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AEW has gone from a mere pipe dream into one of the biggest companies in professional wrestling in only three years. WWE's monopoly on the wrestling industry is over, as Tony Khan's promotion is reigniting a rivalry not seen since the days of the Monday Night Wars.
It has been a treat for the audience to witness former WWE stalwarts jumping ship to AEW and speculate who else would leap. While there is criticism that the company only signs former WWE Superstars, many of them are happier and have reinvigorated their characters in a new environment.
We zoom in on five former WWE stars who have completely reinvented themselves in AEW and are now barely recognizable from their previous versions.
#5. AEW star Chris Jericho reinvented himself as the Le Champion
We kick off our list with the king of reinvention, Chris Jericho. The inaugural AEW Champion has evolved his character in every promotion he has joined. From a loudmouth cruiserweight in WCW to the 'Y2J' gimmick and scarf-wearing persona in WWE all the way to the 'Alpha' and 'Painmaker' in NJPW, his career speaks for itself.
Somehow, Chris Jericho has achieved many firsts since joining AEW, 30 years into his pro wrestling career. The former WWE Undisputed Champion became AEW's first world champion, started his own faction, The Inner Circle, and continues to keep up with wrestlers 20 years younger than him.
Chris Jericho is a legend at this point and yet continues to stay relevant in the business as a true innovator and trailblazer.
#4. AEW star Jon Moxley broke away from his past self
AEW star Jon Moxley truly broke out and became a headlining champion when he made the jump to Tony Khan's company. When he was in WWE as Dean Ambrose, he found success with The Shield and was also a former world champion, but he was never truly treated like a top star.
Mox made an ill-fated heel turn in late 2018 that was botched to the point where he let his contract run down to leave the company. He made his iconic debut in AEW's first-ever pay-per-view, Double or Nothing, immediately putting himself in the main event scene.
Gone are the goofy gimmicks and blase attitude he displayed as Ambrose. By reverting to his gimmick from the indies, Jon Moxley became more focused, aggressive and took his intensity up a notch. He led AEW through the pandemic as its world champion and even had a run in NJPW and GCW, winning titles everywhere.
We are truly seeing the best version of Jon Moxley and AEW as the company benefitting from it. As Mox inches closer towards his return after his stint in rehab, fans are excited to see what's in store for the renegade.
#3. AEW star CM Punk became the returning legend
After seven years away from pro wrestling, CM Punk returned and debuted in AEW, garnering an incredible fan reaction. It's clear that the audience has missed him immensely and yearns to see him mix it up with a new generation of wrestlers.
Punk was a savant on the mic and an anti-hero who rebelled against WWE's cookie-cutter PG Era. As a legend from the independent scene, he felt like a unique character in that environment. But how would he stand out in a promotion filled with indie darlings?
CM Punk didn't return from his wrestling exile with a new move set or gimmick per se. Instead, he has positioned himself as a veteran and returning hero amongst the vaunted revolutionaries. By taking the kind of role that Terry Funk had perfected years earlier in ECW, Punk is now the "guy" that young wrestlers test themselves against this time around.
#2. AEW star Miro became 'The Redeemer'
AEW's best character gimmick right now is Miro. His promos as 'The Redeemer' are hilarious yet menacing. His run as the TNT champion in 2021 proved that he could be a dominant main event champion.
Who would have thought this if he was still Rusev in WWE, who relied on his manager and wife Lana to speak on his behalf? Vince McMahon's company was content to keep him as a stereotypical foreign heel, limiting fan connections. Even his 'Rusev Day' run was swiftly snuffed out.
But as 'God's Forsaken Champion,' Miro proves he can cut his own promos and become a ring general. He deserved to challenge for the world title in 2022, and we won't be surprised if he wins it.
#1. AEW star Bryan Danielson resurfaced as 'The American Dragon'
AEW first announced the surprise signing of Bryan Danielson at the All Out pay-per-view. He was a multi-time WWE champion and became the company's biggest underdog babyface, culminating in his legendary 'Yes Movement' storyline at WrestleMania 30. All in all, Bryan has had a Hall of Fame career in the WWE.
But it wasn't enough, as Bryan wanted to test himself at the tail end of his career. AEW provided the perfect platform to unleash 'The American Dragon' and truly cement his position as the best wrestler in the world. He has had 5-star matches with the likes of Kenny Omega and AEW champion Hangman Page. He has also displayed a vicious streak to his character and smoothly turned heel in the process. What a reinvention it has been for Bryan Danielson!
