6 oldest wrestlers who have wrestled in AEW - Former WWE IC Champion, Orginal Four Horsemen member

AEW might be a young company, but they employ several veteran wrestlers either in a backstage role or to pair them up as managers with younger talent. While some are retired from the ring, others are still competing with the younger generation, and holding their own.

This is despite a number of the legends being in their 50s to 60s. Not only are they in shape despite their advancing years and previous injuries, fans still clamor to see them perform. Chris Jericho is still popular as ever, and has reinvented his character since turning up in AEW even though he's pushing 50.

But who's the oldest performer to have had a match in AEW? From part-time performers and non-wrestlers to a one-off nostalgic appearance, here are the six oldest talents to have worked a match in AEW.

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#6. Dan Lambert, 51 years old | American Top Team vs. The Inner Circle, AEW Full Gear 2021

Dan Lambert isn't a classically trained wrestler by any means. The founder of American Top Team in 2001, overseeing its growth as it became one of the world's top MMA training facilities and martial arts academies.

Over the years, American Top Team has trained some of the best fighters in the world, including former UFC Women's Bantamweight and Featherweight Champion Amanda Nunes, Jorge Masvidal, and Junior Dos Santos. A businessman by trade and Brazilian jiu-jitsu enthusiast, Lambert also happens to be a lifelong wrestling fan and counts former WWE champion Bobby Lashley as a close friend.

Lambert recently parlayed his wrestling fandom into a memorable stint as a loudmouth heel manager in AEW. His brash promos are reminiscent of 80s heel wrestlers, and he seems to delight in generating disdain from fans.

Little did Lambert know that he'd compete in the ring in an actual match. At AEW Full Gear 2020, he led his ATT stable together with Scorpio Sky and Ethan Page against The Inner Circle. While he was handily defeated, Lambert did an adequate job as one of the oldest performers to have had an official match in the company.

#5. Dustin Rhodes, 52 years old | Nightmare Family vs. The Wingmen, AEW Elevation Dec 2021

AEW boasts not one but two sons of Dusty Rhodes within their ranks. One is EVP Cody Rhodes, and the other is the older brother and wrestling veteran, Dustin Rhodes.

Dustin made his name in WWE as Goldust over multiple stints until 2019. Recently appearing on the Way of the Blade podcast, Dustin recalled his conversations with owner Vince McMahon about the possibility of booking a WrestleMania match between him and Cody.

However, McMahon deemed the potential bout "not good enough" to go down at The Grandest Stage of Them All. Dustin said it felt "hurtful" what the WWE boss said about the clash, and both he and Cody tried to make the match a reality every year but to no avail.

The Rhodes brothers finally made that dream match come true when they signed for AEW in 2019, with their clash at the inaugural Double Or Nothing still one of the best matches in the promotion's young history. Dustin has revived his career at AEW and helps train young wrestlers. At 52, Rhodes is still wrestling regularly, most recently teaming up with The Nightmare Family against The Wingmen on an episode of AEW Elevation this month.

#4. Billy Gunn, 58 years old | Darby Allin vs. Billy Gunn, AEW Rampage Nov 2021

Billy Gunn wears multiple hats for AEW. The WWE Hall of Famer currently works behind-the-scenes as a coach and producer while helping put together matches and mentoring younger, up-and-coming wrestlers on the roster.

In addition to his duties backstage, Billy still competes inside the squared circle, even at 58. The former D-Generation X member is part of the Gunn Club faction, competing in tag team matches with his sons Austin and Colten Gunn.

Gunn recently had a one-on-one singles match with Darby Allin on a November episode of AEW Rampage. Fans were floored by Billy's insane physique and, even at his advanced age, the Attitude Era stalwart managed to keep up with his younger adversary.

#3. Sting, 62 years old | Sting, Darby Allin & CM Punk vs. FTR & MJF, AEW Dynamite Holiday Bash 2021

AEW's signing of Sting was quite the coup, but few expected the WWE Hall of Famer to wrestle in the squared circle. His last match was in 2015 against Seth Rollins, where Stinger suffered a career-threatening injury that forced him into temporary retirement. Now, six years later, Sting has defied critics and Father Time by competing in AEW.

Owner Tony Khan commended Sting on making a remarkable comeback, which fans desperately wanted to see in his previous run. In a recent interview with My Mom's Basement podcast, Khan criticized WWE for 'screwing' up Sting on multiple occasions as he believes The Icon could've been presented in a better way:

"What a great comeback Sting had...it had been a while since Sting won wrestling matches...the last time we saw Sting, he wasn't winning. Back in his last run [WWE] in the competition, they screwed him out of multiple matches, let's be honest. He should've been presented better, and that's one thing I won't back down on. Sting deserves to be treated like one of the great legends in wrestling, and I set out to do that from the beginning with him."

In 2021, 62-year-old Sting has formed an unlikely alliance with Darby Allin, which has helped connect him with the younger generation of AEW. By competing in tag team bouts, it has helped provide longevity to his career. Just this past week, Sting battled in a trios match alongside Darby and CM Punk against MJF and FTR in the main event of the AEW Dynamite Holiday Bash.

#2. Diamond Dallas Page, 63 years old | DDP, Dustin Rhodes & QT Marshall vs. MJF, Butcher & The Blade, AEW Dynamite Bash At The Beach Jan 2020

AEW has the distinction of being the company where Diamond Dallas Page wrestled his last official match. Early in 2020, the then 63-year-old DDP teamed up with fellow veteran Dustin Rhodes and Nightmare Factory trainer QT Marshall against MJF, Butcher, and The Blade on an episode of AEW Dynamite.

DDP started training to be a wrestler pretty late in his life at 35 years old. He managed to become a WCW champion, winning multiple championships and leaving a legacy as a huge fan favorite.

While he made a brief appearance in WWE during the Invasion storyline in 2001, DDP has largely been in semi-retirement ever since, focusing on his wildly popular DDP Yoga business.

#1. Tully Blanchard, 67 years old | FTR & Tully vs. Jurassic Express, AEW Dynamite March 2021

AEW's title of oldest in-ring competitor officially goes to Tully Blanchard. The 67-year-old is best known for his time in NWA during the 80s as part of the Four Horsemen stable with Ric Flair, Barry Windham, and Arn Anderson. He's a bonafide legend, and has influenced many younger generations of wrestling talents.

Tully has resurfaced in AEW in recent years, first as a manager to Shawn Spears and then former tag team champions FTR. On a March 3, 2021, special episode of Dynamite (entitled "The Crossroads"), Tully had his first match in 14 years.

Tully tagged with Dax Hardwood and Cash Wheeler to defeat Jurassic Express in a match where they were managed by Four Horsemen's long-time manager JJ Dillon.