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Departing AEW Star Breaks Silence On Surprise Exit

By Lyle Kilbane • Published Jan 07, 2026 06:30 EST
AEW Tony Khan

AEW has got rid of multiple stars from its roster as 2026 begins.

For the latter half of 2025, rumours ran wild about the future of inaugural AEW World Champion Chris Jericho. Jericho has not been in the ring since April, and the longer he was absent from the company, the stronger the speculation became that he was on his way back to WWE.

Jericho was even teased for the first Raw of 2026, but that show came and went without the star. As things stand, Jericho is still listed on the AEW roster page, and there is no confirmation either way over what his future holds. Although many fans expect things to become a lot clearer at the Royal Rumble.

What there is no confusion about is that three AEW stars have left Tony Khan’s company.

AEW Star Thanks Tony Khan After Exit

Matt Taven, Mercedes Martinez, and Alex Abrahantes have all been removed from the AEW roster page as their time in the company has come to an end.

Taking to social media, Abrahantes released a video where he offered his thanks and urged others to follow their dreams in the same way that he followed his:

I just wanted to take a second to address the news yesterday and to take this moment just to say thank you. Thank you to anyone who’s ever supported me out there. Thank you for believing in me, thank you for the kind words, thank you for the interactions. For over 6 years, I’ve had a chance to live my dream, and I am so grateful for AEW. I’m so grateful that Tony gave me the opportunity to do so, and I didn’t want to step away without saying thank you.

I also want to thank everyone at AEW. I built such a bond with so many people over there that they are my family, and I really appreciate them.

I just really want to leave everybody with this message: When I was younger, I made a vow that someday I would make it and be able to share this exact message with you that if you work hard, believe in yourself, don’t take the criticisms of others, and don’t let what other people think about you hold you down and kill your dreams. I can tell you from experience, reaching your dream is 100% worth it.

There’s gonna be ups, there’s gonna be downs, but as long as you believe in yourself, as long as you work hard, as long as you’re a good person, and as long as you never give up, you’re gonna see those dreams through, and trust me, it’s totally worth it. So as for me, I’m not giving up on myself, and I’m certainly not going to be giving up on you.