Trey Miguel's AEW Release Possibly Related To Past Comments

Trey Miguel's release from All Elite Wrestling may have been due to past comments made by the former TNA X-Division Champion.

Bryan Alvarez has reported on Wrestling Observer Radio that AEW were interested in signing Miguel in 2020, but the promotion were blocked from doing so by their US TV partner, Warner Bros. Discovery, in a situation similar to Jay Briscoe's ban from AEW TV.

"It does appear to be very much like the Jay Briscoe situation where Jay Briscoe said things, he apologised, did everything he could to try to make it right, and it didn't matter. WBD was not going to allow him on the programming, and they never did. My understanding is there was a period around 2020 where AEW was gonna bring him [Trey] in. For the same reason, he was not allowed to be brought in. Maybe Tony thought five years later, six years later, well we'll sign him. Turns out that wasn't going to fly," Alvarez said.

Dave Meltzer also stated on Wrestling Observer Radio, however, that there have been claims about another reason being behind Trey's quick AEW exit.

"I do want to say there are people who think that this is what Trey Miguel believes and this is what we believe, that they think that may not be the actual story. I do want to bring that up because if I don't, people will go like, 'You know that there's another story.' And I don't want to bring up the other one because I have no information on it, but there are people who have been telling me," Meltzer added.

Jay Briscoe was banned from appearing on AEW TV by WBD due to past homophobic tweets from 2013. Jay apologised for his comments on multiple occasions, and many credited Briscoe with educating himself on LGBTQ+ issues in the aftermath of the incident, but WBD never rescinded the ban prior to Briscoe's passing on January 17, 2023.

Trey Miguel first made offensive comments in 2019 during a heated Twitter exchange with David Starr after Starr wore pro wrestling gear supporting the Black Lives Matter movement. Comments from Trey included him tweeting: "@TheProductDS stop exploiting sh*t you don't really care about. And for the record, ALL LIVES MATTER."

Miguel also mocked Starr, who is Jewish, for posting photos of himself crying at a former Nazi concentration camp and at the Western Wall in Jerusalem. David Starr has not been involved in pro wrestling since being accused of sexual abuse during the Speaking Out movement in 2020.

Miguel also made homophobic comments on Facebook in March 2020, responding to a troll comment with:

"Obviously you're gay. Most people as unattractive as you become gay out of fear of rejection from the opposite sex. So you find comfort, ability and familiarity in the same sex and end up matching someone who's the same as you… gay. Because there's no other f*cking options. You ugly b*tch… [Yeah], truth's a b*tch."

Miguel apologised soon after on Facebook, writing:

"I'm not anti‑LGBTQ+. I made some very mean comments to a member of the community in regards to why they were a member and it wasn't right or tasteful. Regardless of the comments made to get me to such an ugly place, I was wrong and I'm not afraid to admit it. Two of my very best friends are members of said community and I'd take a bullet [for] either of them. I won't try to justify anything I said but I will apologize like a man. If I offended you then I'm genuinely sorry. Please find it in your hearts to forgive me. If you can't forgive me, I do not blame you. But this world needs more love than hate and I'm sorry for contributing to the less desired of the two."

Trey Miguel and the rest of The Rascalz in Zachary Wentz, Dezmond Xavier, and Myron Reed signed with All Elite Wrestling earlier this month, shortly after Miguel and Wentz's contracts with TNA Wrestling expired at the end of 2025. Miguel, however, was absent from The Rascalz's debut segment at Collision Maximum Carnage, and Trey announced on Sunday, January 18 that he would be taking a break from pro wrestling.

It was reported soon after that Miguel had been released by AEW, although the two sides remain on amicable terms.

Following speculation about the reason for his AEW release, Miguel tweeted on Monday:

"I've made a lot of mistakes in my time. I've always apologized and did my best to put a better foot forward after. I don't preach hate and I don't take any pride in being hateful. I'm a man of faith, I believe in forgiveness and only ever preach that. I'm a different man today."