3 AEW stars who might get a retirement tour in 2026 

Over the previous six years, AEW has managed to showcase not solely a few of the finest and the brightest present and up-and-coming performers of this era, however has additionally platformed a number of established veterans and legends of the trade, permitting them the possibility to rejuvenate and even correctly shut out their careers on the corporate’s programming. The promotion did an exemplary job on this regard with Sting after which with Bryan Danielson final yr.

Several different icons of the trade are wrapping up their tenures contained in the squared circle, with John Cena set to wrestle his remaining match on the finish of 2025, and others like AJ Styles and Samoa Joe teasing that they may seemingly dangle up their boots as effectively quickly. With this in thoughts, allow us to contemplate the instances of three AEW names for whom the Tony Khan-led firm might plot out memorable retirement runs this coming yr.

#1. Former TNT Champion Adam Copeland

Adam Copeland started his skilled wrestling profession within the Nineteen Nineties. He established himself on a worldwide stage as Edge in WWE, the place he initially debuted as a singles performer earlier than finally forming a tag workforce with Christian. The duo is understood for revolutionizing tag workforce wrestling not solely within the Stamford-based firm however throughout the trade by way of their unforgettable collection of matches with The Hardy Boyz and The Dudley Boyz.

Over time, nevertheless, The Rated-R Superstar broke out within the promotion as a solo principal occasion stage participant, feuding with prime names like John Cena, The Undertaker, Triple H, Chris Jericho, Mick Foley, Randy Orton, and extra, and profitable a number of World Championships alongside the way in which. Unfortunately, the accrued harm sustained by his neck compelled Copeland to retire in 2011, and he stayed gone from the ring for years till his beautiful return in the course of the 2020 Men’s Royal Rumble.

The Ultimate Opportunist wrestled the likes of Orton, Roman Reigns, Daniel Bryan, Finn Balor, AJ Styles, and Sheamus throughout his comeback run in WWE. In 2023, nevertheless, Cope shocked the world but once more when he debuted for AEW at that yr’s WrestleDream. His stint within the firm has pitted him towards his former tag associate Christian Cage, Luchasaurus, Penta, The House of Black, Big Bill, Claudio Castagnoli, Pac, and even Jon Moxley (when the latter was AEW World Champion earlier this yr).

More just lately, Cope reunited with Christian and reconciled their variations, and the duo efficiently teamed collectively to defeat Kip Sabian and Nick Wayne at Forbidden Door, and later FTR at AEW All Out: Toronto. After Copeland’s spouse Beth helped him and Cage beat The Top Guts on the latter PPV, Dax and Cash brutally ambushed The Glamazon, prompting the previous TNT Champion to go on hiatus to deal with his household.

Copeland has stated he’ll seemingly retire after his present contract, and as such, 2026 might be his final yr as an energetic wrestler. Tony Khan might thus plan a retirement tour for the legend subsequent yr, with highlights like an AEW tag workforce title reign alongside The Patriarch or a noteworthy remaining feud towards a “generational talent” like MJF.

#2. The Hurt Syndicate’s MVP

Montel Vontavious Porter was signed by WWE to a developmental contract in 2005 and made his principal roster debut on SmackDown the next yr. The Franchise Playa impressed viewers along with his performances towards such names as Kane, Matt Hardy, Ric Flair, The Great Khali, and The Miz, and primarily was booked in mid-card applications till the corporate launched him for the primary time in 2010.

MVP then plied his commerce on the unbiased scene for the subsequent few years, and even labored in main promotions like NJPW and TNA earlier than returning to WWE, first in 2018, after which once more in the course of the 2020 Men’s Royal Rumble match. It was throughout this run that The Ballin’ Superstar fashioned The Hurt Business alongside Shelton Benjamin, Bobby Lashley, and, finally, Cedric Alexander, a gaggle whose long-term reserving left followers dissatisfied regardless of its recognition.

After their respective WWE departures, MVP, adopted by Benjamin and Lashley, jumped ship to AEW final yr. They reunited their workforce as The Hurt Syndicate, with Porter serving once more because the group’s mouthpiece. Under his administration, The All-Mighty and The Standard of Excellence have already loved a reign as AEW World Tag Team Champions. Porter has even stepped contained in the ring alongside his stable-mates on a number of events.

Earlier this June, MVP claimed that he might have now not than one or two years left within the squared circle. Porter would possibly elect to wrap up his in-ring profession in 2026, and in that case, Tony Khan might plan out a retirement program for the veteran, with a prime star like Ricochet or MJF finally sending MVP out on his protect.

#. Former AEW World Champion Chris Jericho

Chris Jericho had already been a longtime identify earlier than he joined WWE within the late Nineteen Nineties, having constructed his identify in CMLL, ECW, and WCW earlier within the decade. His time within the sports activities leisure juggernaut, throughout his a number of stints with the corporate, actually enabled him to turn into one of many broadly acknowledged greats of the game.

From his rivalries with The Rock, Stone Cold, Kurt Angle and Triple H in the course of the Attitude Era, to his feuds with Shawn Michaels, John Cena, The Undertaker and Edge (Adam Copeland) in the course of the mid-to-late 2000s and afterwards, all the way in which to his applications with CM Punk, AJ Styles, Dean Ambrose and Kevin Owens throughout his remaining WWE run, Jericho has been answerable for most of the promotion’s most iconic tales and moments. It got here as a shock to everybody, subsequently, when he left WWE and joined up with AEW initially of 2019.

Y2J grew to become one of many Jacksonville-based promotion’s early lynchpins, as he participated in feuds with the likes of Jon Moxley, Orange Cassidy, MJF, Eddie Kingston, Claudio Castagnoli, Will Ospreay, and extra. He confirmed off his potential to consistently evolve his gimmick. He even led a number of factions, together with The Inner Circle and The Jericho Appreciation Society, most just lately serving as Big Bill and Bryan Keith’s mentor, “The Learning Tree”.

Since arguing with and abandoning his college students in April, nevertheless, Jericho has been absent from AEW programming. Recent studies moreover point out that The Ayatollah of Rock N’ Rolla might depart the promotion to return to WWE subsequent yr. In the meantime, nevertheless, AEW CEO Tony Khan has not solely expressed his appreciation for Jericho’s contributions but in addition his need to see the legend end his profession in All Elite Wrestling.

Considering how WWE is at present being savaged by an enormous part of its fanbase over its dealing with of John Cena’s final run, and preserving in thoughts AEW’s observe report alongside the identical traces, Chris Jericho might finally take up on TK’s provide and have his retirement tour in All Elite Wrestling, like Sting and Bryan Danielson earlier than him.