All Elite Wrestling (AEW) President Tony Khan recently addressed the company's strategy on signing new talent, emphasizing a more cautious and selective approach than in the past. Initially, AEW was known for signing many former WWE wrestlers, including big names like Jon Moxley, Mercedes Moné, and Bryan Danielson, among others. However, the organization has since expanded its roster to include homegrown stars and international talent from promotions such as New Japan Pro-Wrestling (NJPW), making the competition for television time quite intense.

Despite WWE's April 2026 roster cuts, which saw talents like Aleister Black, Kairi Sane, and the Motor City Machine Guns become available, Khan highlighted that AEW must carefully evaluate potential signings. With four and a half hours of weekly TV programming across Dynamite and Collision, the existing lineup already features numerous top-tier performers fighting for screen presence. Khan’s comments suggest AEW no longer intends to automatically sign every notable WWE release, signaling a shift towards strategic roster management.

That said, some significant signings still occur, as evidenced by the debut of the Motor City Machine Guns on AEW Collision. Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin, known for their storied tag team history, brought considerable star power to AEW’s already crowded tag division. Similarly, reports indicate that Xavier Woods and Kofi Kingston, whose contracts with WWE are expiring, are expected to join AEW soon. Their arrival could facilitate high-profile dream matches, such as those involving The Young Bucks, further elevating AEW’s status as a major wrestling promotion.

Outside of high-profile signings, AEW’s more discerning stance means wrestlers now have viable alternative career options beyond WWE and AEW, including other international and domestic promotions like CMLL, TNA, MLW, and NWA. This evolution marks the end of AEW simply being a default landing spot for former WWE stars and reflects their growth into a promotion that carefully balances talent acquisition with existing roster dynamics. Tony Khan’s remarks reflect AEW's intent to maintain a competitive, yet manageable talent pool that supports both television storytelling and pay-per-view events.