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The best wrestling crossovers are real-life family members working in AEW and WWE. As we'll see in this article, there are plenty of those.
WWE has enjoyed a monopoly over the North American wrestling scene for over two decades as the biggest promotion in the world. Working with Vince McMahon is the pinnacle of any wrestler's career.
However, AEW has proved itself to be a genuine alternative, leading to people working across promotions. Wrestling is a business that spans many generations, with several superstars carrying a long lineage of wrestling legacies.
This has led to some interesting dynamics between both companies. With all that said, let us look at five AEW stars with family members working in WWE.
#5. AEW's Matt Hardy and WWE's Jeff Hardy are real-life brothers
Jeff Hardy and Matt Hardy are WWE legends in every sense of the word, even though the latter plies his trade in AEW right now. The Hardy Boyz revolutionized tag team wrestling.
Matt and Jeff Hardy participated in multiple ladder matches, absolutely blowing the audience away with their fearless and breathtaking spots. The Hardy Boyz won tag team gold on nine different occasions.
Matt Hardy joined AEW in 2020. After being involved in a high-profile feud against Inner Circle, he now runs his faction. Jeff Hardy has had a lackluster year so far. The Charismatic Enigma has been reduced to a jobber going after the 24/7 Championship and has been pretty irrelevant.
It's worth noting that Jeff Hardy is a former WWE Champion and a two-time WWE World Heavyweight Champion. Perhaps when his contract reportedly expires in early 2023, we could see him reunite with his brother in AEW for one last run as The Hardy Boyz.
#4. AEW's Malakai Black and WWE's Zelina Vega are married
AEW's Malakai Black fka Aleister Black and WWE's Zelina Vega are married in real life. The pair tied the knot in 2018.
Malakai Black was a massive star in NXT as Aleister Black, winning the NXT Championship once. His main roster run left a lot to be desired, and he was subsequently released from WWE. Zelina Vega was released from WWE in November 2020 but returned eight months later, when Malakai Black debuted in AEW.
Malakai Black is currently one of the most intriguing stars in AEW and has an unbeaten record so far, defeating Cody Rhodes twice. Zelina has endured a frustrating return to WWE. She picked up a win over Toni Storm to advance to the next stage of the Queen's Crown Tournament.
#3. AEW's Ryan Nemeth and WWE's Dolph Ziggler are real-life brothers
Ryan Nemeth and Nicholas Nemeth, better known as Dolph Ziggler, are real-life brothers working for AEW and WWE. While Dolph has been in WWE since 2004, Ryan only wrestled for Florida Championship Wrestling and NXT.
The Showoff has enjoyed a great career, winning the WWE World Heavyweight Championship twice, among other titles. However, he's just a glorified enhancement talent now. In AEW, Ryan Nemeth is part of the faction The Wingmen and mostly features on AEW Dark and Elevation.
#2. AEW's Big Swole and WWE's Cedric Alexander are married
AEW's Big Swole and former WWE Cruiserweight Champion Cedric Alexander got married in 2018. Alexander is currently a part of the newly re-formed Hurt Business alongside Bobby Lashley and Shelton Benjamin, while Big Swole is embroiled in a feud with Diamante.
Cedric Alexander joined WWE in 2016 as part of the Cruiserweight Classic Tournament, while Big Swole, real name Aerial Hull, debuted for AEW in 2019 as part of the Casino Battle Royale at All Out.
The couple has a daughter named Adessah. Big Swole made sporadic appearances for WWE, showing up for a squash match on RAW against Nia Jax. She also participated in the Mae Young Classic Tournament in 2018.
#1. AEW megastar Bryan Danielson and WWE Hall of Famer Brie Bella have been married since 2014
Bryan Danielson, fka Daniel Bryan, and Brie Bella have been married for seven years and are blessed with two children.
While the American Dragon has joined AEW, his wife continues to work with WWE. Danielson has enjoyed a decorated career in WWE, winning multiple world titles and main eventing WrestleMania twice, including this year.
Along with her sister Nikki, Brie Bella is a WWE Hall of Famer and achieved mainstream fame with her show Total Bellas. The twins last appeared at WrestleMania earlier this year.
