5 former WWE stars in AEW who desperately need a character change

While AEW has become home to many WWE veterans and young bloods, it is also true that not every one of those stars is doing well.

The top-tier of the promotions features quite a few prominent names like CM Punk, Bryan Danielson, and Chris Jericho. But several other ex-WWE talents desperately need to switch up their gimmicks to stay relevant.

Here are 5 of those struggling former WWE stars in AEW who desperately need a change in their character.

#5 Andrade El Idolo needs to switch track to regain his WWE-Esque popularity

Andrade El Idolo is experienced in playing both heel and face during his time in WWE. He had initially carried that talent over to AEW, and audiences were highly impressed by his moves in his feud against PAC. Further down the line, his rivalry with Cody Rhodes also drew attention.

While Andrade El Idolo still has some clout with fans, his gimmick is getting stale. After the Atlanta street fight match with Cody, their feud is also becoming dragged out with no actual development in their characters.

If the feud continues without any significant development to intensify things, Andrade will lose popularity in AEW. A change in his character is much needed right now.

#4 Matt Sydal needs a gimmick change to regain his WWE level popularity

Matt Sydal's run in WWE as Evan Bourne garnered a lot of praise. His high flying capability, mixed with a Lucha libre and puroresu style hybrid, gives him a unique moveset. His run in AEW, however, leaves much to be desired.

Matt Sydal's character in AEW has been reduced to someone who takes losses to put over his opponent. He does not get enough screen time to establish himself as an individual. Furthermore, his current wrestling style is not captivating enough, making it easy for him to get lost in the stacked roster of AEW.

Repackaging his character could get him into a more vital role in 2022. An entertaining storyline is what Matt Sydal desperately needs right now.

#3 Matt Hardy is not connecting with the AEW audience

Matt Hardy is one of the many WWE veterans who jumped ship to AEW. However, unlike big shots like CM Punk and Bryan Danielson, his switch hasn't made him gain much. Despite getting his fair share of in-ring presence, he has failed to connect with the crowd.

Matt Hardy chose to revert to his 'Big Money' persona on AEW. However, it didn't resonate with the fans. His antics are not what fans want to see in Tony Khan's Promotion.

All Elite audience is a far cry from the WWE community, and Matt Hardy will have to adapt to his new home crowd if he wants to stay relevant.

#2 Jake Hager is a shadow of his WWE personality

The entry of WWE's Jack Swagger to AEW saw him join Chris Jericho's side as Jake Hager. While Inner Circle has been involved in very interesting feuds, it's apparent that Hager has hardly been able to resonate with the crowd's attention.

The same principle of Matt Hardy applies to Jake Hager as well. He is still stuck with his former WWE persona, which is simply not meant for AEW fans. He does not showcase anything unique that sets him apart from the rest.

A repackage of Jake Hager's character is much needed to push him to the frontline of Tony Khan's Roster.

#1 Cody Rhodes desperately needs to turn heel

If there is a guy in AEW who needs a gimmick change, it would be Cody Rhodes. The American Nightmare has been having a rough time with the audience for a while now.

His attempt at portraying a babyface has failed miserably, with fans detesting his mere presence in the ring. Even in fights against established heels, Cody is usually the target of boos from the crowd.

Cody Rhodes has stated that turning a heel would be easy for him, but he will never do it. However, his recent behavior before his match with Sammy Guevara seems to be setting him up for the turn.

There is no other option for Rhodes than to embrace a change in his persona and turn into a villainous character.