Who Will Be The Next WWE Star to Exit the Company?

Chatter about which AEW and WWE performers will be the next to jump ship has become an all-too-common theme for wrestling fans over the last year, as more and more contracts are terminated or not renewed.

With the arrival of The New Level in AEW and rumors swirling that Ilja Dragunov has also joined the company, speculation is running rampant about which Superstars will be the next to ask for a release, walk away when their contract expires, or retire from the business.

Here are the WWE Superstars who could exit the company in the coming months.

Early Predictions for WrestleMania 43 Match Card 🔮

Nikki Bella may not be an obvious candidate to leave WWE anytime soon, especially since she and Brie Bella recently revealed their new deals run through March 2028 .

However, Bella is 42 years old and has a history of injuries that makes it a real possibility that she doesn't make it through the end of her deal. Nikki and her sister Brie have walked away from WWE to pursue other opportunities in the past, and possible injuries could force them to consider outside opportunities again.

Bella has been open about how her priorities have changed, and her future is more closely tied to retirement than simply becoming a free agent. If she decides one last run isn't possible or doesn't meet her creative standards, her departure would become a major story regardless of when it happens.

While Bella would be a bigger mainstream departure, Johnny Gargano is a much more immediate candidate since his WWE contract situation has already generated legitimate speculation.

According to Yahoo Sports , Gargano has not signed a new WWE contract and is currently set to become a free agent when his existing deal expires. The situation became even more interesting after Gargano returned to the ring in Cleveland and challenged CM Punk for the Undisputed WWE Championship.

Gargano has not publicly confirmed that he is leaving WWE, but the combination of his contract status, recent storyline, and comments about making significant career decisions makes him one of the most intriguing names to watch.

Dragon Lee might be the most fascinating name on this list because his WWE future has suddenly become a legitimate question, even though he has been featured prominently on television.

According to Bryan Alvarez , rumors indicate that Lee's WWE contract is nearing its expiration, while his brother Dralistico's AEW contract is also reportedly coming due soon.

The brothers have trademarked the name "Hermanos Lee," creating an obvious source of speculation about whether they could eventually work together under that name.

Lee has received meaningful opportunities recently, including an Intercontinental Championship match against Chad Gable, but his contract situation and the new trademark make his future worth monitoring.

For more wrestling talk, listen to Ring Rust Radio for all of the hot topics or catch the latest episode in the player above (some language NSFW).