2025-02-10 23:03:28 +0000 UTCWish them all the best. Have a feeling there's more to all of them that us normal fans may never hear about.
TLectricMayhem
2025-02-10 22:59:44 +0000 UTCLmao i see your buying the BS that aew is putting out there ricky himself said that's not true
Ryan Martins
2025-02-10 22:56:31 +0000 UTCThat isn't true
Tempo1337
2025-02-10 22:55:03 +0000 UTCAny chance above 0% that they show up on the audience on Raw like a modern day Radicalz?
MrBigBadBean
2025-02-10 22:52:46 +0000 UTCFenix Watch begins in earnest
Manton
2025-02-10 22:52:40 +0000 UTCRicky's promo work imo is good enough to take someone's spot on raw/smackdown
Kylo
2025-02-10 22:50:13 +0000 UTCIdk why, I missed the news that Ricky requested for AEW not to pick up his option if they aren't going to use him, yet AEW elected the option and STILL didn't use him?
Terps
2025-02-10 22:47:17 +0000 UTCWwe already has A bloated roster, the men's nxt is the only lacking
Flameducky
2025-02-10 22:44:33 +0000 UTCMalikai is going back into the closet
Raymond Slover
2025-02-10 22:44:16 +0000 UTCThey picked up his option, then got hurt, then refused to work.
Raymond Slover
2025-02-10 22:43:43 +0000 UTCI'd be weary of signing Miro if I were WWE based on his time in AEW. Unlike the others it seems like he just sat out for long periods of time other than he one glorious TNT Title run
LostRhino
2025-02-10 22:43:37 +0000 UTCTbh outside of the death riders the product has been great this year
Flameducky
2025-02-10 22:43:33 +0000 UTCWow. I really wish Ricky Starks the best. I really hope he thrives in the WWE system if that's where he chooses to go. The only thing that will suck about him being in WWE will be the sure to be awful Def Rebel theme they'll give him. His AEW theme was iconic.
Tito
2025-02-10 22:41:22 +0000 UTCOnly thing I don’t like that Tony did was take Ricky‘s option and then sideline him. That’s absolutely dirty.
Brian Carpenter
2025-02-10 22:38:33 +0000 UTCGood for Tony to let all 3 of them go and not have to pay them for “sitting on the bench”. Let Fennix go next and move forward on improving AEW’s product.
Scott Newcomb
2025-02-10 22:35:37 +0000 UTCHonestly I think this should be good for morale to just not have unhappy people on the books. I think the speculation just hurts everyone else on the roster. Like Hounds of Hell have basically been stop/start because of the Malakai situation.
Joe Donovan
2025-02-10 22:35:35 +0000 UTCNah injury time. Oh that's only ok if wwe does it right
ℭ𝔥𝔞𝔯𝔩𝔢𝔰 𝔏𝔢𝔢 ℜ𝔞𝔶
2025-02-10 22:35:05 +0000 UTCThese couple of days have been crazy lol
Osuman Massaquoi
2025-02-10 22:34:37 +0000 UTCWonder if maybe this is a sign AEW could relent with Fenix before long?
Kieran Buxton
2025-02-10 22:33:45 +0000 UTCNow they need to let Fenix go.
Randy
2025-02-10 22:33:39 +0000 UTCStarks to NXT Malakai to SD
A-Town Love-Under
2025-02-10 22:32:41 +0000 UTCMiro on Raw Starkz on NXT Black on SD
Matthew Brownlee
2025-02-10 22:29:33 +0000 UTCThey could debut all in one week lol raw NXT Smackdown
joe gonzales
2025-02-10 22:28:36 +0000 UTCShocked on the no non competes. I’ve been one to criticize TK for his contract situations in the past, but he totally could have held them out through Mania season. Good on him.
Trevor D.
2025-02-10 22:27:16 +0000 UTCThis might get nuts
Keith
2025-02-10 22:25:28 +0000 UTC
