Former WWE Stars To Appear At AEW Double Or Nothing 2026

AEW/WWE

All Elite Wrestling returns to pay-per-view on May 24 with the AEW Double Or Nothing 2026 event from New York City.

The company has started announcing some high profile matches for the show, but there could be some surprises in the form of former WWE talent arriving in AEW in a few weeks time.

Considering WWE recently released stars from their roster and all the different names that are on the free agency market, Double Or Nothing 2026 could introduce some new names to their promotion moving forward.

Here are eight former WWE stars to potentially appear at AEW Double Or Nothing 2026.

8. Bea Priestley (Blair Davenport)

Since being released from WWE in February 2025, Blair Davenport has returned to her Bea Priestley ring name and went back to her roots.

Heading back to Japan, Priestley has returned to STARDOM and has been making an impact in the past few months.

Priestley is someone who was once part of the AEW roster and now that she is with STARDOM, she could use the company’s partnership with Tony Khan’s promotion to make her return.

Priestley showing up at AEW Double Or Nothing 2026 would be interesting and become a valuable addition for the company that is needed for the women’s division right now.

7. Donovan Dijak

Donovan Dijak garnered plenty of attention when he decided to leave WWE after contract negotiations with the promotion fell through.

Going back to the independent scene, Dijak looked to be on a mission to work wherever he liked and make his mark once again.

In various companies including Major League Wrestling, Dijak has worked hard and showcased what made him one of the most dependable in-ring performers during his entire career.

Being someone who will fit the in-house style of All Elite Wrestling, Dijak could make his debut with the promotion at Double Or Nothing 2026 and get a fresh start in a new company on May 24.

6. Bishop Dyer (Baron Corbin)

In Major League Wrestling, Donovan Dijak has formed a tag team with Bishop Dyer called The Skyscrapers.

One half of the MLW World Tag Team Champions, Dyer, formerly known as Baron Corbin in WWE, has totally reinvented himself.

Whether it be in singles or tag team action, Dyer has been dedicated to proving himself as someone who can contribute no matter the company he is in.

With plenty of experience from 14 years in the business, Dyer feels like someone that could make a difference immediately in AEW, especially after a potential debut at Double Or Nothing 2026.

5. Killer Kross & Scarlett

Another pair of MLW stars who could be someone that can be a valuable asset to AEW are Killer Kross and Scarlett.

Following WWE SummerSlam 2025, Kross and Scarlett left the company after contract negotiations fell apart.

Since then, Kross and Scarlett have proven they can be a key acquisition for any promotion and have reached the top of Major League Wrestling.

While he currently holds the MLW Heavyweight Title, Kross alongside Scarlett bring such a unique pairing to the landscape of All Elite Wrestling and could alter the entire company following a debut at AEW Double Or Nothing 2026.

4. Shayna Baszler

After an eight year stint with WWE, Shayna Baszler has made sporadic appearances across the independent scene.

Whether it be for Josh Barnett’s Bloodsport or HOG, Baszler has shown the world that she can still deliver some hard hitting action with her MMA background.

Despite being released in May 2025, “The Queen of Spades” hasn’t been a stranger to WWE, making a few brief appearances in skits and segments over the past year.

With her best friend Marina Shafir part of the company, Baszler could come in as the newest member of The Death Riders and have an instant prominent spot in AEW with a potential arrival at Double Or Nothing 2026 on May 24.

3. Charlie (Dakota Kai)

The most shocking WWE release from the round of talent cuts in May 2025 had to have been Dakota Kai.

Spending eight years with the promotion, Kai was widely regarded as one of the most underrated and underutilized talents in the WWE women’s division.

After nearly a year on the sidelines, Kai, now known as Charlie, made her in-ring return in March against AEW star Kris Statlander at the EVE: Wrestle Queendom VIII event.

Getting a stamp of approval from Statlander and Will Ospreay, Charlie might be the latest addition to the women’s scene with a debut at AEW Double Or Nothing and feels like someone worthy of immediately stepping up to one of the champions from the start.

2. Beth Copeland

Back at AEW All Out 2025, Beth Copeland, formerly known as Beth Phoenix in WWE, made her debut with the company.

Helping her husband Adam Copeland and Christian Cage in their match with FTR by getting rid of Stokely, “The Glamazon” was greeted with a loud reaction from the fans in Toronto.

However, this arrival was short-lived when FTR viciously attacked Beth and dropped her on her head with a spiked piledriver right in front of a handcuffed Adam Copeland.

Now that Cope and Cage have put their tag team career on the line in an I Quit Match against FTR for the AEW World Tag Team Titles at Double Or Nothing 2026, it feels like the perfect opportunity to bring Beth back into the fold to assist the duo one more time.

1. Ronda Rousey

At AEW Revolution 2026, Ronda Rousey shocked the world when she made an unexpected appearance to confront “Timeless” Toni Storm after her match with Marina Shafir.

Providing a distraction for Shafir to attack Storm, Rousey left her mark on the company and the pay-per-view.

While this is reported to be a one-off, there is a possibility for “The Baddest Woman On The Planet” to make another appearance at a major event like AEW Double Or Nothing 2026.

With the show coming off the heels of her high profile fight with Gino Carano, Ronda could bring more eyes to Double Or Nothing by making another impromptu appearance and potentially reveal herself as Storm’s mystery attacker in New York City.

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• AEW
• wwe
• Double or Nothing

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