Published: 2 seconds ago by Dave Adamson | Last Updated: 2 seconds ago by Dave Adamson
Dave has been a website writer for WrestleTalk since October 2022, having previously written for Den of Geek, among a number of wrestling, movie and television-related sites. Dave has been around the independent wrestling scene for more than a decade, including behind-the-scenes.
WWE/AEW
A new era for the United Empire in AEW, led by Will Ospreay, could bring a number of former WWE stars into the fold.
The September 2 episode of Dynamite saw Will Ospreay reveal plans for a United Empire in AEW, alongside his teammates in NJPW.
While names are yet to be revealed for the faction, there’s the potential for former WWE stars to debut in the faction.
Ilja Dragunov
With a contract expiring in August of this year, Ilja Dragunov chose not to renew and ended a relationship that started in 2019.
Speaking to TalkSport ahead of All In: London, Tony Khan noted he wasn’t able to speak on the “contractual status of wrestlers out of”AEW but noted that he considers Dragunov “a great wrestler”.
A former NXT United Kingdom Champion, NXT Champion and United States Champion, Dragunov could be an ideal fit for AEW’s United Empire, bringing his intensity to a whole new audience.
Aleister Black
A former WWE star who went to AEW and was reborn as Malakai Black before parting ways with the company and later returning to WWE, Aleister Black saw his second run end in April 2026, a year after he returned.
MJF isn’t a particular fan of the idea of a return for the star. While Andrade El Idolo has been able to go from WWE to AEW back to WWE and then to AEW, it’d be quite the move for Black to follow suit.
That said, Black retains a certain mystique to his in-ring work that led to him to both WWE and AEW in the first place. The background in martial arts could serve United Empire well.
Sheamus
A twenty-year tenure in WWE came to an end for Sheamus with his contract expiring in July of this year.
Rebranded as S Farrelly on social media, the in-ring future of the former Sheamus is still to crystalize, though many fans would be eager to see him reunite with Claudio Castagnoli, reforming The Bar.
Before then, however, perhaps Sheamus as a member of AEW’s United Empire would set the star on a course for a feud with Death Riders, Castagnoli in particular, leading to their eventual reunion.
Tonga Loa
Known to NJPW fans as Tanga Loa, the former WWE star parted ways with the company with his release in May of this year.
A seven-time IWGP Tag Team Champion (with Tama Tonga, still signed with WWE) and a three-time NEVER Openweight 6-Man Tag Team Champion, Loa would give further NJPW authenticity to United Empire in AEW, should he opt to sign with the company.
He could follow in the footsteps of Jeff Cobb (himself a former United Empire member), who was also released by WWE in May following a run as JC Mateo, returning to NJPW in August, joining Unbound Co. and attacking Callum Newman, the leader of United Empire.
A World Of Opportunity For AEW’s United Empire
Ospreay doesn’t have to look that far for potential members of United Empire, with AEW’s roster being awash with stars who would be a fit.
That said, repackaging stars with history in WWE into a new faction that is sure to dominate in WWE would serve anyone involved well, particularly when led by a star at the height of power in the form of Will Ospreay.
Whoever Ospreay reveals as members of United Empire will no doubt follow in his footsteps as fan favorites, but with the new World Champion declaring himself as “the standard”, his teammates will have to step up to meet him at his level.
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