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Cody Rhodes' AEW departure has been the biggest news story in professional wrestling this past week. Several outlets have noted that Cody is rumored to re-sign with WWE just in time for WrestleMania.
Cody and Brandi Rhodes parted ways with the promotion after an apparent breakdown in contract negotiations. Tony Khan and both the outgoing stars released statements following the initial report from Fightful Select.
Cody Rhodes' camp has reportedly been in contact with WWE officials, and Vince McMahon is allegedly excited about recruiting an ex-EVP and founding member of All Elite Wrestling.
Now that Cody's rumored signing with WWE has paved the way for other All Elite Wrestling talents to follow a similar path, we have broken down the most likely candidates to make the jump.
#5 In our list of AEW stars who could follow Rhodes to WWE - Brian Cage
Tony Khan's booking of Brian Cage has been disappointing. The former IMPACT star joined the company with a lot of hype and seemed destined to be a main eventer. Alas, while his alliance with Team Taz and run as FTW champion was relatively successful, it seemed like he could not reach the next level.
After dropping his belt to Ricky Starks and being ousted from his own faction, The Machine is in limbo. Cage's booking hasn't always been the strongest, with his wife even taking to social media to complain about it.
It is easy to imagine Vince McMahon taking a liking to someone like Cage. He could easily thrive in the world of WWE, whether that be on the main roster or NXT with his superstar physique and athletic move-set.
With his physicality and experience, Cage could just be the exact type of wrestler that WWE would consider signing to bolster their ranks.
#4. A young tag team who could be moving from AEW to WWE - The Acclaimed
AEW has a stacked tag team division. Jurassic Express are the newly crowned Tag Team Champions, having defeated Lucha Bros in the first Dynamite on TBS. Judging by the number of teams that appeared on the stage immediately after the main event, there's going to be a long line of competitors hoping to get the first shot.
The Acclaimed is one such duo who got lost in the shuffle as they were victims of AEW's increasingly bloated roster. Max Caster and Anthony Bowens are two highly charismatic individuals who are entertaining on the mic and in the ring.
Caster's pre-match raps have been connecting well with the audience, and they have excelled in every spot they're given.
As young wrestlers with many upsides, they might not want to stay in the background. WWE could benefit from adding a young, dynamic duo to their thinning tag team division. Whether in NXT or WWE, The Acclaimed can immediately shine and work well opposite the likes of Team RK-Bro, The New Day, and The Usos.
#3. Another talented wrestler who could move from AEW to WWE - Ricky Starks
Ricky Starks has all the tools to be a top star in any company. Confident in both the mic and the ring, he has aligned himself with Team Taz for most of his time in AEW.
He is the de facto leader, having ousted Brian Cage from the group and taking control of the FTW Championship. But injuries have hampered his progress, with other new signings surpassing him.
WWE would love to pick up Starks and fully showcase his charisma and athleticism. He's young enough to be molded into the company's style and has worked with The Undertaker and Roman Reigns in some capacity.
Starks even had a tryout with the company in 2017, but it didn't work out. Now that he has had a chance to showcase himself on national TV, WWE might want to give the rising star a second chance.
#2. A major superstar who could move from AEW to WWE - Chris Jericho
AEW original Chris Jericho had already teased a return to his former employer WWE before Cody Rhodes' AEW departure was even made known.
Le Champion took to Twitter earlier this month to simultaneously pay tribute to his work with Kevin Owens back in 2017 while teasing a WWE comeback at the same time, sharing a post highlighting their Festival of Friendship segment.
But with Dave Meltzer noting on a recent episode of Wrestling Observer Radio that AEW picked up a two-year extension on Jericho, it means the former world champion is reportedly under contract until 2024. We may have to wait a little longer than expected to see Jericho return to WWE.
Make no mistake, though, he is a first-ballot future WWE Hall of Famer, so it's a matter of when, not if, he will ever go back.
#1. The biggest name to potentially move from AEW to WWE - MJF
MJF has been rather open to weighing his options on which company to sign after his contract is up in 2024. He is currently one of the hottest heels in All Elite Wrestling, and it would be a shame to see him leave for WWE. But as the star himself has noted in a recent interview with Steel Chair magazine:
"AEW runs deep in me, I don’t want to leave, but I am a businessman at the end of the day, and I can’t help myself if somebody’s got an offer for me, I’m going to listen to it.” MJF said
With Cody Rhodes being the star who pretty much hand-picked MJF as the future star of his generation, you wouldn't put it past Maxwell to follow in his one-time mentor's footsteps out the door should he feel he's not being given what he deserves come the end of his contract in 2024.
Who do you think could jump ship from All Elite Wrestling?
Let us know in the comments below.
