So far AEW has claimed the names of some of WWE’s former stars like Chris Jericho and Pac as well as some of independent wrestling’s top guys and girls like Joey Janela and Britt Baker.
Read Also: All announced wrestlers for the AEW roster so far
But, there are several top names within the WWE that are being linked with the new promotion, underused guys like Tye Dillinger and Zack Ryder and guys whose contracts are allegedly up soon like AJ Styles and Dean Ambrose.
Whilst it will undoubtedly for a good move for some wrestlers currently in the WWE to jump ship to AEW, I feel there are a handful of Superstars who would be better off staying and would regret leaving if they were to! Let’s take a look at who that might be!
#10. Dean Ambrose
The ‘Lunatic Fringe’ has been the big news story of the week so far with the Superstar allegedly turning down a new contract, meaning he’s set to leave the WWE after WrestleMania.
Now, AEW would be a logical place for Dean Ambrose to go as it’s likely he’d be one of the top stars in the company because of his association with the WWE and the fact he was part of The Shield and their youngest Grand Slam champion.
However, there are a few reasons that Ambrose should stay in WWE. First of all his wife, Renee Young would still be in WWE and she’d be touring with them a lot so he’d see her less and secondly The Shield.
The Shield is, perhaps, the greatest modern stable in WWE history and they are certain to reunite at some point in the future. Plus Reigns is currently undergoing a cancer battle but is said to be doing well and expected to return. Surely when he does, Ambrose would want to be there, either to stand with him or oppose him.
#9. Dolph Ziggler
Dolph Ziggler recently surprised everyone by showing up in the Royal Rumble despite saying he wouldn’t be in the mind, his WWE contract was up and that this time he had left the WWE for good.
This isn’t the first time that Dolph Ziggler has allegedly left the WWE only to show up at the Royal Rumble, in fact, it literally happened last year when he came out at number thirty after ’leaving the company’.
But, this time AEW is looming with Tony Khan’s money, meaning that Ziggler might be tempted to actually leave the company and join Cody and the Young Bucks there. I think if he did this it would be a mistake.
Sure, Ziggler hasn’t been a top guy in the WWE and likely never will be in the future, but he’s always just below that spot and is consistently used well. Ziggler staying with WWE and being allowed to pursue his other interests like comedy would be the best thing for him in my opinion!
#8. Shinsuke Nakamura
There are people out there that think that Shinsuke Nakamura has been wasted in the WWE with them having ’nothing to do with him’ and ‘under-using’ them. Whilst they may have an argument it does come across as disingenuous when he’s been a two time United States Champion and a Royal Rumble winner during his time with the company.
Heck, I can agree that he’s a far cry from the electric and enigmatic Shinsuke Nakamura we all knew from New Japan Pro Wrestling, but for Nakamura, I can imagine that’s exactly the point. He can earn a nice sum of money from WWE and he doesn’t have to put on the body endangering matches he used to.
Nakamura is one of the Superstars who may be leaving the WWE if his reported contract expiration date is indeed accurate and there’s certainly no denying he’d be a huge get for AEW.
But I truly believe he should stay in WWE because he doesn’t need to go anywhere else, not everyone can be the world champion (especially on a brand with AJ Styles and Daniel Bryan) but he is consistently still used as a top guy and will continue to be used as such.
#7. The Hardy Boyz
Matt and Jeff Hardy have had an excellent run with the WWE since surprising everyone by returning at WrestleMania a few years ago. They’ve been tag-team champions together and they’ve had individual success with Jeff Hardy winning the United States title and Matt Hardy winning the Raw Tag-Team Titles with Bray Wyatt.
However, the Hardy Boyz contracts are allegedly up in April around WrestleMania time and I know there are a whole bunch of people that would love to see The Hardy Boyz vs The Young Bucks in AEW.
Whilst that match would be huge for AEW and for wrestling, in general, I think the Hardys should stay with the company they started with all those years ago. They’re being given creative freedom to make their own shows and they’re still treated like huge stars whenever they do anything.
