When the lights dimmed and the opening notes of a new theme song echoed through the arena during the January 17 broadcast of AEW Collision, fans of high-flying, independent-style wrestling felt a surge of adrenaline. The arrival of The Rascalz on a platform as massive as All Elite Wrestling felt like the culmination of a journey that had spanned nearly a decade across the global wrestling landscape. As Dezmond Xavier, Zachary Wentz, and Myron Reed stepped into the spotlight to make their presence known to the AEW faithful, the visual was striking, yet noticeably incomplete. For those who had followed the group’s evolution from the intimate confines of the independent circuit to the bright lights of national television, the absence of Trey Miguel was a glaring void that immediately sparked a firestorm of speculation across social media and wrestling forums. The questions began mounting instantly: where was the man known for his breathtaking agility and technical prowess, and why was the most anticipated faction debut of the year missing one of its cornerstone members?
The answers began to trickle out in the following hours, painting a picture of a professional relationship that ended almost as quickly as it had been formalized. It has now been confirmed that Trey Miguel is no longer under contract with All Elite Wrestling, a development that is as shocking as it is sudden. The timeline of this departure is particularly jarring when considering the momentum the group had built throughout the latter half of 2025. Following the expiration of his previous obligations with TNA Wrestling at the close of that year, Miguel was part of a collective movement that saw all four members of the expanded Rascalz unit ink multi-year agreements with the Jacksonville-based promotion. This move was viewed by many industry insiders as a major coup for Tony Khan’s company, securing a ready-made, highly marketable faction that could immediately bolster the tag team and trios divisions. However, the ink was barely dry on those contracts before the trajectory of Miguel’s tenure took a sharp and unexpected turn.
The internal logistics of the professional wrestling business often move behind a curtain of secrecy, but the specifics of Miguel’s exit suggest a decision made with significant haste. While the public only became aware of the situation around the time of the Collision broadcast, the groundwork for his departure was laid days earlier. It has been established that Miguel was not present at the television tapings held on January 14, the very session where the debut of his teammates was captured on film. This indicates that the decision to part ways was not a last-minute creative pivot or a logistical mishap on the day of the show, but rather a definitive conclusion reached in the quiet days leading up to the faction’s arrival. The release was handled with a level of discretion that is rare in an era of constant leaks, leaving the wrestling world to piece together the narrative from the breadcrumbs left on social media.
Prior to the formal confirmation of his release, Miguel had already begun to signal a shift in his professional status. In the digital age, a wrestler’s social media activity is often the first indicator of their standing within a promotion, and Miguel followed a familiar pattern by scrubbing AEW-related content from his public profiles. This digital disappearing act was followed by a heartfelt, albeit brief, communication to his fanbase on Instagram on January 18. In this update, he expressed a need to step away from the rigors of the wrestling industry for an unspecified duration. He requested privacy and space from the community, asking that he not be tagged in discussions or posts while he navigates this hiatus. Despite his personal departure from the group’s immediate plans, he remained supportive of his longtime brothers, urging the audience to continue their backing of the remaining Rascalz as they embark on their new journey in All Elite Wrestling.
To understand the weight of this loss for the AEW roster, one must look back at the storied history Trey Miguel built before this short-lived signing. Since 2018, Miguel had been a vital organ in the body of TNA Wrestling, specifically within the X-Division that has long been the promotion’s calling card. Alongside Xavier and Wentz, he helped redefine what a modern wrestling faction could look like, blending stoner-comedy tropes with world-class athleticism in the "Treehouse" segments that became a cult favorite among viewers. When Xavier and Wentz initially departed for WWE’s NXT brand a few years ago, Miguel chose a different path, remaining as a pillar of TNA and further honing his skills as a premier singles competitor. His loyalty to the brand was rewarded with multiple championship reigns and a reputation as one of the most reliable performers in the business.
The eventual reunion of the group in late 2025 was a moment of genuine emotional resonance for the performers and the audience alike. After Xavier and Wentz completed their highly successful stint in NXT—where they captured tag team gold and refined their presentation on a major scale—the stars finally aligned for the four-man iteration of the group to test the waters of the free-agent market together. Throughout 2024 and 2025, Miguel himself had made several notable appearances on NXT programming, participating in cross-promotional storylines that teased the ultimate potential of a fully reunited Rascalz. The transition to AEW seemed like the natural next step, a chance to bring their unique chemistry to a global stage with a creative freedom that many felt would perfectly suit their high-octane style.
