WWE Stars To Join The New Day In AEW

WWE/AEW

This Sunday at AEW All In London 2026, fans are widely anticipating to see 10-time former WWE Tag Team Champions The New Day make their debut in All Elite Wrestling.

The former Kofi Kingston & Xavier Woods look set to be AEW’s highest profile arrival of 2026, but by no means will they be the last, as more current and former WWE stars could soon make the same jump after All In London.

Here are five WWE stars to potentially join The New Day in AEW.

5. Ilja Dragunov

On August 20, it was confirmed that former WWE United States Champion Ilja Dragunov had left the company after his contract expired.

‘The Mad Dragon’ is viewed by many as one of the world’s best in-ring performers, and given AEW prides itself on being ‘Where the Best Wrestle,’ the pairing seems like a natural fit.

If Dragunov is 100% free and in the clear contractually to appear elsewhere, then it wouldn’t be a massive shock to see him show up at AEW All In London on Sunday.

Two years ago Ricochet arrived in AEW as a surprise entrant in the Casino Gauntlet, and this year’s event could see Dragunov do the exact same.

4. Sheamus

Given that he’s 15 years Ilja Dragunov’s elder, Sheamus may not be the first name on every AEW fans’ wish lists when it comes to brand new signings.

However, with fellow veteran performers like Adam Copeland and Christian Cage still killing it in Tony Khan’s company, why not make room for ‘The Celtic Warrior?’

While he’s certainly had more injury issues in recent years, Sheamus is more than capable of putting on ‘Banger’ matches, and in AEW there will be a host of new opponents for him to do just that with.

After two decades in the WWE system, it would be a true breath of fresh air to see Sheamus both test himself in new waters, and potentially reunite with some familiar faces along the way.

3. Malakai Black & Xelina

Released by WWE back in April, Malakai Black and Xelina (formerly Aleister Black & Zelina Vega) are now officially free agents after serving their 90-day non-compete periods.

Perhaps more than any other name on the list of over two dozen that were let go by WWE over the Spring, Black’s future outside of WWE is a big mystery given that AEW may or may not be an option for him.

Black’s first AEW run seemingly rubbed some the wrong way – with MJF speaking publicly about this following the former AEW Trios Champion’s WWE release.

However, with Andrade El Idolo thriving in his second AEW run, perhaps Tony Khan does take a chance on Black once again; this time with his wife Xelina in tow for an interesting new chapter in both their careers.

2. Kairi Sane

Rivalling Malakai Black and Xelina as one of WWE’s most surprising releases of their April 2026 cuts, Kairi Sane’s departure was a particularly sore one for several reasons.

For one, WWE let Sane go just weeks before Asuka and IYO SKY concluded their months-long storyline, which was almost entirely motivated by Sane, and Asuka’s mistreatment of her as her tag team partner.

While the timing was baffling, Sane was also one of WWE’s best in-ring performers on the female roster and could have easily filled some of the void left by Asuka following her full-time WWE retirement at Backlash 2026.

WWE’s loss could be AEW’s gain however, as Sane is now a free agent, and yet to appear for any other wrestling promotion at the time of writing. Perhaps coinciding with a return to Japan for STARDOM in the coming months, Kairi Sane could step up and challenge the winner of Mercedes Moné vs. Willow Nightingale and immediately establish herself as a big player in the company.

1. Bayley

Bayley’s status in WWE has long been the subject of intense speculation given reports that her contract is due to expire at some point before the end of this year.

With the ‘Role Model’ written off of TV following an attack at the hands of Lyra Valkyria back at the July 18 Saturday Night’s Main Event, it remains to be seen whether she will be back before her deal expires, or whether Valkyria will be able to claim that she drove Bayley away from WWE for good.

Bayley perhaps feels that now is her best chance to spread her wings and see the wider world outside of the company; much like her best friend Mercedes Moné has done since departing the company in 2022.

WWE should be doing everything in their power to retain Bayley, especially having lost key veterans such as Sheamus and New Day already, but it remains to be seen where her heart lies regarding her future.

To make sure you stay up to date with all the biggest wrestling and WrestleTalk news, follow us on Threads by clicking this link!

• AEW
• wwe
• New Day
• kofi kingston
• Xavier Woods

Share this article with friends