Miro has finished his time with AEW and the former TNT Champion has made a successful return to the ring after over a year on the shelf. During a Qatar Pro Wrestling event held on February 22nd in Doha, Miro took on fellow WWE and League of Nations alum Alberto El Patron.

This marked Miro’s first match since his bout against Andrade El Idolo at the AEW Worlds End pay-per-view on December 30, 2023. Despite a 14-month absence from the ring, Miro proved he could still compete at a high level.

Miro joined AEW in 2020 and despite a strong initial push, would become less utilized from 2022 until the end of his tenure. In late 2024, it was shared that Miro had requested his release, but that his request was turned down. Miro was nevertheless let go in early 2025 alongside Malakai Black and Ricky Starks, the latter of whom has joined WWE NXT as Ricky Saints.

Whether Miro returns to WWE remains to be seen, though his ex-wife CJ Perry has teased Miro taking on Andrade, another AEW alum who’s since returned to WWE. Whatever’s next for the Bulgarian, Miro is proving that his absence from the ring hasn’t dulled his skills.

Miro was granted his release from AEW last week, making him a free agent and fueling speculation that he may return to WWE. Now, he has booked his first post-AEW appearance.

Qatar Pro Wrestling has announced that Miro will appear at their events on February 21 and 22 at Aspire Ladies Sport Hall in Doha, Qatar. The event will also feature Mustafa Ali, Nic Nemeth, Bobby Lashley, and 35 other wrestlers, with matches scheduled throughout the show.

There is strong belief that WWE is interested in bringing Miro back, as he previously worked there before joining AEW. WWE has reportedly discussed creative plans for him as well as Malaki Black, though it remains unclear whether he has signed a contract or when he might return. This is despite WWE legend Teddy Long’s controversial view that WWE will have no interest in taking back Miro or Malakai Black.

Miro had been absent from AEW since Worlds End 2023. He initially signed a lucrative seven-figure deal with the company in September 2020, which was set to expire in spring 2022. However, he later signed a four-year extension, keeping him under contract until spring 2026.

Despite being healthy and ready to compete, discussions about his creative direction reportedly stalled in 2024. According to Sean Ross Sapp of Fightful Select, talks eventually went “radio silent” months before his release. It was to the point that AEW sources indicated that Miro had not been discussed creatively for six months, with most believing he would not return to the company.

Former WWE General Manager Teddy Long is skeptical about the possibility of WWE bringing back Miro (formerly Rusev) or Malakai Black following their rumored AEW releases.

Speaking on WrestleBinge, Long suggested that WWE has moved on from these talents and is unlikely to reach back for them.

“I think Rusev has had his day with WWE. I don’t think they’re going to take him back,” Long said.

He acknowledged that Miro was given opportunities during his WWE run but questioned what the company could do with him now.

“They gave him a push… I don’t know if it was his attitude or something else, but what are you going to do with him after all this? How are you going to repackage him?”

As for Malakai Black, Long believes WWE is more focused on building fresh talent rather than bringing back former stars.

“Bringing in somebody who was already in your company looks like you’re reaching back to pull some, and they’re not outstanding superstar talent,” he explained.

While he praised their in-ring ability, he didn’t see them as major draws WWE would be eager to re-sign.

Once They Go To AEW…

Long also took a shot at AEW’s use of former WWE wrestlers, suggesting that many of them are just collecting a paycheck rather than advancing their careers.

“Once they get to AEW, they’re working for a payday and that’s it… They’re not going to get being creative, that’s for sure.”

With WWE reportedly shifting its focus toward homegrown talent and younger stars, Long’s comments align with the company’s recent booking philosophy.

While surprises are always possible in pro wrestling, his skepticism raises doubts about Miro or Malakai Black finding their way back to WWE anytime soon.

Could CJ Perry and Miro reunite, potentially in WWE? The Ravishing Russian has teased that fans shouldn’t count the idea out just yet. On X, Perry suggested that Miro could rekindle his feud with WWE’s Andrade and that the Bulgarian would need her help to win.

Perry’s post comes after Miro was released from AEW, an exit he reportedly requested in 2024 but was denied at the time. Andrade parted ways with AEW in early 2024 and would waste no time in returning to WWE as part of that year’s Men’s Royal Rumble match. Perry confirmed her exit from AEW in July 2024 though has yet to appear for another promotion.

In March 2024, it was revealed that Perry and Miro had separated, ending their marriage that had began in 2016. Her comments this week are not the first time she has teased reuniting with Miro on-screen, leaving fans wondering if the pair could soon be back together as a couple. In the comments, one fan questioned if the couple are “trying to repair things” while another asked Perry “Girl are you back together?”

