5 Wrestlers All Elite Wrestling should not try to sign

It's official. All Elite Wrestling is a brand new wrestling promotion, funded by Fulham FC owner, Tony Khan and ran by Cody Rhodes and his Elite buddies.

AEW is the next exciting step in Cody Rhodes's post-WWE journey. The WWE mid-carder requested and was granted his release from the company back in 2016 as the promotion refused to allow Rhodes to retire the opening match gimmick Stardust character. Therefore, Rhodes decided to branch out on his own, wrestling for a large number of independent promotions before finding a home in Ring of Honor and New Japan Wrestling.

While wrestling in both companies, Rhodes formed the Elite stable with his friends, the Young Bucks, Marty Scurll, Kenny Omega and Hangman Page.

That group became a sensation; one of the most popular acts in all of wrestling as they sold boatloads of merchandise bearing their logo.

So confident were the group with their drawing ability that they organised the largest independent wrestling show of all time, All In from Chicago, Illinois. They pulled a massive 11,263 paying fans to the Sears Centre as they took centre stage alongside a bevvy of talent from across the globe, including WWE legends, Chris Jericho and Rey Mysterio, NWA World Champion, Nick Aldis, Ring of Honor Champion, Jay Lethal and Japanese megastars, Kazuchika Okada and Kota Ibushi.

The show was a critical as well as a commercial success and has obviously given the group the confidence to end their ties with Ring of Honor and New Japan; at least for the time being to go it alone and form AEW.

Other than themselves and a few others, details of the AEW have been thin so far.

The names that the company may be looking to sign are said to be long with Omega, who is uncommitted so far and WWE's Shinsuke Nakamura apparently high on their wishlist.

But who else will AEW sign? And who should they not sign? In the following slideshow, SK analyses five names that AEW may try to target but gives reasons why they shouldn't.

#5 Zack Ryder

The former United States and Intercontinental Champion has been rumoured to be a target for Cody Rhodes and his crew as they look to build up a loaded talent roster for AEW.

However, Zack Ryder should not be a name they target. The man who got over in WWE in 2011 against the company's will with his entertaining YouTube shows and "Internet Champion" gimmick was roundly punished by WWE for getting over by himself when he was soundly defeated by Kane and booted off television after he was betrayed by his supposed best friend John Cena and his on-screen girlfriend, Eve.

Ryder did not wrestle a single match on Monday Night Raw in 2018, bar the Fresh Start Battle Royal on the last Raw of 2018, and while a move would be good for him and his long stagnant career, for AEW who are looking to be the hip and fresh brand of wrestling, signing a past his sell by date gloried jobber, would make them look like a home for WWE rejects not the cool wrestling group they are aspiring to be.

Sorry Zack; the AEW boys need to steer clear.

#4 Tessa Blanchard

Tessa Blanchard is one of the finest Western female performers there is and despite competing in Impact Wrestling would not look out of place in WWE's Women's Revolution, wrestling the likes of Charlotte Flair, Becky Lynch and Ronda Rousey.

It is for precisely this reason that I think AEW should not make her an offer to join them as tempting as it may be to procure her considerable talents.

The daughter of WWE Hall of Famer Tully Blanchard had very short stints in WWE in 2014 and 2016 before she competed in the 2017 edition of the Mae Young Classic.

WWE has not seen the best of her but it will. I would be astonished if the company does not make her a big money offer in 2019 and I would be even more stunned if she didn't accept. I don't believe she would take a risk on AEW at this stage of her career when she is so clearly ready for the big time. AEW would be better attempting to attain the services of Chelsea Green and Madison Rayne.

#3 The Briscoe Brothers

The Briscoe Brothers: Been teaming for nearly two decades

With the Young Bucks positioned as the star's of AEW, they are going to need other tag teams to compete against.

AEW has already signed the veteran team of Christopher Daniels and Frankie Kazarian from Ring of Honor. What they do not need to do is sign away another veteran, past-its-prime Ring of Honor tag team to its ranks.

The Briscoe Brothers aren't going to sign for WWE and thus there is very little else for them to achieve in wrestling. They would likely welcome a move to AEW but they have already faced the Buck's many times before and would not be a fresh, vibrant, young act.

AEW should look elsewhere for teams to pad out its tag team division. The Briscoes have been around forever and wouldn't add much to the brand in my view.

#2 Samoa Joe

Samoa Joe: The world has seen it all before

On one hand, a move for Samoa Joe might seem to be a shrewd move by AEW. He is a big name, one of the top stars in wrestling for well over a decade in TNA: Impact Wrestling and WWE and at present is underutilised in the WWE system.

He might be gettable as well considering the fact WWE obviously do not see him as a headline act.

However, when one looks at Joe's plight in a little more detail, then his acquisition becomes a less attractive proposition.

His character has not changed in well over a decade. His deliberate, slow-paced promo's and ring style and look has not evolved at all.

At nearly 40 years of age, it is unlikely that it ever will. If he were to show up in AEW, he would give the brand star power but would likely offer little else.

By all accounts, he is satisfied being a WWE mid-carder and that is where he is likely to remain for the rest of his career. AEW should step back and allow him to do so.

#1 Chris Jericho

Chris Jericho seems to be an obvious choice for AEW to pursue for their new roster. However, would it be a wise move?

Jericho has a mountain of his own personal projects at his disposal and despite his excellent performances for New Japan over the past year or so; they have been so infrequent that they make Brock Lesnar look like a full-time superstar.

That is understandable of course, Jericho is now 48 years of age and cannot go in the ring on a consistent basis nor should he.

Which is precisely the reason why AEW should look elsewhere. One of the reasons Jericho did not compete more for NJPW is because he refuses to compete in the United States for anybody other than Vince McMahon (aside from his unadvertised appearance at All In, which was not promoted ahead of time and therefore made no money for the event).

As tempted as Jericho might be, it's likely AEW would be fighting a losing battle trying to procure his services. They should look elsewhere.