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The WWE has often been criticized for their use, or lack of use, of a number of talented wrestlers over the years. The likes of Cesaro and Shorty G are prime examples, and it is unfathomable that Sami Zayn has not won a single main roster Championship. So when AEW launched in 2019, wrestling fans were excited. They hoped that the new company would make better usage of its smaller roster. The expectation was more or less achieved with AEW creating stars out of the likes of Darby Allin and Luchasaurus.
That said, those pushes have not resulted in them beating established stars to solidify their position. The focus still seems to be squarely on former WWE stars and the Elite. While the likes of Allin at least appear on featured spots, there are other talented performers who have been lost in the mix. This list takes a look at the 5 such underrated wrestlers in AEW.
5. Angelico
Born in Johannesburg and having wrestled for promotions based out of Africa, Spain, Japan, US and Mexico, Angelico is a 13 year veteran. He turned heads with his acrobatic displays in AAA and Lucha Underground and fully deserves his shot on US TV with Tony Khan's promotion. However, despite all his accolades, The Hybrid 2 (Angelico & Jack Evans) is probably at the very bottom of the AEW tag team division and that is a crying shame.
Alongside the even more spectacular Jack Evans, Angelico should have the flag bearer of the tag division, but they have been overshadowed by the likes of the Young Bucks and even the Dark Order. While it is a testament to the depth of the AEW tag team division, TH2 doesn't deserve to be treated as jobbers.
Angelico & Evans had their first victory in the company just a few weeks back in an 8 man tag team match. They were partnered the Lucha Bros, who were the focus of the match. Another indignation has to be the fact that TH2 were not even in the brackets for the tag team title tournament - nothing much has changed since then.
Angelico deseves a better push based on his talent alone. TH2 might be the first team to move from AEW to the WWE due to lack of opportunities. If they do, they might dominate an underwhelming division.
4. Frankie Kazarian
On paper, Frankie Kazarian is doing quite well in AEW. He won the first-ever AEW tag team Champions alongside Scorpio Sky and the SCU faction is hugely popular. However, 'Kaz' should be so much more than just a side kick.
Making his name in TNA, Kazarian was a main stay of their featured X-Division, winning the title multiple times. Later, he even had a program with Ric Flair endorsing him. Somehow though, Kazarian has perennially been in tag teams since the start of the decade and always seems to be the secondary member of the team.
While the team of Daniels and Kazarian was certainly exciting in TNA, Daniels was projected as the star and Kaz was the supporting player - Which is the same situation he finds himself in AEW. With Daniels no longer wrestling as frequently as before, it should have been Kazarian's time to shine. Instead, it is Scorpio Sky who has been booked to win the falls that led to SCU's tag title win as well as that epic victory over the Inner Circle.
With Sky being six years younger to Kazarian, it makes sense for AEW from a long time perspective, but Kazarian shouldn't be relegated to an afterthought.
3. Bea Priestley
Bea Priestley started training to become a professional wrestler at a young age, but her world came crashing down when she was diagnosed with brain tumor when she was 14. Thankfully she would beat the disease and make a full recovery at 18. Still only 23 years old, Priestley is currently in a relationship with arguably the best wrestler on the planet, Will Ospreay.
People would think that this would befit a starring role for Bea in the so-far lackluster AEW Women's division. With Champion Riho wrestling sporadically and AEW seemingly more interested in pushing Brandi Rhodes' Nightmare collective angle - which in itself seems an amalgamation of the Dark Order gimmick and the Straight Edge Society - it is confusing that Bea hasn't had a more prominent spot.
She and Britt Baker had a small feud which was soon brushed under the carpet and Priestley now seems directionless. The fact that she and Ospreay announced their plans to make Japan as their primary focus might have something to do with this, but it seems such a waste of Bea's potential in AEW.
2. Allie
Having been the face of TNA Women's roster for so long, it is weird to see Allie being relegated to a manager's role in AEW. Losing to Brandi Rhodes at Fight for the Fallen gave the indication that the AEW brass might not be too high on her, but Allie not even being considered as a challenger for the AEW Women's title is certainly unfortunate.
Her new avatar as the 'Bunny' for the unnecessary introduction of Butcher & Blade would seem that Allie might not be in singles competition for some time. With the faction being considered as the worst of the dark stables running around in AEW, this might not be best avenue for Allie's talents.
With a weak women's division, Allie might have been better suited than Britt Baker as the primary baby face contender for the title. There is still time for that, but her AEW tenure up to now looks like a bad dream.
1. Jack Evans
If Rey Fenix is AEW's version of Rey Mysterio of the 2000s, then Jack Evans is certainly Rob Van Dam's counterpart from the same time period. Simply put, the man is amazing - You don't earn the moniker 'Jack Evans... from the heavens' for being a mat wrestler.
Evans might just be the best high flyer in AEW at present. He seems to add an extra corkscrew for any flip that he executes. It's a shame that a casual AEW fan, who has been watching Dynamite alone for the past weeks, would have no idea who he is.
You only need to watch the fantastic AAA Mega Championship match that Evans had against Kenny Omega to know how great he is. The way he break-danced his way out of Omega's Kotaro Crusher might be the highlight of AEW Dark for the year.
Evans comes across as a fantastic motor mouth heel, constantly talking trash and moving with swagger inside the ring. With his Hollywood good looks and a mouth that never shuts up, people just want to see a baby face give him his comeuppance which is exactly what happened in the match with Omega. Evans needs to be utilized more in the same vein.
Evans and his equally underrated partner in TH2 - Angelico - deserves a better push in AEW's crowded tag team division. Hopefully 2020 ushers in a new era for the former 'Blitzkrieg II'.