With Miro only recently leaving AEW, its too early to say what’s next for the Bulgarian, who wrestled just seven times in his final two years under Tony Khan. Whatever comes, fans can expect Perry to take an interest in the actions of Miro and Andrade, leaving fans curious to see what’s to come.

Miro Reunites With WWE Star After Exit from AEW

Sheamus recently reunited with his former teammate Miro known to WWE fans as Rusev after the latter’s departure from AEW.

The former TNT Champion was one of the names released by Tony Khan’s company earlier this month, ending his 5-year run with the company.

The Celtic Warrior seemingly reunited with the now former AEW star recently for a drink and he shared a photo with Miro from a pub:

• Sheamus Praises Cesaro’s Genius and Their Legacy as The Bar

The History of Sheamus And Rusev

Sheamus and Rusev have history together as both partners and rivals. It was the Irish star who Rusev defeated to win his first ever title in WWE, winning the United States Championship in a WWE Network exclusive match in 2014.

The duo also teamed together as part of the short-lived League of Nations faction also featuring Alberto Del Rio and King Barrett back in 2016.

The former WWE star however, has not been active in the wrestling world for over a year. His last match came at the 2023 Worlds End PPV where he picked up a victory against Andrade.

All kind of rumours have persisted as to why the company did not book the former TNT Champion for any shows since then. With Miro now a free agent, it’d be interesting to see if we get some answers to his AEW mystery.

• Paul Heyman Reveals New 2K25 Mode Never Seen Before In WWE Games

Miro has officially been granted his release from All Elite Wrestling. The former TNT Champion and the company came to an agreement regarding the termination of his contract, according to PWInsider.

Miro’s wrestler profile has already been removed from the AEW website.

For more:

Christmas Day has arrived, and people around the world are unwrapping gifts from their loved ones. For the Superstars of WWE, nothing compares to the gift of a championship victory, and a few have had the honor of capturing gold on December 25.

Jason Jordan and Seth Rollins – WWE Raw Tag Team Championships

On the Christmas Day 2017 edition of WWE Raw, Jason Jordan and Seth Rollins defeated The Bar to claim the WWE Raw Tag Team Championships. While both were experienced champions in their own right, this marked the first—and only—reign for the unlikely duo as a team.

Their reign lasted 34 days before ending at the 2018 Royal Rumble, where they dropped the titles back to Cesaro and Sheamus. Unfortunately, this championship win would also be Jordan’s last, as injuries later forced him into retirement. Today, Jordan remains a key figure in WWE as a producer.

Rusev – WWE United States Championship

The December 25, 2018 edition of WWE SmackDown was a celebration of not just one but three special occasions. On Christmas Day, Rusev captured the United States Championship, a victory that coincided with both his birthday and the fan-favorite “Rusev Day.”

This marked Rusev’s third reign as U.S. Champion, which ended at the 2019 Royal Rumble when Shinsuke Nakamura reclaimed the title. Though this victory would be Rusev’s final championship in WWE, the Bulgarian Brute ensured it was a memorable one.

Big E – WWE Intercontinental Championship

In 2020, Big E cemented his solo career during the Christmas Day edition of WWE SmackDown. On that night, he silenced Sami Zayn’s claims of conspiracies by defeating him to win the Intercontinental Championship for the second time.

Big E’s reign lasted 106 days, culminating in a loss to Apollo Crews at WrestleMania 37: Sunday in April 2021. This triumph was only a preview of his future success, as Big E ended the same year as WWE Champion.

Miro, the Bulgarian powerhouse wrestler, has resurfaced at a Florida wrestling facility, reigniting speculation about his future with All Elite Wrestling (AEW) after nearly a year away from the ring.

This appearance at the Coastal Championship Wrestling (CCW) training center follows recent reports that Miro requested an AEW release—though if the request is denied, his contract remains binding until spring 2026.

Miro’s last AEW match took place on December 30, 2023, at the Worlds End event, where he defeated Andrade El Idolo, who has since transitioned to WWE. Since then, he’s remained largely out of the public eye, fueling speculation about his future in wrestling.

Miro Shares Details On AEW Absence, Has a Great Relationship with Tony Khan

Alongside Miro in the CCW photos was veteran wrestler Gangrel, who made a guest appearance in AEW earlier this year during a high-stakes TNT Championship match. That match, between Adam Copeland and Malakai Black, ended with Copeland retaining his title but suffering an injury that ultimately forced him to vacate the championship.

Earlier this year, CJ Perry confirmed that her time with AEW had come to an end after debuting for the promotion in late 2023. Perry has yet to resurface in the world of professional wrestling, but a social media post this week has sparked speculation of a reunion with herself and Miro.

Dressed as Tiffany from the Child’s Play series, Perry shared an Instagram video of herself attempting to ‘resurrect’ Rusev, the character Miro played for years as part of WWE. Perry also spoke in a Russian accent, a nod to her own WWE tenure as Lana, and asked fans if they wanted to see Rusev and Lana back together on TV.

