Ever since AEW became a thing in the wrestling world, the new promotion appears to be a new haven for WWE wrestlers who are unhappy with their current position in the company.
With Tye Dillinger getting his release, Sasha Banks following All Elite Wrestling on Twitter after being dissatisfied with not being given a chance to showcase her skills properly, and Luke Harper announcing that he’s requested a release, speculation tends to lean towards WWE talent eventually heading to AEW; however, Cody makes it clear on
The Ross Report that he’s not looking to sign every WWE cast off :
"I've jokingly said it's currently at about 5% -- Chris Jericho, Jim Ross, Cody Rhodes. A few others, maybe. It's not the same. Having that equity with WWE is wonderful but you've got to be able to cut it and meet the standards that people have for their actual bell-to-bell contest. That number might increase. There being the opportunity to exist for the boys and girls to make more money, here or there. Just to have options.”
“If they can play, they're gonna play," said Cody. "But right now, the recruitment is more about 'freshmen.' I want to build a new class of guys. I don't them to feel like they were set up and that was it. I want them to feel like they were set up to win and succeed. Right now, it's a lot of faces you've never seen and people you'll be surprised when you do see them."
Though Cody states that he's not interested in hiring every former WWE star, all eyes are on one soon-to-be former WWE superstar in particular, as Dean Ambrose’s contract is set to expire very soon - though there hasn’t been much word on what the future holds for the former WWE champion.