WWE free agents poised for major signings ahead of AEW pay-per-view

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GREENVILLE, SOUTH CAROLINA - NOVEMBER 07: Aleister Black and Zelina look on during SmackDown at Bon Secours Wellness Arena on November 7, 2025 in Greenville, South Carolina. (Photo by Craig Melvin/WWE via Getty Images) | WWE via Getty Images This week’s Wrestling Observer Newsletter provides a useful reminder for wrestling fans that the free agent market is about to go crazy in the middle of next week. That’s because WWE released a whole bunch of talented stars after WrestleMania 42, and many of those 90-day non compete clauses are ending next week. “These former WWE wrestlers become free agents at midnight on 7/23: Taylor Rotunda/Bo Dallas, 36, Joseph Ruby, 38, (Joe Gacy), Joseph Ruud, 44 (Erick Rowan), Samuel Shaw, 42 (Dexter Lumis), Tom Budgen, (Aleister Black), Thea Trinidad Budgen, 35 (Zelina Vega), Kairi Housako, 37 (Kairi Sane), Jorge Alcantar, 42 (Santos Escobar), Theresa Serrano, 32 (Zoey Stark), Chris Sabin, 44 and Patrick Martin, 43 (Alex Shelley).” It’s a loaded list of talented stars who are available to sign very soon, and I think Sheamus is already there after saying goodbye to WWE this month. These stars will hit free agency just in time to potentially debut in AEW at the Redemption pay-per-view on Sunday, July 26, in Montreal. The Observer also mentions that New Day (Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods) will join the free agent list in the first week of August. It will be very interesting to see which of these stars land in AEW, where the Motor City Machine Guns, New Day, and Kairi Sane (when she works in the USA) seem like obvious fits. In fact, some folks might be wondering if there is any tampering going on after Motor City Machine Guns already teased accepting a new contract offer earlier today. A lot of fans are also curious to see what happens with Aleister Black and his wife Zelina Vega, following rumors that Malakai was a major headache to deal with backstage in AEW, prior to his most recent WWE run. Which of these stars are you most excited to see show up in AEW, TNA, NJPW, CMLL, or somewhere else? Which names, if any, do you think will be a factor at AEW All In at Wembley Stadium in August? Give me your analysis of the crowded free agent market and where they will sign in the comments below, Cagesiders.