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#2. AEW's Lance Archer
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AEW presented Lance Archer as a destructive force right out of the gate back in 2020. Aligning with wrestling legend Jake 'The Snake' Roberts, Archer challenged for the debuting TNT championship but lost the finals to Cody Rhodes.
He also had an AEW Championship match against Jon Moxley. The two would also tango over the IWGP US Championship. But in AEW, the Murderhawk was always a contender but never won the big one.
Archer used to be AEW's resident monster, but other wrestlers such as Miro and Wardlow have taken over that mantle. His partnership with Jake Roberts has also gone stale. Archer needs to go on the warpath again and not just make up the numbers in AEW. While he is currently out with an injury, here's hoping Archer can bounce back in 2022.
#1. AEW's Brian Cage
AEW signed Brian Cage in early 2020 and expectations were high. He is a former IMPACT heavyweight champion and also found success on Lucha Underground He was the hottest free agent on the market prior to his AEW signing.
Cage's biggest match was against Jon Moxley for the AEW World Championship. He has also become the centerpiece of Team Taz and crowned himself FTW champion. He recently feuded with Sting and Darby Allin before finally getting ousted from his own group.
Unfortunately, The Machine has been slowly but surely pushed down the AEW food chain. The signings of former WWE Superstars like CM Punk, Bryan Danielson and Malakai Black haven't helped his situation. It will be difficult to receive any opportunity for the ultimate prize when there are so many contenders in line.
Cage suffers from being bland as a personality, and since turning face against his former stable member, it's unclear whether he can succeed in the role of a hero. There's no obvious spot for him right now, and it's such a shame for one of the most technically proficient and innovative big men in the wrestling industry right now.
