Which WWE Wrestlers Could Join AEW in 2020?

TL;DR

The Revolt was presented as the strongest candidate to join AEW because a match with the Young Bucks had reportedly been teased for years. Other proposed candidates included Rusev, Rey Mysterio, Apollo Crews, Lio Rush, Mickie James, Zack Ryder, Chad Gable, Cedric Alexander, Ricochet, and Kurt Angle, although the list repeatedly acknowledged that these predictions were speculative.

Transcript

[Applause] like the video subscribe to the channel and turn on those notifications and once you're done leave a comment down below and i just might end up responding a year ago i made this exact kind of list and it was topped by both john moxley and wu carper so you know fingers incredibly crossed it's a weird time in wrestling as if the coronaviru... Read More

Key Insights

• The Revolt was the list's strongest AEW prediction because the former Revival had already rebranded and a match against the Young Bucks had reportedly been teased for about three years. New Japan was also presented as a plausible destination for the team.
• Apollo Crews was portrayed as an athletic wrestler with the look, talent, and presence to become a world champion. The argument for leaving WWE rested on approximately four years of limited development, despite signs that WWE had recently started doing more with him.
• Lio Rush was described as a charismatic, quick, and capable talker with significant long-term potential. At 25 years old, he was presented as someone who could benefit from a major company such as AEW helping him enter the next stage of his career.
• Mickie James was presented as a wrestling legend who could receive greater recognition elsewhere. After tearing her ACL during the previous summer and trying commentary on Main Event, she appeared interested in continuing to advance despite having an established and seemingly limited role in WWE.
• Zack Ryder was considered a possible AEW fit because he could naturally connect with audiences, had a documented friendship with Cody, and pioneered the relationship between professional wrestling and social media. The presenter still acknowledged uncertainty and also identified Heath Slater as a possible signing.
• Rusev was presented as one of the released wrestlers likely to attract substantial interest. AEW was considered a strong destination because he could add another large wrestler alongside Lance Archer and Brodie Lee, although New Japan was also described as an appealing possibility.
• Chad Gable was described as a talented wrestler whose earlier American Alpha partnership with Jason Jordan demonstrated his potential. His Shorty G presentation was criticized as a joke based on his height, supporting the argument that another company might showcase his wrestling ability more effectively.
• Rey Mysterio was considered a possible AEW recruit because he was still producing strong matches at 45, had worked the All In show, and had a prominent friendship with Cody. His son Dominic's approaching wrestling career was also identified as a factor in any decision.

Questions & Answers

Q: Who was the strongest candidate to join AEW in 2020?

The Revolt, formerly presented as the Revival, was identified as the strongest candidate to join AEW. The team had already rebranded, and a match against the Young Bucks had reportedly been teased for about three years. Although New Japan was also considered a credible destination with appealing possible matchups, the long-running Young Bucks connection made AEW the presenter's most confident prediction.

Q: Why was Apollo Crews considered a possible fit for AEW?

Apollo Crews was considered a possible AEW fit because he was portrayed as having the look, talent, athletic ability, and presence needed to become a world champion. Commentary regularly described him as an athletic specimen with major potential. However, the presenter argued that WWE had done little with him for approximately four years, despite recently showing tentative signs of giving him a larger role.

Q: What made Lio Rush an attractive prospect for another major company?

Lio Rush was described as quick, charismatic, entertaining, and capable on the microphone. His smaller size was not treated as a weakness because adding weight could reduce the speed that made his matches distinctive. At 25 years old, he was also presented as having at least two decades ahead of him, making AEW a possible platform for the next stage of his career.

Q: Why did the list suggest Mickie James could leave WWE?

Mickie James was portrayed as a legend whose established WWE position offered little room for advancement. She had torn her ACL during the previous summer and experimented with commentary on Main Event while recovering, which was taken as evidence that she still wanted to progress in wrestling. The presenter suggested that another company might recognize her experience and status more prominently after an in-ring return.

Q: Why was Zack Ryder linked with a possible AEW move?

Zack Ryder was linked with AEW because he could naturally gain audience support, had a documented friendship with Cody, and was described as a pioneer in combining professional wrestling with social media. Since AEW had embraced social platforms effectively, the presenter saw a cultural fit. Even so, the prediction was explicitly uncertain, with Heath Slater mentioned as another possible signing from a similar group.

Q: Why was Rusev viewed as a strong signing for AEW?

Rusev was viewed as one of the released wrestlers most likely to generate significant interest and succeed quickly. The presenter believed AEW would be a particularly suitable destination because the promotion had previously lacked large wrestlers and had since added Lance Archer and Brodie Lee. A matchup involving all three was proposed, while New Japan was also acknowledged as an attractive alternative.

Q: Why were Cedric Alexander and Ricochet grouped together?

Cedric Alexander and Ricochet shared one position because both were talented wrestlers who had recently been placed together as a tag team after periods of limited activity, especially in Cedric's case. The presenter expected the pairing to lose momentum, based on a stated pattern of similar WWE teams fading within a month. Ricochet was considered the higher-potential wrestler, but both were viewed as capable performers.

Q: Why was Rey Mysterio considered a possible AEW recruit?

Rey Mysterio was considered because he was still producing some of his strongest matches at 45 but had only a limited number of peak years remaining. The presenter believed his WWE position had a ceiling after his title opportunity against Brock Lesnar at Survivor Series. Mysterio's appearance at All In, friendship with Cody, and son Dominic's approaching wrestling career also supported the speculation.

Summary & Key Takeaways

• AEW gave professional wrestlers another prominent option outside WWE during a period shaped by releases and the coronavirus. The list evaluates wrestlers who appeared underused, recently released, close to a possible career transition, or connected to AEW figures, while openly admitting that predicting career moves is difficult and highly speculative.

• Apollo Crews, Lio Rush, Chad Gable, Cedric Alexander, and Ricochet were selected mainly because their athletic ability or potential appeared greater than their WWE opportunities. Mickie James, Zack Ryder, Rusev, Rey Mysterio, and Kurt Angle were discussed through factors including experience, friendships, roster fit, age, injuries, and possible special appearances.

• The Revolt received the strongest prediction because the former Revival had already adopted a new identity and a match against the Young Bucks had reportedly been teased for about three years. The presenter also considered New Japan plausible for them and Rusev, emphasizing that several entries were entertaining possibilities rather than confident forecasts.