'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Over the years, AEW has employed several former WWE stars to its roster to bolster the bench strength. While many of these stars failed during their run in the Jacksonville-based promotion, there are a couple of stars who managed to surpass their runs in World Wrestling Entertainment and somehow become more successful in All Elite Wrestling.
Hence, let's take a look at three former WWE stars who became more successful in AEW.
#3. Toni Storm
Toni Storm competed in the 2017 Mae Young Classic tournament and later signed with the company. She then went on to perform on the NXT UK brand and won the 2018 Mae Young Classic. Storm became the NXT UK Women's Champion by defeating Rhea Ripley later that same year.
She made her way to NXT in 2020, and the following year, she was promoted to the main roster as she began competing on SmackDown. However, her time in the Stamford-based company always felt like she was taking a backseat.
Trending
Storm wasn't happy with her time in the Stamford-based promotion, leading her to request her release in December 2021. She joined AEW the following year and found immediate success by winning the AEW Women's World Championship. However, it was her transformation into the Timeless Toni Storm persona that showcased her ability to entertain the fans, thereby taking her to the next level.
Currently, Toni is in her fourth reign as Women's World Champion, and it looks like she will have more title reigns to come.
#2. Swerve Strickland
Swerve Strickland wrestled for WWE under the ring name Isaiah "Swerve" Scott. He wrestled on the NXT brand between 2019 and 2021. During his time on the former black-and-gold brand, he won the NXT North American Championship one time and was involved in a faction called Hit Row. However, the group failed to take off, and he was released from his contract.
Following his departure, he joined AEW in 2022 and achieved immediate success. He formed a successful tag team with Keith Lee, and together, they captured the World Tag Team Championship. After they disbanded, Swerve had a successful singles run that eventually led to him capturing the World Championship. The Realest One still remains one of the top stars in the Jacksonville-based promotion.
#1. Jon Moxley is the current AEW World Champion
Jon Moxley gained a lot of traction in WWE since he debuted along with Seth Rollins and Roman Reigns as part of The Shield. Although Moxley won multiple titles during his run, it was seemingly very clear early on that the sports entertainment juggernaut was more interested in pushing Rollins and Reigns, meaning Mox would get left behind.
This was evident in his booking before his departure in 2019. Mox has been vocal about the frustration he felt at the end of his WWE run. Following his departure, Jon Moxley made his AEW debut and has never looked back.
In many ways, he has been the go-to guy for Tony Khan over the years. In such a short time, he won the International Championship and is in his fourth reign as World Champion. Mox has been booked as the face of the promotion for the past couple of years, and it doesn't look like this will change anytime soon.
It will be interesting to see if more former WWE stars will jump ship to All Elite Wrestling in the future.
