Dax Harwood has offered a clear view on All Elite Wrestling’s expanding roster in 2026: new talent is welcome when the shared objective is helping AEW grow.
AEW has added a number of notable names during the year, including Maya World, Hyan, The Motor City Machine Guns, Ilja Dragunov and The New Level. For a company with a deep and constantly evolving lineup, every arrival naturally invites discussion about available television time, division depth and the opportunities facing the wrestlers already in the locker room. Harwood, however, framed the situation around the larger health and continued development of AEW.
Speaking with The Danny Ocean Show and 3NT Wrestling, the FTR member said he considers growth essential for any company. In his view, bringing in accomplished performers who can contribute something meaningful to the presentation is a positive development rather than a threat.
“I think growing is a big part of any company and bringing on talent. The incredible, talented people you just mentioned is going to do nothing but help us continue to grow. I’m a big fan of Maya World. I’m a big, obviously, big fan of, like I said, Motor City Machine Guns, and having The New Level here brings a lot of additional eyeballs to our product. So anybody that can come along and help to continue to grow AEW, that’s always going to be a plus. It’s always going to be a positive. So as long as they’re here to help that goal, I’ll welcome anybody.”
For more background on this topic, read Dax Harwood Eyes Home-Field Response for FTR in Motor City Machine Guns Series.
Harwood emphasizes the value of a growing roster
Harwood’s answer recognizes the balancing act that comes with a major promotion adding talent. A new signing can bring a different in-ring style, a fresh rivalry, established recognition or a new audience. The strongest additions can do several of those things at once. At the same time, a packed roster creates greater competition for featured matches and sustained storylines.
Rather than treating that competition as inherently negative, Harwood made the case that the key issue is intent. If an incoming wrestler is there to help build AEW and contribute to the product’s wider momentum, he sees no reason to close the door. His wording places the focus on a collective target: expanding the company’s reach and strengthening what viewers see every week.
That outlook also fits the role FTR has held throughout its AEW run. Harwood and Cash Wheeler are among the promotion’s most prominent tag teams, with a reputation built on high-level traditional tag wrestling and matches against teams from a wide range of backgrounds. Their position makes Harwood’s support for meaningful roster growth particularly notable, especially with the tag division continuing to gain potential matchups from new additions.
Motor City Machine Guns remain a major point of interest
Among the names Harwood discussed, The Motor City Machine Guns carry obvious significance for FTR. Alex Shelley and Chris Sabin have long been regarded as one of the defining tag teams of their generation, and their presence in AEW adds another elite pairing to a division that has consistently been central to the company’s identity.
Harwood specifically called himself a big fan of the Motor City Machine Guns. That admiration comes with an established competitive backdrop, as FTR and the Motor City Machine Guns are engaged in a best-of-five series. Harwood also addressed the second match in that series during the same interview.
A best-of-five format puts added emphasis on endurance, adjustment and consistency. One match can establish momentum, but a series asks teams to repeatedly answer one another’s strategies and continue delivering under escalating stakes. For FTR and the Motor City Machine Guns, the series creates a showcase not only for two accomplished teams but for AEW’s investment in tag team competition.
Harwood’s comments on signings and his ongoing rivalry with Shelley and Sabin are connected by that broader point. New talent does not simply increase the number of names on a roster; when positioned effectively, it can create major programs and give established acts new opponents. A series between FTR and the Motor City Machine Guns is the type of matchup that illustrates the upside of placing proven teams in the same environment.
Maya World, Hyan and The New Level add fresh possibilities
Harwood also singled out Maya World as someone he is a big fan of. He grouped her with the other recent additions as performers capable of helping AEW continue moving forward. The mention is a direct endorsement from a veteran who has competed at a high level in one of wrestling’s most demanding divisions.
Hyan is another name included among AEW’s 2026 additions. Alongside Maya World, her arrival further adds to the range of talent available within the company. New performers are often judged quickly by the immediate impact of their first appearances, but Harwood’s comments suggest a longer view. The value of an acquisition is not limited to one debut or one match; it is found in how that person can aid the promotion’s sustained growth.
The New Level was also central to Harwood’s answer. He said their presence brings “a lot of additional eyeballs” to AEW’s product, highlighting a major reason promotions pursue talent with established followings and distinct identities. Wrestling operates on competition inside the ring, but companies also compete for attention. Acts that can draw viewers toward a product, generate curiosity and broaden the audience are valuable beyond the immediate matches they produce.
Ilja Dragunov was among the most recent names mentioned in connection with AEW’s 2026 signings. His addition, alongside The New Level, continued a run of roster activity that has made AEW’s talent picture a major subject of discussion. Harwood did not break down individual plans for Dragunov or predict specific matches, but his overall stance applies to every addition: the door is open to performers who are committed to advancing AEW’s wider mission.
A team-first message from an established AEW name
The most important part of Harwood’s statement is the condition attached to his welcome. He did not argue that every signing is automatically beneficial simply because it is a signing. Instead, he identified a standard: an arrival should be oriented toward helping AEW achieve growth. That distinction makes his position less about roster size and more about purpose.
It is also a team-first message at a time when attention can easily shift toward individual opportunities. New arrivals may change the landscape for championships, rivalries and television exposure. Harwood’s perspective is that a stronger overall AEW product can ultimately benefit everyone involved. If new wrestlers help bring more attention to the company, create compelling programs and raise the level of competition, the roster as a whole has more to gain.
For fans, the immediate intrigue lies in seeing how AEW utilizes its expanding group of performers. The Motor City Machine Guns’ series with FTR already provides one significant example of what a deeper talent pool can produce. Maya World, Hyan, Ilja Dragunov and The New Level each represent additional possibilities as AEW continues to shape its programming.
Harwood’s comments do not promise outcomes, championship paths or particular matchups. They do offer a concise statement of what he believes should guide the company’s decisions. AEW should keep growing, talented people should be brought in when they can serve that growth, and the locker room should welcome those who arrive ready to contribute.
As 2026 continues, AEW’s newest additions will have the opportunity to demonstrate exactly how they fit into that vision. Harwood has made his own position clear: if the goal is to help AEW move forward, he is prepared to welcome them.
Darryl Polo
Darryl Polo is a passionate wrestling fan covering WWE, AEW, TNA and beyond. He loves great rivalries, breakout stars and the moments that keep fans talking long after the bell. How we work.