This video is certainly an interesting one from Perry, who separated from Miro earlier this year. The couple tied the knot in 2016 and in the video, Perry referred to the Bulgarian as her ex-husband. Miro has been a part of AEW since 2020 though is seldom used, with just seven matches over the past two years and none in 2024.

Rusev and Lana proved to be a popular duo in WWE, with support for ‘Rusev Day’ earning the Bulgarian a WWE Championship match at Extreme Rules 2018. Stay tuned to SEScoops for the latest from both Perry and Miro in the world of professional wrestling.

Miro’s time with All Elite Wrestling (AEW) appears to be nearing an end, capping off a largely underwhelming run. The Bulgarian powerhouse joined AEW in September 2020, amid significant fanfare. Tony Khan’s upstart company had earned its reputation as chance for disgruntled WWE talent to reboot their careers with and enjoy greater creative freedom.

Four years later, and with much of that tenure spent off television, Fightful Select reports that Miro has officially requested his release from AEW. Creative differences were a significant issue in recent years.

A Promising Start That Fizzled Out

Miro went ‘All Elite’ in during the first year of AEW Dynamite, where he was introduced as Kip Sabian’s “Best Man.” He eventually dropped his ‘gamer bro’ image for a more serious persona, and was reborn as The Redeemer. He was a dominant TNT Champion for 140 days, until he was dethroned by Sammy Guevara. Unfortunately, the loss had a devastating affect on Miro’s career trajectory.

Contract Extension Amid Absence

While Miro’s original AEW deal was set to expire in the spring of 2022, he signed a four-year extension around that time, which could have kept him on board for two more years. Per Fightful, Miro is on a lucritive seven-figure contract, despite only competing in 11 matches since since December 2021 (and none this year).

Though Miro was sidelined by an injury, reports suggest he has been healthy for quite some time. Miro spoke with AEW officials earlier this year about getting a match with Jon Moxley, but that never materialized. Some saw the Casino Gauntlet match at All In: London 2024 as a chance to get Miro back in the mix on a big stage, but instead fellow WWE alum Ricochet was the big surprise there.

A Disappointing AEW Tenure

Miro’s time in AEW was a bust, despite wrestling fans’ excitement to see how far he’d go in a fresh environment. Miro did have some good matches and fun moments over the past few years (see below), but we’re optimistic the best is yet to come.

Miro’s Best Moments in AEW

AEW’s Miro is working hard to recover from his latest injury setback but there’s no word on when fans can expect the Bulgarian back in action. 

Fans last saw Miro in the ring at AEW Worlds End where he defeated Andrade El Idolo thanks to an assist from CJ Perry. A lot has changed since then, including Andrade’s returning to WWE in January 2024 and Perry and Miro announcing their separation. 

Sitting down with Sportskeeda’s WrestleBinge, Miro was asked about his ongoing absence from AEW and shared that he’s dealing with multiple injuries. 

“I have a shoulder injury and an elbow injury that occurred late last year, so finally took care of it late January. Got a whole bunch of shots and now I’m recovering.”

Miro added that he plans on coming back “better than ever” but there’s no word on when that’ll be, leaving fans to wonder what’s next for the former TNT Champion.

Working with Tony Khan

Miro’s return was supposed to come as part of the ‘Meat Madness’ match at AEW Revolution that was scrapped as both Miro and Keith Lee couldn’t compete. Despite this, Miro maintains a positive relationship with the AEW President. 

Tony’s great, man. He’s creative, his mind is running always, he always thinks about wrestling, he’s always thinking about how to get things better. So I respect that. I respect that he loves wrestling.”

Miro’s stance on Khan is an interesting one considering that the AEW President has often overlooked the former TNT Champion. In fact, Miro’s absence from programming in 2023 (that wasn’t due to injury) led to Miro’s then-wife CJ Perry claiming Khan was playing favorites. 

Miro’s future remains uncertain, though he said in the interview that he’d love to face AEW World Champion Samoa Joe or AEW TNT Champion Adam Copeland. And while some of Khan’s decisions may not have gone down well with many, Miro is pleased to be a part of AEW. 

Former UFC fighter turned pro wrestler and promoter Josh Barnett says he’s spoken with CM Punk and other names from WWE and AEW about competing for his Bloodsport promotion, which is affiliated with Game Changer Wrestling (GCW).

The upcoming Bloodsport X event over WrestleMania weekend will feature a special attraction match pitting WWE Superstar Shayna Baszler against TNA’s Masha Slamovich.

Barnett wants to get more WWE (and AEW) contracted names to step into his league’s domain. During a recent appearance on the Under the Ring podcast, he revealed that he’s actually spoken with CM Punk about participating, as well as AEW star Malakai Black.

