Nick Khan Says WWE Won’t Sign AEW Talent Just to Bench Them

Nick Khan is welcoming former AEW talent into WWE—but he’s not here to stack a roster he can’t use.

Over the past year, WWE has signed several former AEW stars, including Ricky Saints (formerly Ricky Starks), Penta, Rey Fenix, Ethan Page, and more. It’s a growing list of names that once helped build AEW and are now trying to make an impact on a bigger stage. But WWE President Nick Khan says there’s a line they won’t cross.

Speaking to Bill Simmons on The Bill Simmons Podcast, Khan addressed concerns that WWE might overload its locker room by grabbing too much talent without giving them proper screen time. “That’s something we won’t do. We won’t sign and bench people. We sign people who we want to use,” Khan said.

Simmons responded by pointing out that this is something fans have seen happen elsewhere. “That’s a thing that happens.”

Khan didn’t dodge the point. “That’s what I’ve been told from time to time. Not us,” he replied.

The conversation followed earlier comments where Khan took a subtle jab at AEW, without mentioning the company by name. “In terms of the other wrestling promotional company, they have a lot of talented wrestlers and we’re happy about that,” he said. “When, contractually, they are available to talk to and have conversations with, assume a number of them will come over.”

He even tipped his hat to AEW’s owner, adding, “Nothing but respect to the father who finances it and owns the Jaguars and all those other things.” That’s a reference to Shad Khan, with AEW being operated day-to-day by his son, Tony Khan.

The message from WWE’s front office is clear: they’re not trying to hoard talent—they’re trying to upgrade. With names like Cody Rhodes and Jade Cargill already proving their value after making the jump, it’s clear that WWE has no plans to stop scouting AEW. But according to Khan, if they sign someone, they plan to use them.