#6. Tye Dillinger
Tye Dillinger has been out of action in WWE following an injury to his hand. During his time away from television he’s been a vocal detractor of the company and his position within it leading to many people speculating he wants out.
Whilst AEW might be the perfect place for him to end up if he does leave I believe it’ll actually be a step in the wrong direction for Dillinger, even if he isn’t used much on SmackDown Live
That’s because he isn’t a big enough star in WWE (partly because of his booking and the frequency of his appearances, obviously) to earn himself a top spot in AEW and I honestly think he’d find himself very much in the same spot he’s in now, just for AEW, with less money.
#5. The Revival
The Revival has allegedly handed in a release request to the WWE but were asked to give the company a few months to allow them to display that they’ve changed and that things are going to get better.
Whilst Scott Dawson and Dash Wilder are still in the WWE (although Wilder was conspicuously replaced by one-half of the Authors of Pain during the Royal Rumble) the independent wrestling scene is incredibly excited about finally seeing the Revival vs The Young Bucks.
Read Also: Revival ask for their release from WWE
However, the WWE reportedly do not want the Revival to leave and for good reason. Many former Superstars and legends and people currently within the company see them as the best tag-team they have. With that in mind, there’s a chance they might finally start being booked like that.
Let’s not forget they were given the spot against DX at Raw 25 which clearly shows the WWE holds them in high regards, even if they don’t show it sometimes.
#4. Zack Ryder
Zack Ryder is someone else who at one point was incredibly popular in the WWE and has just been flat-out underused since the height of that popularity was killed off. Plus he’s known to be good friends with Cody so he’s been heavily linked with AEW.
However, Ryder leaving WWE would be a huge mistake. He currently has his show with Curt Hawkins about collectable wrestling figures and he’s just reunited with his former tag-team partner as an official tag-team.
If Ryder were to leave WWE for AEW he’d lose the show he gets to do and he’d be depriving the WWE Universe of one of the longest running storyline conclusions and potential greatest WWE moment ever - Curt Hawkins (and himself) finally winning a match.
#3. Goldberg
Okay, so Goldberg isn’t an active member of the WWE roster but he is a Hall of Famer and with that comes the lucrative and incredibly flexible legends contract. Let’s also not forget that not too long ago he was the WWE Universal Champion.
Goldberg has been linked to AEW a lot recently after being spotted following them on Twitter. Several wrestling websites also reported that AEW and Goldberg were in negotiations although he’s yet to be announced as part of the promotion.
My question is, why would Goldberg leave a company that would offer him a great contract as well as that legitimately treated him as the top guy not too long ago? If he goes to AEW he certainly won’t be treated the same!
#2. Brock Lesnar
Okay, Brock Lesnar hasn’t been linked with All Elite Wrestling, but we all know that Brock Lesnar does exactly what Brock Lesnar wants to do. What Brock Lesnar wants to do usually depends on how much money he’s going to get paid. So in theory, if Khan opens his chequebook enough he could end up in AEW.
‘The Beast Incarnate’ is the current Universal Champion and is likely to be the defending champion heading into the biggest show of them all this year, WrestleMania. If that does happen it would be the third ‘Mania in a row he’d do so.
This is exactly why he should never leave WWE and join another wrestling promotion. Because he’s legitimately the top guy in WWE whenever he’s there and in professional wrestling, there is no top spot greater than the WWE’s top spot.
#1. AJ Styles
AJ Styles’ contract runs out this year and the ‘Phenomenal One’ will certainly have almost every wrestling company in the world vying for his signature given that he’s still one of the best wrestlers ever to set foot inside a squared circle.
But should Styles give up his well paid WWE career and head to pastures new? Perhaps, AEW could do with a top star to move the needle and Styles would certainly fit the bill so maybe they offer him a better deal and he goes there.
But if you look at Style’s run since joining the WWE and the fact that guys like Vince McMahon and Triple H see his value, you’d have to be crazy to leave the WWE if you were AJ Styles!
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