Folks, we’re witnessing a mass exodus in AEW. Some are calling it the “Great Escape of 2025,” and honestly, who can blame them? First, it was Ricky Starks, then Miro, then Malakai Black—one by one, they’re disappearing faster than Tony Khan’s credibility after every Collision promo. And now? The women’s division is taking a hit as “Legit” Leyla Hirsch is packing her bags and heading to greener pastures—or at least, pastures that don’t involve Ring of Honor catering.
According to PWInsider Elite (which is like regular PWInsider, but with more five-star takes), Hirsch’s contract is set to expire at the end of February, and she’s already got one foot out the Forbidden Door. But here’s the kicker—no non-compete clause! That means she can start showing up anywhere immediately. WWE? IMPACT? The indies? A surprise gig as an enforcer for The Real Housewives of Moscow? The possibilities are endless.
Hirsch burst onto the AEW scene in 2020 during the pandemic era—a time when wrestling in an empty Daily’s Place felt like watching a rehearsal that somehow made it to live television. She impressed enough people to earn a full-time deal in 2021, carving out a niche as one of AEW’s most promising women’s wrestlers. But just when things were heating up, disaster struck in 2022 when she tore her ACL, leading to a year-long absence.
When she finally returned, she wasn’t even really in AEW anymore. Instead, she was thrown into the Ring of Honor women’s division, where she had some bangers—like a Texas Death Match against Diamante and a title shot against Red Velvet. But let’s be real—ROH in 2025 is basically AEW’s attic. You don’t send people there unless you’ve forgotten they exist or you’re trying to repackage them like an unwanted Christmas gift.
So what’s next for Hirsch? Will WWE come knocking? Will she dominate the indie scene? Will Tony Khan tweet a paragraph about how much he totally wanted to re-sign her but “wishes her well in her future endeavors”? Only time will tell. But one thing’s for sure—AEW is bleeding talent faster than CM Punk can burn bridges, and if this trend continues, we might be looking at All Exit Wrestling sooner rather than later.