WWE & AEW Rumours: People In WWE Expecting AEW To Sign Santos Escobar, What's Going On With Shane McMahon?

Santos Escobar has officially departed WWE after several years with the company, and reportedly the expectation within WWE is he will end up in AEW. There has also been speculation around Shane McMahon's WWE status, but has anything actually changed with Shane O'Mac?

Xavier Woods, meanwhile, has re-signed with WWE, and there is an update on Hikaru Shida putting pen to paper on a new deal with AEW.

WWE and AEW rumours for October 8, 2025:

Santos Escobar Expected To Sign With AEW

Santos Escobar officially departed WWE this week upon the expiration of his contract, with it being reported that Escobar turned down a new deal from WWE due to how he was being used in the company.

Escobar's next destination has yet to be confirmed, but Dave Meltzer reported on Wrestling Observer Radio that people within WWE expect the former WWE Cruiserweight Champion to land in AEW.

"They've been expecting him to leave for some time. They obviously took him away from Angel and Berto for that very reason, not expecting him to stay. Yeah, he's gone. I do know people there, it's multiple people there, who expect him to go to AEW. I don't know if he does or he doesn't," Meltzer said.

Rumour Killer On Change To Shane McMahon's WWE Status

Shane McMahon hasn't appeared on WWE programming since sustaining a torn quadriceps in an impromptu match at WrestleMania 39 against The Miz, which ultimately resulted in Snoop Dogg hitting a people's elbow and pinning the two-time WWE Champion.

McMahon has since held talks with All Elite Wrestling that didn't lead to further collaboration, and it was speculated on social media that Shane O'Mac could be on his way back to WWE as it was suggested he had been added back to the active roster on WWE.com.

McMahon, however, has been listed on the active roster on WWE's website for some time, and there has been no change in his profile on WWE.com.

Xavier Woods Re-Signs With WWE

Xavier Woods has been with WWE for 15 years, and he won't be leaving the company anytime soon.

Fightful Select has reported that Woods' contract was due to expire in September 2025. Talks over a new deal came down to the wire, but the two sides ultimately agreed to a new multi-year contract and Xaver Woods re-signed with the company.

Backstage News On Hikaru Shida Signing New AEW Deal

Hikaru Shida recently announced she had signed a new deal with All Elite Wrestling, and Fightful Select has reported that Shida's new contract is a multi-year deal.

Shida is an AEW original and she is a three-time AEW Women's World Champion, last holding the gold in 2023. Fightful noted that Shida is well liked in the company and she has been missed for a long time.

Eyebrows were raised when Shida wasn't at Worlds End 2024 since she lives in the area, but "everything is smooth sailing now." Shida has yet to wrestle for AEW in 2025 due to visa issues, last competing for the company in November 2024.