Both Punk and Black have martial arts experience and their offensive styles would translate well to Bloodsports’ ‘shoot-fight’ presentation.

Barnett also named Chad Gable, Born Breaker and Miro as grapplers he’d like to see fight in Bloodsport.

Punk has been out of action since suffering a torn triceps in the 2024 Men’s Royal Rumble match. The injury has robbed Punk of an opportunity to step in the ring at WrestleMania 40, but he still vows to make his presence felt. 

CM Punk signed with the UFC in 2014 just months after leaving WWE. He wouldn’t make his debut until 2016 and lost in decisive fashion. Stephanie McMahon mocked Punk’s loss on WWE television, one of many examples of how bitter that relationship was for many years.

Punk’s second and final UFC fight was another decisive loss to Mike Jackson. That loss was later overturned and the result ruled a ‘no contest’ due to Jackson failing a test.

AEW’s CJ Perry has spoke about the impact social media has made on her mental health following her split from fellow All-Elite talent Miro. 

TMZ Sports first reported earlier this week that the couple had “broke up once and for all” and that their split had happened in the winter of last year. It was added that the pair had been experiencing an on-and-off relationship for several years. 

CJ Perry on Social Media

Taking to Twitter, Perry didn’t address the split directly but spoke about her mental health being severely impacted whenever she is on the platform. Perry added that it’s hardly a surprise that for the most part she tries to keep off of the site. 

Every time I go to twitter or @x my mental health is severely impacted. Wild. No wonder I stay off this platform

— CJ Perry (@TheCJPerry) March 12, 2024

CJ Perry and Miro

Perry and Miro, as Lana and Rusev respectively, met in WWE and the Ravishing Russian would serve as a manager. The couple were called up to the main roster in 2014 but had an on-screen split in 2015. That year’s angle, which saw Rusev align with Summer Rae and Lana with Dolph Ziggler, was cut short after Miro and Perry announced their real life engagement. 

Miro would be released from WWE in 2020 and debuted for AEW under his real name that same year. Perry’s tenure as Lana ended the following year and she joined AEW in 2023. At AEW Worlds End, Perry turned on Andrade El Idolo following the former NXT Champion’s loss to Miro. While many saw this as a sign of Miro and Perry reuniting as an on-screen duo, it’s unclear what the future holds given their real-life separation. 

Welcome to SEScoops: the Daily Drop, your go-to for the latest news and rumors in wrestling for Tuesday, March 12. A lot of things changed in the past 24 hours, so let’s take a look.

Days until WrestleMania 40: 25

Muhammad Ali was announced for the 2024 WWE Hall of Fame. Paul Heyman, Bull Nakano, and the tag team the U.S. Express (Mike Rotunda and Barry Windham) are rounding out the current list of inductees.

Also, you can check out the WrestleMania 40 card (so far) below:

• Iyo Sky (c) vs. Bayley – Singles match for the WWE Women’s Championship 
• Rhea Ripley (c) vs. Becky Lynch – Singles match for the Women’s World Championship 
• Gunther (c) vs. Sami Zayn – Singles match for the WWE Intercontinental Championship 
• The Judgment Day (Finn Bálor and Damian Priest) (c) vs. Five teams TBD- Six-Pack Ladder match for the Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship
• Seth “Freakin” Rollins (c) vs. Drew McIntyre – Singles match for the World Heavyweight Championship 
• Roman Reigns (c) vs. Cody Rhodes – Singles match for the Undisputed WWE Universal Championship 
• The Bloodline (The Rock and Roman Reigns) vs. Cody Rhodes and Seth “Freakin” Rollins

WWE:

– In a blockbuster report, the four names of WWE executives in Janel Grant’s lawsuit was revealed. It is alleged that Nick Khan, Stephenia McMahon, Brad Blum, and Brian Nurse knew about the relationship between Grant and Vince.

– Triple H received the highly-prized YouTube Play Button Plaque for 100 million subscribers for WWE’s channel.

– CM Punk will make his return to WWE RAW in Chicago on March 25th.

– Jey Uso challenged Jimmy Uso for a match at WrestleMania 40. 

WWE NXT (3/12) Match Card:

• Oba Femi (c) vs. Brooks Jensen – NXT North American Championship Match
• Shawn Spears vs. Ridge Holland
• Gigi Dolin vs. Arianna Grace

AEW:

– Miro and CJ Perry split up after 7 years of marriage.

– Max Caster joked that he was hacked, which explained a bunch of mean tweets, but he didn’t take them back, either.

– Al Snow had quite a controversial take on AEW. He said that someone will die in the ring unless things change.

