Report Reveals How Much Money AEW Wasted By Hardly Using Rey Fenix, Ricky Saints, Miro And Malaki Black

It looks like AEW will save a massive amount of money by moving on from several expensive and unhappy performers they barely used last year.

It has been a tough last couple of years for All Elite Wrestling. During its first few years in existence, AEW quickly rose to notoriety as it delivered a product wrestling fans had been craving for the last decade. They offered something very different than the PG-driven and erratic content of WWE.

However, since founder Vince McMahon was ousted from the company, WWE has caught fire creatively over the last couple of years. Unfortunately for AEW, they have had many missteps in that time. And it has damaged their product in the eyes of fans and wrestlers on their roster.

Since 2023, there has been an exodus of AEW talent looking to take their talents to the competition. As wrestlers looked to leave, CEO Tony Khan decided to add injury time on to contracts. Or just paid some talent to sit on the sidelines.

However, his thinking in recent weeks has shifted. Unhappy performers like Miro, Ricky Saints, Rey Fenix, and Malakai Black have either been released or allowed to walk after their deal ended. And it seems by foregoing pettiness, he will save his company millions in 2025.

AEW will save $3 to $4 million in departures of Miro, Malakai Black and others

“Between the four guys, by releasing them — you know, it’s a significant amount of money [saved],” Meltzer said on a new episode of Wrestling Observer Radio [h/t Wrestling Inc]. “You’re probably talking about $3 million to $4 million a year in cost, for guys you’re not using.”

That is a substantial amount of money AEW was not getting the most out of in 2024. Miro has not wrestled for the company since 2023. Fenix and Saints were not used for months. While Black has competed for the company a bit more over the last year.

Considering the decline in TV ratings and ticket sales, that savings in 2025 will be a big help to AEW’s bottom line. As they instead focus their finances on talent they use more often.