While AEW is still a long way off from being true competition to WWE, it is a successful alternative that's starting to gain a lot of traction. In recent months, we've seen the company sign big names like CM Punk, Bryan Danielson, and Adam Cole, and there continues to be speculation about whether more WWE Superstars could join the promotional.
In the latest Wrestling Observer Newsletter, Dave Meltzer confirms that, as of right now, neither Johnny Gargano nor Kyle O'Reilly have signed new deals with WWE/NXT 2.0, meaning they're free to start talks with other wrestling companies (AEW, for example). O'Reilly heading to AEW would bring Cole one step closer to reuniting NXT's Undisputed Era, anyway.
Meltzer also reveals that Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn's contracts are close to ending, and given the way they've been booked in WWE over the past couple of years, it would make perfect sense for either or both to head to AEW in early 2022. While Zayn still has a few months left on his deal, Owens could be gone by as soon as the end of January.
As for why they've both been pushed lately...well, WWE is just looking to keep them happy.
One final note is that WWE Hall of Famer Goldberg still has one more match on his current WWE deal. While Bill is friends with AEW President Tony Khan, there's currently nothing to suggest there's interest from either side in him becoming "All Elite." Stranger things have happened, though...