Reports regarding the nature of the split suggest that the parting of ways between Trey Miguel and All Elite Wrestling was amicable. In the high-pressure environment of professional wrestling, contracts are often terminated due to creative differences, disciplinary issues, or budgetary constraints, but the "amicable" label implies a mutual understanding or a personal decision that superseded the professional commitment. While the specific catalysts for the release remain shielded from the public eye, the timing remains the most discussed aspect of the story. For a talent to sign a multi-year deal and be released within a matter of days is an anomaly in the industry, suggesting that whatever factors led to the separation were of significant importance to one or both parties.
The ripple effects of this departure will be felt most acutely by Dezmond Xavier, Zachary Wentz, and Myron Reed. As they transition into their roles as a trio within AEW, the dynamic of the group must necessarily shift. Myron Reed, a standout performer in his own right who has long been associated with the group on the independent circuit, now finds himself in a position where he must help fill the void left by Miguel’s absence. The Rascalz have always functioned best as a brotherhood, and while the trio remains a formidable force capable of putting on match-of-the-year contenders with the likes of The Young Bucks or The House of Black, the "what if" regarding the four-man unit will likely linger in the minds of the audience for some time.
For Miguel, this hiatus represents a rare moment of stillness in a career that has been defined by constant motion. The physical toll of the "Fresh Prince of Mid-Air" style is immense, and the mental grind of navigating the politics of multiple major promotions in a single calendar year cannot be understated. Professional wrestling is a demanding vocation that often requires athletes to sacrifice their personal well-being for the sake of the show, and Miguel’s decision to prioritize his space and mental health is a reflection of a growing trend among modern performers. By stepping back now, he preserves the possibility of a future return on his own terms, rather than risking burnout or further complications while under the spotlight of a major national television contract.
The AEW landscape is one of constant flux, with new signings and departures occurring with a frequency that keeps the fan base on its toes. However, the Trey Miguel situation stands out as a unique case study in the volatility of the modern contract era. It serves as a reminder that behind the choreographed matches and scripted storylines are real individuals dealing with complex lives and professional crossroads. The promotion will undoubtedly move forward, utilizing the remaining members of the Rascalz to their fullest potential, while the door remains theoretically open for a future chapter in Miguel’s career should he decide to return to the ring.
As the wrestling community processes the news, the focus remains on the well-being of the performer. Trey Miguel has given nearly a decade of his life to entertaining audiences with some of the most innovative maneuvers ever seen in a wrestling ring. Whether he was competing in front of a few hundred people in a gymnasium or millions of viewers on television, his commitment to the craft was never in question. The sudden end of his AEW tenure is a disappointing development for those who wanted to see him reach the pinnacle of the industry alongside his closest friends, but it does not diminish the legacy he has already established.
Looking ahead, the Rascalz will continue to be a focal point of AEW’s programming. Their debut on Collision was just the first step in what is expected to be a significant push for the group. They bring a fresh energy and a storied pedigree to a roster that thrives on variety. Meanwhile, the wrestling world will wait for the day Trey Miguel feels ready to step back through the curtain. Whether that return happens in AEW, TNA, or another promotion entirely, his talent ensures that he will be welcomed back with open arms. For now, the story of Trey Miguel and All Elite Wrestling ends as a brief, mysterious chapter in a much larger book, leaving fans to wonder about the matches that might have been and the heights that could have been reached had the timing been just a little bit different.
The industry is often criticized for its "show must go on" mentality, but in this instance, the "amicable" nature of the release suggests a level of professional maturity from both the talent and the office. In an era where every backstage disagreement is magnified by the internet, the quiet and respectful nature of this separation is noteworthy. It allows the Rascalz to maintain their momentum without the shadow of a messy departure hanging over their debut, and it allows Miguel the peace he requested to navigate his next steps. As the dust settles on this whirlwind week of signings and releases, the primary takeaway is the unpredictability of the business and the human element that ultimately drives it. The Rascalz are here to stay in AEW, but for the time being, they will be doing so as a trio, carrying the spirit of their absent brother into every match they work.
