AEW could face a new series of departures in the coming months, although not necessarily through a wave of layoffs announced at the same time. According to comments made by Self Made Pro during a Self Made Session, the company would be evaluating the performance and evolution of several members of its roster before deciding which contracts to renew. Some of these connections will come to an end starting in October and, according to this version, certain wrestlers may find that their agreements simply expire without AEW offering them an extension.
“And to the people who are in that situation, I tell them with total certainty that they have been informed that, when October or later this year arrives, they will not be renewed”, stated Self Made Pro. The warning would be mainly directed at talents located in the lower part of the roster, especially those who have not managed to change their position within the company or demonstrate that they deserve to receive a greater creative investment.
The problem would mainly affect wrestlers whose opportunities are concentrated in ROH and who are waiting for AEW to grant them a more important role. Self Made Pro argued that simply waiting for a push is not enough in such a large roster. In his opinion, each appearance should serve to demonstrate something different, improve the character's presentation, and convey that the wrestler is ready to take on greater responsibilities when an opportunity arises.
“When you are in that position, you don't get a push, you occupy one of the last spots on the roster, and mainly have opportunities in ROH, this is what you have to do: stand out when you have an opportunity, try to reinvent yourself, and be in the best physical shape possible”, he explained. For Self Made Pro, a renewal does not depend solely on the number of matches fought, but also on the company perceiving a clear evolution in attitude, character, physical appearance, and the way of presenting oneself to the public.
This evolution is especially important when a wrestler has been appearing for months without introducing visible changes. If the character, image, and physical condition remain stagnant, the talent may lose arguments when justifying a new investment. “You have to do something, because you don't want to be that person who remains in the same position and, when people see them again, nothing has evolved or changed. There are many cases like that. And it's even worse when someone thinks: 'God, when did this person lose so much shape?'”, he added.
This possibility coincides with recent comments from Bryan Alvarez about the saturation of the AEW roster. Alvarez pointed out that Tony Khan does not seem particularly interested in carrying out a large number of early layoffs, but that several contracts could quietly end when they reach their expiration date. Therefore, there may not necessarily be a massive day of departures: the adjustment could unfold gradually as agreements come to an end.
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