The Butcher and The Blade become free agents after AEW exit

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Fightful Select is reporting that The Butcher and The Blade’s AEW contracts have expired. AEW did not offer them a new deal, and they are now free agents. The Butcher and The Blade last wrestled as a team on AEW programming in January 2024. The Blade missed nearly two years due to a back injury that required spinal fusion surgery. With his partner out of the picture, The Butcher did some jobs as a singles wrestler on lesser AEW shows like Rampage and Collision, but that ran its course, with his last AEW match coming in February 2025. The duo made it clear in January 2026 that they were ready to return, but Tony Khan never booked them again in AEW. They have been working some matches on the indies during this time. The Blade was AEW’s biggest ratings draw for at least one year episode of Dynamite, and I can’t believe how badly Tony Khan missed the boat on a star of this magnitude. I think it’s just a matter of time until they follow in Danhausen’s footsteps and become WrestleMania headliners over in WWE. What’s your reaction to The Butcher and The Blade’s AEW exit? Let me know in the comments below, Cagesiders.