– Jack Perry dropped a line of merchandise with the Scapegoat theme. We will have to see how this road takes him back to AEW, if it does at all.

https://t.co/S03Yf02XHW pic.twitter.com/EO99pr8kMw

— Jack Perry (@boy_myth_legend) March 11, 2024

– During Kevin Nash’s Kliq This podcast, he revealed that Sting wanted him to get physical in his retirement match at AEW Revolution, “For some reason, people think that Paul [Triple H] told me I couldn’t go and my thing was I’m a WWE guy. When this thing first came out, it came to fruition, I got contacted by Steve, Sting. He was telling me what he wanted to do and then in that same breath, he said, ‘What can you do physicality-wise? So if anybody wants to know why Kevin Nash was at home, that’s why. He asked me what I can do physicality-wise.”

–

Upcoming Major Pro Wrestling Events:

• AEW Dynamite: Big Business will be hosted at Boston’s TD Garden on March 13th.
• WWE NXT Stand & Deliver is slated for the afternoon of April 6th, just before the start of WrestleMania 40 in Philadelphia.
• WrestleMania XL is set to take place on April 6th and 7th at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, as a two-part event.
• AEW is coming to St. Louis, MO with AEW: Dynasty LIVE on PPV on Sunday, April 21st at Chaifetz Arena
• Backlash France is scheduled for May 4th at LDLC Arena in Décines-Charpieu, France.
• WWE NXT Battleground is booked for May 26th at Enmarket Arena in Savannah, Georgia, exclusively available on the WWE Network and Peacock.
• WWE Money in the Bank will be held on July 6th at Scotiabank Arena in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, followed by WWE NXT Heatwave on July 7th at the same venue.
• WWE Bash In Berlin is marked for August 31st at Mercedes-Benz Arena in Berlin, Germany.

AEW’s CJ Perry and Miro are moving on from one another.

Earlier today, TMZ Sports reported that CJ Perry (formerly known as Lana) and Miro (formerly known as Rusev) had “broke[n] up once and for all” in the winter of 2023 after several years of an on-and-off relationship. The couple, who officially tied to knot in July 2016, is said to have simply drifted apart. 

While the couple has yet to file for divorce, Miro reportedly moved back to his home country of Bulgaria shortly after he and Perry made the decision to break up. 

CJ Perry has since confirmed their split to TMZ, stating, “Miro and I have made the difficult decision to separate after many wonderful years together, and have decided to move on as friends, and hopefully onscreen characters somewhere down the road.” 

AEW Ventures

In the months following his release from WWE in 2020, Miro inked a contract with All Elite Wrestling, where he became a one-time TNT Champion.

In September 2023, Perry would follow suit as she attempted to save Miro from a post-match attack from Powerhouse Hobbs in her AEW debut, which took place at the All Out pay-per-view. Upon signing with AEW, Perry has reprised her role as an on-screen manager, taking on the likes of Action Andretti and Andrade El Idolo.

Perry’s most recent appearance occurred at AEW Worlds End in December, in which she accompanied Andrade to the ring in his match against Miro. However, in a surprise turn of events, Perry turned on Andrade, subsequently causing him to lose his aforementioned match to Miro. 

Andrade has since rejoined WWE.

Miro has been out of action from AEW for a while, and that only adds to the growing trend of The Redeemer missing television for the company. This time, he has a very good reason for being out of action, even if Tony Khan may not be 100% aware.

Although Khan recently stated that he wanted to book Miro for a match at AEW Revolution, it seems that he was not clued in to the Bulgarian star’s physical situation. Apparently, Miro is injured, and he has been since last year.

Miro Speaks On AEW Absence

During a media call for AEW Revolution, Tony Khan shared insights about initially planning for Miro and Keith Lee to participate in the Meat Madness match at Revolution. However, these plans were scrapped due to the unavailability of both wrestlers.

Miro saw a tweet about what the AEW President said as a fan posted, “Tony Khan on the Revolution media call confirms that Miro and Keith Lee were supposed to be in Meat Madness before the match was cancelled, as they’re both unavailable at this time.”

In response to Khan’s comments, Miro took to Twitter to shed light on his absence, revealing that he has been nursing an injury since September of last year, and he underwent medical treatment in January. He clarified that Khan was unaware of his injury until then, but he did not disclose the nature of his affliction.

”I’ve been injured since September and i got medical attention in January. Sorry he wasn’t aware of it.”

I’ve been injured since September and i got medical attention in January. Sorry he wasn’t aware of it https://t.co/xNxFjzu5iS

— Miro (@ToBeMiro) March 1, 2024

What’s Next For Miro In AEW

Miro has been a member of the AEW roster since 2020. He has also held the TNT Title during his tenure, but has seen limited success beyond that. We will have to see if he can stay healthy and active on AEW’s roster long enough to get himself into another title picture.

