Thirteen former WWE performers made their first documented AEW appearances in 2021, from Paul Wight’s February arrival to Ariya Daivari’s November appearance. This list uses “debut” to mean a first AEW appearance—not necessarily a first match or a formal signing. The 13 names are a useful editorial selection from a broader contemporary roundup, not an independently verified canonical count.
What “debuted for AEW” means here
An AEW appearance, an in-ring debut, and a contract signing are different milestones. Some wrestlers appeared on screen before competing, and an appearance alone does not establish that AEW signed the person. The list below follows first documented appearances as reported in a 2021 roundup; it does not claim that all 13 became full-time AEW roster members. GameSpot’s 2021 roundup covers a wider group and includes different kinds of appearances.
The 13 former WWE performers and their first AEW appearances
| Performer | Known WWE name | First AEW appearance reported | What to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paul Wight | Big Show | February 24, 2021 | Wight was introduced as an AEW performer and commentator; the cited roundup dates his first appearance to February 24. |
| Mark Henry | Mark Henry | May 30, 2021 | He appeared at Double or Nothing. The date is from GameSpot’s roundup. |
| Andrade El Idolo | Andrade | June 4, 2021 | His AEW arrival followed his WWE run under the name Andrade. |
| Malakai Black | Aleister Black | July 7, 2021 | He made his AEW arrival under the Malakai Black name after appearing in WWE as Aleister Black. |
| CM Punk | CM Punk | August 20, 2021 | AEW’s announcement identifies August 20 as his first arrival in AEW. AEW’s announcement provides the primary-source date. |
| Ruby Soho | Ruby Riott | September 5, 2021 | Soho arrived at All Out. She is one of the prominent September arrivals noted in AEW’s preview. AEW’s September 15 preview places her arrival in that roster moment. |
| Adam Cole | Adam Cole | September 5, 2021 | Cole first appeared at All Out. His first AEW match came later: AEW’s September 15 results identify his in-ring debut that night. AEW’s official results distinguish the match from his earlier arrival. |
| Bryan Danielson | Daniel Bryan | September 5, 2021 | Danielson arrived at All Out, among AEW’s major September signings and arrivals. AEW’s preview and contemporaneous coverage document the occasion. Sports Illustrated’s All Out coverage also identifies his prior WWE name. |
| Bobby Fish | Bobby Fish | October 6, 2021 | GameSpot’s roundup dates his first AEW appearance to October 6. |
| Santana Garrett | Santana Garrett | October 6, 2021 | Her first appearance date is reported as October 6 in the roundup; appearance does not by itself establish a signing. |
| Tony Nese | Tony Nese | October 23, 2021 | The roundup lists October 23 as his first AEW appearance. |
| Samuray Del Sol | Kalisto | October 23, 2021 | He appeared under the Samuray Del Sol name after his WWE run as Kalisto. |
| Ariya Daivari | Ariya Daivari | November 12, 2021 | The roundup’s latest first-appearance date among these 13 is November 12. |
Except for Punk’s August 20 date and Cole’s separately documented first match, the dates in the table are attributed to GameSpot’s roundup, rather than presented as independently checked event records. See the roundup’s list and dates.
Why 2021’s arrivals are often grouped together
AEW’s roster changed quickly across the year: established names appeared in the spring and summer, then a cluster of high-profile arrivals made All Out and the following weeks especially notable. AEW’s September preview discusses the arrivals of Danielson, Cole, and Soho, while its official record for Cole shows why an “arrival” date should not be confused with a first match. AEW’s preview and September 15 results preserve that distinction.
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How to read the list
- For first appearance: use the dates in the table as the roundup reports them.
- For first AEW match: do not infer it from an arrival or on-screen debut. Cole is a documented example: he appeared at All Out before his September 15 in-ring debut.
- For contract status: do not treat inclusion as proof of a signing. The roundup’s broader set explicitly mixes appearance types and notes that not everyone listed was signed.
AEW’s September 2021 description of its broadcast distribution is historical and should not be used to determine where the promotion is available to watch now. AEW’s dated preview reflects that period, not a current viewing guide.
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