Big Bill is leaving AEW and a major WWE return is on the table

The Giant Walks Away from Khan

Big Bill is finished with AEW. The former tag team champion has officially given notice to Tony Khan's promotion. Sources confirm his contract is set to expire during the first week of July 2026. This departure opens the door for a major WWE return. WWE is reportedly eyeing a massive tag team reunion, bringing back one of the most popular acts of the last decade.

The rumors have taken the wrestling world by storm as Morrissey's contract status became public. Fans are already looking ahead to what this means for both major promotions. AEW loses a unique athlete, while WWE stands to gain a proven commodity. Let's analyze the career trajectory of William Morrissey, the logistics of a WWE return, and whether this rumored signing makes sense for all parties involved.

From NXT Fame to Personal Redemption

To understand why this return is significant, we must look at where Morrissey started. In NXT, he was paired with Enzo Amore, creating a tag team that relied on raw crowd connection rather than in-ring acrobatics. Their main roster debut on the Raw after WrestleMania 32 in 2016 remains one of the most memorable call-ups in modern history. The audience chanted along with every single word of their introduction, establishing them as instant merchandise sellers.

Despite their immense popularity, the team never won tag team championships in WWE. Backstage issues, personal struggles, and booking mistakes eventually derailed their momentum. By 2018, both men were out of the company. Morrissey's struggles with alcohol addiction became highly public, culminating in a medical emergency at an independent event in late 2018.

What followed was a remarkable redemption story. Morrissey dedicated himself to sobriety, got back into phenomenal physical condition, and rebuilt his career on the independent scene. He signed with Impact Wrestling in 2021 as W. Morrissey, proving he could still perform at a high level. His work caught the eye of AEW, leading to his signing in 2022.

In AEW, Morrissey achieved the championship success that eluded him in WWE. Teaming with Ricky Starks, he won the AEW World Tag Team Championship in October 2023. The duo defeated FTR on Dynamite in a dominant showing, holding the titles for 123 days before dropping them to Sting and Darby Allin. The championship run proved that Morrissey was a reliable television performer who could contribute to a major tag division.

However, his booking post-championship left a lot to be desired. AEW shifted Morrissey into a comedic sidekick role for Chris Jericho in "The Learning Tree" stable. Instead of utilizing his 6-foot-10 frame to project power, creative had him smiling and waving at the camera as a cartoonish henchman. This booking was widely criticized by analysts who felt it minimized his physical presence and athletic growth.

Roster movement is hitting all major promotions, as the recent taping results from Albany showed for TNA Wrestling, creating a highly fluid market for free agents. This shift in creative direction is likely a primary driver behind Morrissey's decision to walk away. At 38 years old, he is in the best shape of his life and wants to be presented as a serious athlete rather than a background character in a comedy routine.

Fitting Into Triple H's Tag Division

The rumors of a WWE return are coupled with the speculation that WWE wants to pair him back up with Enzo Amore. The duo, formerly known as Enzo and Cass, has a built-in nostalgia factor that WWE loves to exploit. Under the creative control of Triple H, WWE has placed a renewed emphasis on tag team wrestling and distinct, character-driven performers.

WWE's current presentation suits Morrissey's specific skill set. He is a traditional big man who excels at throwing heavy strikes, delivering big boots, and executing high-impact power moves. In a tag team, his limitations can be protected, allowing his partner to handle the majority of the in-ring work before Morrissey enters for a hot tag. This formula is highly effective in WWE's television style.

This character-centric focus is visible throughout WWE's developmental system too, where newcomers are scrutinized heavily based on their aesthetics rather than their in-ring work, as discussed in a recent F4WOnline opinion piece on Mason Rook. If Morrissey returns, he will be entering a company that understands how to market his physical dimensions.

Yet, a reunion with Enzo Amore is not without risk. Enzo remains a polarizing figure in the industry. While his mic skills are legendary, his past backstage issues in WWE are well-documented. WWE's current locker room is highly professional, and management will need to be sure that Enzo's return won't disrupt that environment.

Additionally, we must look at the in-ring limitations of the team. Enzo was never known for his technical wrestling, and Morrissey's singles matches can struggle with pacing. If they are brought back, they must be booked in a division that is already undergoing changes. As WWE navigates a busy summer season with changing ticket sales trends, as seen in the recent Rosemont ticket tracking reported by F4WOnline, the company is looking for reliable draws.

Probability Assessment & Expected Timeline

Let's look at the credibility of these rumors. The news of Big Bill's contract expiring was first reported by PWInsider, a tier-one wrestling news source. The details of his AEW departure have been backed up by multiple wrestling journalists. The WWE interest is considered highly credible, as the company has kept tabs on Morrissey's recovery and ring work over the last few years.

We assess the probability of this deal at a high level. Both sides have clear incentives to make this happen. WWE gets a marketable tag team that can immediately boost merchandise sales, while Morrissey gets to complete his comeback story on the grandest stage. The probability of both men signing is high, but even a solo return for Morrissey seems likely given his career trajectory.

The expected debut timeline would likely be late summer or early autumn. With his AEW contract expiring in the first week of July 2026, Morrissey will be free to sign immediately. We could see a debut vignette as early as August, setting up a return match in the fall. This allows WWE to build anticipation for the reunion rather than rushing them onto television without a clear storyline.

The Expected Impact

If the deal goes through, the impact on WWE's tag division will be significant. The division will gain an instantly recognizable babyface team that can work with heels like the Judgment Day or A-Town Down Under. It also provides a satisfying conclusion to a redemption story that many fans have followed for years. For Morrissey, returning to WWE would be the ultimate proof that his hard work has paid off.

AEW will have to adjust to losing a reliable big man who was capable of working various roles on their programming. Tony Khan's roster remains deep, but losing a physical powerhouse of Morrissey's caliber leaves a hole in their mid-card scene. For WWE, the signing represents a low-risk, high-reward move that adds star power and merchandise potential to their weekly broadcasts.