Following Miro’s victory over Andrade El Idolo at AEW Worlds End last year, where CJ Perry’s betrayal played a pivotal role, Miro has been noticeably absent from AEW television. Now that Miro has spoken on the matter, we have to wonder how much more time he has left to wait.

SEScoops will have more on this story for any updates as additional information is made available. 

A mixture of injuries and a lack of creative direction is keeping some stars of All Elite Wrestling away, it has been claimed.

AEW is home to a wide array of talent under a large roster, one that some fans believe is too large.

With limited weekly programming and no on-demand service (such as the WWE Network,) many wrestlers appear solely on AEW Dark or Dark: Elevation, or are seldom used.

Injuries

For many AEW stars, injuries are to blame for them missing weekly programming on TBS and TNT.

Fightful Select reports that Hikaru Shida is in her native Japan at this time and is dealing with a finger injury, but worked the recent Jericho Cruise, performing in a couple of matches.

Kris Statlander’s ACL injury continues to keep her away from the ring, though she has been backstage at several AEW shows in recent months, including the Lexington and Toronto shows.

After having knee surgery last May, Fightful were told that Leyla Hirsch is “slowly getting there,” and it has been said that she recently resumed in-ring training.

Missing

Not everyone who has been absent from AEW programming as of late is down with an injury.

In their report, Fightful notes that Scorpio Sky has been cleared to wrestle for months, after dealing with an injury last Summer.

While Sky was at the recent Impact Wrestling No Surrender event, the former TNT Champion hasn’t attended many AEW shows as of late.

Sky has several years left on his AEW deal, as he said in late 2021 that he signed a five-year extension.

Fightful was told that Miro is healthy and ready to go, but haven’t heard an update on creative discussions between he and All Elite Wrestling.

Miro has several years left on his contract after signing a four-year extension a year or so ago.

The former TNT Champion and three-time WWE United States Champion has had one match for AEW over the past eight months.

Miro’s return to WWE is a question of when, not if, according to the Bulgarian’s wife CJ ‘Lana’ Perry.

Miro wrestled for years as Rusev in WWE, becoming a three-time United States Champion before his release in April 2020.

Perry would remain with WWE until her own release in June 2021, in cuts that also included Buddy Murphy (now Buddy Matthews) and Braun Strowman

Return

Despite a strong start in AEW and a reign as TNT Champion, Miro has been barely used in the company this year.

Having wrestled just two matches over the last six months, Miro’s most recent match came at the now-infamous All Out Pay-Per-View in September.

Speaking to 92.7 WMAY’s Mike Wennmacher, Perry expressed interest in Miro’s potential return to WWE.

“The great thing about wrestling is it doesn’t matter what company you work for, what promotion, anything can happen. Let’s be honest, we know that everyone always returns back to WWE at some point.”

“Everyone always returns back to WWE at some point.”

CJ Perry

Speaking about Rusev Day, arguably Miro’s most popular gimmick, Perry said the idea will live on, and reiterated her belief that he will return.

“Rusev Day will never die. It’s always going to be around, the kids are going to want to sing it and I’m sure it will make a return in WWE at some point. Rusev — well, whatever he shows [up] back in; whatever frickin name or gimmick or character he returns [as] at some point, in WWE is going to be iconic.”

Unhappy

Miro held more titles and was more prominently featured in WWE, so it’s hardly surprising that he is reportedly unhappy in AEW.

Earlier this year, Miro liked a tweet suggesting that his AEW run had been a dud so far.

The tweet also suggested that Miro would do much better if he returned to WWE.

h/t – Wrestling Inc

Miro is looking forward to making a return to AEW television in the near future, but for now, he’s just waiting and doing everything he can to do so. 

Miro’s last match in AEW happened when he teamed with Sting and Darby Allin to defeat The House of Black at AEW All Out 2022. Fans have wondered when they would see him again since that time. 

Miro commented on his AEW status while  speaking to MUSE TV at the premiere of “Disney+’s National Treasure: Edge of History.”

The Latest

“It’s not up to me, I’m doing everything I can and from then on, I’m just sitting and waiting for the opportunity.”

It was previously reported that Rusev was eager to compete and awaiting conversations around his creative direction, as he has only wrestled four times this year. 

Samoa Joe did reference Miro following his win at last Saturday’s ROH Final Battle 2022 event as he noted that if Miro wants to step up to him, he will gladly take the challenge.

He was released by WWE in April 2020, debuting in AEW as Miro in September of that year. He first aligned with Kip Sabian before going on to become a one-time TNT Champion. 

Miro has not appeared on AEW TV since teaming up with Sting and Darby Allin on September 4th.

They defeated the House of Black in a Trios Match at the PPV. House of Black went on to disappear from television as well but for different reasons.

