Predicting What's Next for Mandy Rose and the Biggest Wrestling Free Agents in 2023 (2024)

The wrestling landscape changed dramatically in 2022 with Triple H taking the reins of WWE from Vince McMahon and bringing back many familiar faces, while Tony Khan bolstered his AEW roster in addition to acquiring the entirety of Ring of Honor.

Based on recent rumors and other indications, 2023 promises to be equally unpredictable as far as where certain stars will land.

There weren't nearly as many departures from WWE in 2022 as there were in 2021 and 2020, not to mention that they have since re-signed plenty of people, but free agency is still loaded with potential top talent from across the industry.

Triple H will not hesitate in 2023 to snatch up any of them if the interest is there, and the same can be said for Khan. Many wrestlers will be available to appear wherever they please once the clock strikes midnight on Jan. 1, while others are already available and have been for a while.

With William Regal confirmed to leave AEW for WWE in the first week of 2023, per Fightful Select, where will the rest of wrestling's hottest free agents end up?

Note: Those who will reportedly see their contracts expire later on in the year will not be included.

John Morrison

The fact Morrison has yet to put to pen to paper with any wrestling company is rather surprising given how talented he still is at 43. He's appeared for AEW, AAA and just recently for MLW, but if he remains a free agent in 2023, he'd be a good pickup for WWE's midcard scene on either Raw or SmackDown.

Taya Valkyrie

It's a little less surprising Valkyrie has yet to return to WWE considering she's currently killing it in IMPACT, the NWA, MLW and AAA and is a champion in three of those four promotions. Her stint in NXT as Franky Monet last year was short-lived, and she deserves a second chance, possibly alongside her husband Morrison on the main roster.

Shane Taylor

After not appearing on television for any promotion since last December, the former ROH world television champion resurfaced at Final Battle and had a strong showing against Swerve In Our Glory in tag team action. Once ROH TV gets up and running again soon, he must be a part of the product.

Nick Aldis

Aldis isn't as notable of a name as others listed but is still incredibly accomplished as a former Impact world champion and NWA worlds heavyweight champion. He will be wrapping up his run with the NWA imminently and belongs on a bigger stage, particularly WWE or AEW. If neither company can make room for him on their rosters, another IMPACT return might be his best bet.

Nigel McGuinness

While not an active in-ring performer, McGuiness can bring great value to whatever company he decides to sign with next. After serving as a commentator for WWE on NXT and NXT UK for nearly six years, he was released in October and hasn't popped up anywhere since. He'd be a great get for ROH given his ties there, if not NXT Europe when the brand launches some time in 2023.

Mandy Rose's release from WWE last week took many WWE fans by surprise considering she was fresh off losing the NXT Women's Championship the day prior following a 413-day reign.

The leader of Toxic Attraction was the centerpiece of NXT's women's division for that entire period and did an exceptional job in the role, working with everyone from Alba Fyre and Raquel Rodriguez to Zoey Stark and Roxanne Perez.

Her agent, Malki Kawa, told TMZ Sports that Rose has made a whopping $500,000 from posting content to the FanTime page that caused her to be cut in the first place. If true, Rose has no reason to lace up the boots again any time soon.

She'd certainly be an asset to the women's divisions in either AEW or IMPACT, but it's much more likely she returns to WWE before long if the two parties can agree on what's appropriate for her to post online.

Either way, expect to see Rose back in the WWE fold sometime in 2023, though a run in AEW isn't completely out of the question, either.

Of the many Superstars who have returned to WWE this year, a majority of them have been women. Candice LeRae, Mia Yim, Tegan Nox, Dakota Kai, Iyo Sky, Emma, Scarlett, B-Fab and Sarah Logan have all been quality additions to the Raw and SmackDown women's divisions in their various roles.

If an October tweet from WWE insider Twitter account WrestleVotes is to be believed, Chelsea Green could be the next name to be brought back, and she shouldn't come alone.

Green has made the rounds since being released from WWE in April 2021, having competed for IMPACT, the NWA, GCW and Ring of Honor. She's had success, but her best work has actually been alongside her husband, Matt Cardona.

The two have been an excellent heel couple everywhere they've gone, and their act could work in WWE, even if Cardona has to go by his former moniker, Zack Ryder.

Both are better off together than apart, and with the unfinished business they have in WWE, that feels like the most likely landing spot for them.

Currently, nothing is known for certain about Goldberg's status with WWE.

He revealed in one interview with the Roman Atwood Podcast (h/t Wrestling Inc) that his deal was set to expire at the end of the year. He has also been adamant about wrestling for the company again due to not being content with how quickly and decisively he was defeated by Roman Reigns in his last match at Elimination Chamber.

In reality, that was exactly how he should have gone out, and there is little value in him having another match unless it makes storyline sense to do so. He shouldn't be fighting for championships at this stage, and there aren't any attraction matches worth bringing him back for.

If Triple H isn't going to give him what he wants, it's entirely possible he hits up Tony Khan and has his last hurrah in AEW.

AEW's roster definitely doesn't need the former WCW world heavyweight champion, but as a one-off with the right opponent, it's something for Khan to consider. Goldberg riding off into the sunset would be ideal, but he doesn't seem content ending his Hall of Fame career on such a sour note.

Despite not having wrestled since October 2021 due to a serious shoulder injury, Kota Ibushi remains one of the very best in the business.

Ibushi has been exclusive to New Japan Pro-Wrestling for the last four years. He has been with the promotion for years but was never actually signed to a full-time deal with them until 2019, hence why he was able to work WWE's Cruiserweight Classic in the summer of 2016.

Ibushi's brief WWE/NXT run was remarkable, exposing him to an all-new audience that would love nothing more than to see him back. Ultimately, though, AEW would make the most sense given his history with Kenny Omega and several others on the roster.

The Golden Star could still stick around in New Japan when all is said and done, but with AEW and New Japan now working together more regularly, it's more a matter of when and not if he crosses over into AEW, perhaps via the Forbidden Door in June.

Sasha Banks' next move has been a hot topic of conversation as of late, and for good reason. Come Jan. 1, she will far and away be the biggest free agent in all of wrestling.

The Boss has not appeared for any wrestling promotion since walking out of Raw back in May. Her contractual status with WWE was constantly in question from that point forward, but all signs point to her being done with the company at the turn of the new year, per Wrestling Observer Radio's Dave Meltzer (h/t WrestlingNews.co).

The belief is that she has been in talks with New Japan Pro-Wrestling about appearing at Wrestle Kingdom 17 on Jan. 4, which would likely include a face-off with IWGP champion Kairi. Needless to say, it would be a must-see match if it comes to fruition.

However, that doesn't necessarily mean she would sign with NJPW exclusively. She'd be able to explore other projects while wrestling anywhere she wishes, and the next-biggest platform would obviously be AEW.

Banks joining the promotion full-time is by no means a sure thing, but she'd certainly be positioned as the focal point of the women's division if she did. She could also have plenty of excellent matches with the talent already there.

If WWE does believe Banks has "peaked," as Meltzer (h/t Wrestling Inc) has reported, this will be her chance to prove her worth to the wrestling world and become an even bigger star than she was before.

Graham Mirmina, aka Graham "GSM" Matthews, has specialized in sports and entertainment writing since 2010. Visit his website, WrestleRant, and subscribe to his YouTube channel for more wrestling-related content.