Wrestling fans have been wondering where The Redeemer has been and some have grown concerned that he is dealing with an unknown injury. As it turns out, Miro is not injured, he is just not being booked.

According to a new report from Fightful Select, Miro hasn’t been featured on television because creative “simply hasn’t been presented to him.” There were also plans in place for creative discussions to be held but, those haven’t taken place as of this writing.

The Redeemer has competed in just four matches in 2022, despite signing an extension with the promotion earlier this year. Miro’s current contract with All Elite Wrestling has him locked up until 2026.

Orange Cassidy Set to Defend the All-Atlantic Championship this Friday on Rampage

During this week’s edition of Dynamite, All-Atlantic Champion Orange Cassidy and Kip Sabian had a backstage segment. Sabian had competed in the Dynamite Diamond Ring Battle Royale to begin the show but was eliminated early.

Cassidy told Sabian that he can have a title match if he wants it but Kip claimed he was hurt. The champ suggested that he should find someone else and Kip seemed to have someone in line to accept the challenge.

Miro debuted in All Elite Wrestling as Kip Sabian’s “Best Man”. The gimmick fizzled out but perhaps he will be Kip’s selection as an opponent for Cassidy this Friday night on AEW Rampage.

Former TNT Champion Miro hasn’t been featured on AEW television lately and there hasn’t been any reason provided for his absence.

He was randomly thrown in a 6-man tag team match at the now infamous All Out PPV on September 4th. Miro teamed up with Darby Allin and Sting to defeat the House of Black at the PPV.

Buddy Matthews bashed Miro with Sting’s baseball bat to take him out of the match. Sting spit mist in Malakai Black’s eyes and Darby capitalized for the pinfall victory. Darby Allin and Sting have been booked for a match at AEW Full Gear on November 19th. The duo will battle Jay Lethal and the recently signed Jeff Jarrett in a tag team match.

• AEW Full Gear 2022 Preview

Miro is not currently booked for a match for the PPV at the Prudential Center this Saturday. All Elite Wrestling is holding another World Title Eliminator tournament with the finals taking place at the PPV. Miro was a part of the tournament last year but lost to Bryan Danielson in the finals via submission at Full Gear 2021. The former TNT Champion was a replacement for Jon Moxley when he stepped away last year. He was not included in the tournament this year.

A fan on Twitter put together some highlights of The Redeemer in All Elite Wrestling and Miro responded. The 37-year-old responded with “remember that guy?”, a nod to his mysterious lack of television time on Dynamite or Rampage.

CJ Perry on Miro’s Lack of TV Time

Former WWE Superstar CJ Perry (Lana) and Miro’s better half joined Busted Open Radio recently and was asked about her husband’s bizarre booking in All Elite Wrestling. She noted that AEW President Tony Khan has his favorites that he is going to push.

CJ Perry has insinuated that Miro not being a ‘favorite’ of AEW President Tony Khan has resulted in the Bulgarian not getting regular TV time.

Miro, formerly Rusev in WWE, joined AEW in September 2020 and is a former TNT Champion.

Over the past year though, Miro’s TV time has greatly diminished and he has been the victim of lengthy absences from programming.

Playing Favorites

Weeks and months can go by without an appearance from Miro, which his wife is, unsurprisingly, not a fan of.

During an appearance on Busted Open Radio on Tuesday, Perry was asked about her husband’s stop-start booking in AEW (via F4W Online.)

“Tony Khan has his favorites and he’s going to push the favorites just like Vince [McMahon] would push his favorites, just like Hunter is going to push his people. It’s show business.”

CJ Perry on her husband’s AEW booking.

Miro himself has teased being unhappy in AEW, liking a tweet that suggested he would do better back in WWE.

The Bulgarian worked for WWE from 2010 to 2020 and held the United States Championship three times.

Miro has wrestled just one match in the past four months for AEW, competing at All Out 2022 where he teamed with Sting and Darby Allin to defeat the House of Black.

Unhappy

Miro doesn’t wrestle in AEW nearly as much as he did in WWE, but the former Superstar still has big dreams.

When asked whether her husband is enjoying his time working for Tony Khan, Perry responded:

“I mean, he wants to be champion so he’s not going to be happy until he’s champion. I’m just going to leave it at that.”

CJ Perry.

There have been rumors that AEW could sign Perry to a contract, presumably as the on-screen manager for her husband.

CJ Perry was not punished by WWE for her husband Miro joining All Elite Wrestling, despite what some have claimed.

In 2020, months after his April 15, release, Miro joined AEW where he is a one-time TNT Champion.

Perry herself was released from WWE in June 2021, with her high-dollar contract reportedly a factor in WWE’s decision.

Not Punished

Not long after Miro’s AEW debut, Perry (known as Lana in WWE) was involved in a storyline that saw her put through tables each week.

Some speculated that WWE’s storyline was a form of punishment for Perry, who denied the claim in a talk with Fightful Select.

Not only was this not a punishment, Perry made it clear that she pitched for the angle to happen, adding that she had to fight Liv Morgan for the ‘honor.’

Perry explained how the tables spot was supposed to get Nia Jax over as a babyface, as Lana was a heel at the time.

Ultimately, fans would ultimately side with Perry for her resilience each week, culminating in a babyface turn.

Miro and AEW

Perry hasn’t appeared for All Elite Wrestling, but Miro has made references to his “hot wife” multiple times.

Speaking about the Bulgarian wrestler, Perry said that Miro never gives her a heads-up before referencing her on TV.

Addressing possibly joining AEW, the former Total Divas star said that there have not been “extended talks” with the company, but is open to a role.

Perry said that even though she loved wrestling, she would prefer to focus on outside-the-ring roles such as a manager or valet.

Miro hasn’t been seen on AEW television in some time and addressed the matter on social media today.

The Bulgarian Brute was last seen in All Elite Wrestling in a six-man tag team match at AEW All Out on September 4th. He teamed with Darby Allin & Sting to face House of Black (Malakai Black, Brody King, Buddy Matthews).

Miro didn’t play a part in the finish of the match, as Sting spat green mist in Malakai’s eyes and Darby followed it up with a Coffin Drop for the pinfall victory. After the match, Malakai Black bowed to the crowd and many speculated that his time in the company was done.

He released a statement confirming that he requested his release, and then followed it up with a video stating that he will be returning to AEW after some time away. Buddy Matthews announced that he will be taking some off as well to “recalibrate” at an independent wrestling event over the weekend.

• Malakai Black Denies Rumors Of His AEW Release

When it comes to appearing on weekly television, Miro has been rarely featured since Forbidden Door in June. A Twitter user pointed out that Miro has not appeared on an episode of Dynamite in three months.

The 36-year-old responded to the fan and sent a message to the AEW locker room. Miro suggested that he hasn’t been featured on television because “nobody has the balls” to face him.

Miro (Rusev) was released by WWE in April 2020. He made his in-ring debut for All Elite Wrestling several months later on September 9th. Miro debuted in the promotion with blonde hair as “The Best Man” aligned with Kip Sabian and Penelope Ford, but that gimmick was abandoned shortly after.

He is a one-time TNT Champion in AEW and held the title for 140 days in 2021 before dropping it to Sammy Guevara. Miro signed a four-year extension with AEW to keep him with the promotion until 2026. His name started popping up in rumors after he liked a post that hinted that he might be better off in WWE following Jon Moxley’s Word Title Eliminator against Mance Warner.

There has been a great amount of discussion over the last two months about WWE reportedly making overtures to AEW talent who are still under contract, and a new report sheds some light on exactly who these names are.

According to Fightful Select, there were indeed some AEW stars who did receive word that WWE would be interested in bringing them back. The first name that jumps off the page is former AEW Tag Team Champion Swerve Strickland. According to the report, he told the WWE party to contact his attorney. Strickland apparently had no interest in returning to WWE, and the pitch was reportedly for him to return as part of Hit Row.

For what it’s worth, Strickland’s partner Keith Lee has apparently not been contacted by WWE.

On the tag team front, it was previously reported that word was given to FTR that WWE would be interested in bringing them back.

Any Truth to Those Bobby Fish, Adam Cole, and Kyle O’Reilly Rumors?

There has been some chatter that Bobby Fish, prior to exiting AEW, was trying to get Adam Cole and Kyle O’Reilly to ask for their AEW releases so that the trio could return to WWE. According to Fightful Select, there’s no truth to this rumor. Several AEW sources indicated the rumor was false, and WWE sources stated that they have not been in contact with Fish about a return to the company.

Miro has not asked for his AEW release despite there being some chatter about WWE reaching out to him. These rumors were not substantiated or refuted, with no reporting either way on the matter.

Lastly, at least one AEW official stated they are expecting both Buddy Matthews and Aleister Black to be back with AEW within a couple of months. Black had asked for his AEW release and reportedly told at least one person at WWE that he wished he was back with the company, however AEW never had any intention of releasing him so that he could return to WWE. AEW officials believed that the situation had been “smoothed over” prior to All Out.

Furthermore, Black did an IG Live on Monday night where he noted he has not been released from AEW. He stated that he has been given some time off to deal with some personal things. He said he would be back with AEW soon.

• Candice LeRae Returns to WWE on Raw

Check out the Top Rope Nation wrestling podcast for your weekly dose of pro wrestling talk featuring interviews, analysis and exclusive news. Apple – Spotify – YouTube.