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WWE Network shocked the professional wrestling world this week when it was announced AEW wrestler Chris Jericho would be the next guest on an upcoming episode of Stone Cold Steve Austin's The Broken Skull Sessions.
The episode will mark Chris Jericho's first appearance on WWE programming since the former WWE World Heavyweight Champion signed with All Elite Wrestling in 2019.
The appearance by Jericho is also historic as it marks the first time an AEW contracted talent has appeared on a television program produced by WWE.
Chris Jericho has joked that the "forbidden door" has been kicked down by the first ever AEW World Champion. But could this mean other AEW personalities might appear on The Broken Skull Sessions with Steve Austin in the future?
Let's take a closer look at five AEW stars who should appear on The Broken Skull Sessions on WWE Network.
#5 Sting
WWE Hall of Famer Sting shocked the world when he made his surprise AEW debut on the "Winter Is Coming" edition of AEW Dynamite in December 2020. The former WCW World Heavyweight Champion had recently departed WWE several months earlier after his WWE contract expired.
The Stinger had seemingly competed in his final professional match under the WWE umbrella against Seth Rollins at Night of Champions 2015, before announcing his retirement the following year during his Hall of Fame induction. However, since debuting in AEW, Sting has gone on to compete in his first match in nearly six years. Teaming with TNT Champion Darby Allin, Sting defeated the team of Ricky Starks and Brian Cage in a Street Fight at AEW Revolution 2021.
Did Sting's frustration with WWE lead him to join AEW?
Sting has been very vocal about signing with AEW to end his career on his own terms. The Icon has also suggested he campaigned to have a cinematic match with The Undertaker whilst under contract with WWE, but WWE officials did not grant his request.
An appearance with Steve Austin on Broken Skull Sessions would not only be able to cover Sting's career with WCW and IMPACT Wrestling, but it would also allow Sting to explain the reasons behind his WWE departure and why he eventually signed with AEW.
#4 The Young Bucks
WWE has pursued The Young Bucks several times throughout their professional wrestling careers. The current AEW World Tag Team Champions have received offers from WWE to become WWE Superstars on multiple occasions.
However, Matt and Nick Jackson have declined every WWE offer. Instead, the tag team has opted to sign with Ring of Honor, New Japan Pro Wrestling and All Elite Wrestling over the years.
Turning down WWE to sign with AEW
When AEW was founded by Tony Khan in 2019, it was announced The Young Bucks would be Executive Vice Presidents of the promotion, along with fellow wrestlers Cody Rhodes and Kenny Omega.
As Executive Vice Presidents, The Young Bucks have since gone on to become integral in developing AEW's tag team division into one of the best tag team divisions in the world. Matt and Nick Jackson not only lead the tag team division off-screen, but they also lead the division on-screen too. The Young Bucks are currently the reigning and defending AEW World Tag Team Champions, winning the titles in November 2020.
Should The Young Bucks appear on the Broken Skull Sessions, Steve Austin could ask a variety of questions. The main being why The Young Bucks never decided to accept an offer from WWE and sign with the promotion.
#3 Tony Khan
WWE's main professional wrestling competitor in North America is All Elite Wrestling.
AEW was founded in 2019 by Tony Khan. The AEW founder also holds positions in other sports franchises owned by the Khan family, including English Premier League side Fulham FC and the NFL's Jacksonville Jaguars.
Tony Khan also serves as the President and General Manager of All Elite Wrestling. Since founding the promotion, Tony Khan has developed AEW into a successful organization in just 12 months, after negotiating lucrative television deals with WarnerMedia to air AEW Dynamite on Wednesday nights on TNT.
AEW President Tony Khan is a lifelong fan
Tony Khan is a self-professed professional wrestling fanatic. Khan regularly attended ECW, WCW and WWE events throughout the 1990s and is a keen professional wrestling historian.
Tony Khan appearing on the Broken Skull Sessions on the WWE Network would be buzzworthy for a variety of reasons. The President of WWE's main rival appearing on the WWE Network would certainly be historic. Tony Khan has referred to himself as the "forbidden door" for negotiating working relationships between AEW and promotions such as NJPW, IMPACT Wrestling and AAA. Perhaps the latest relationship could be between WWE and AEW?
Stone Cold Steve Austin would certainly have a plethora of questions to ask the AEW President. The Texas Rattlesnake could dive deep on topics such as Tony Khan's wrestling fandom, founding All Elite Wrestling, AEW Dynamite on TNT and a future relationship with WWE.
#2 Cody Rhodes
Former WWE Superstar Cody Rhodes has one of the most interesting post-WWE stories of any active professional wrestler today. Rhodes left WWE in 2016 after requesting his release from the promotion. Frustrated with a lack of opportunities and portraying the infamous Stardust gimmick, Cody Rhodes decided to prove his worth elsewhere in the world of professional wrestling.
This led to Cody making appearances for Ring of Honor, IMPACT Wrestling, New Japan Pro Wrestling and the National Wrestling Alliance. During this period, Cody Rhodes achieved a considerable amount of success, becoming one of the hottest properties in professional wrestling. Cody's achievements included becoming the ROH World Champion, NWA Worlds Heavyweight Champion and the IWGP United States Champion.
From WWE Superstar to AEW Executive Vice President
Cody Rhodes was a member of "The Elite" who was influential in founding AEW in 2019. Serving as one of several Executive Vice Presidents in the promotion, Cody has gone on to achieve great success in AEW. Rhodes was the inaugural AEW TNT Champion and has also appeared on other WarnerMedia projects such as the "Go Big Show" on TBS and an upcoming reality show on TNT with his wife, Brandi Rhodes.
Cody Rhodes appearing on Broken Skull Sessions would serve as fascinating television, as Steve Austin could ask The American Nightmare about his frustrations with WWE as well as his future plans for All Elite Wrestling.
#1 Jon Moxley
Fomer WWE World Heavyweight Champion Jon Moxley was arguably one of the biggest names to move from WWE to AEW after the promotion was founded in 2019.
In early 2019, WWE announced that the former Dean Ambrose would leave the company in April upon the expiration of his contract. Moxley had grown increasingly frustrated with the creative process in WWE and his perception of mis-booking of his character on WWE television.
After departing in April, many professional wrestling fans were curious as to where the next destination for Jon Moxley would be. The former Shield member shocked the world when he appeared at the conclusion of AEW's debut pay-per-view event, Double or Nothing, and attacked Chris Jericho and Kenny Omega to close the show.
WWE World Heavyweight Champion to AEW World Champion
Since signing with AEW, Jon Moxley has achieved considerable success. Moxley was the second AEW World Champion in the promotion's history and eventually became the longest reigning AEW World Champion in history, before dropping the championship to Kenny Omega in December 2020.
Jon Moxley appearing on the Broken Skull Sessions would serve as an interesting rematch of Steve Austin and Jon Moxley's first WWE podcast interview. Then-WWE Champion Dean Ambrose appeared on Steve Austin's "Stone Cold Podcast" in 2016. However, the interview was infamous for Moxley's short and cold answers, with Steve Austin growing increasingly frustrated throughout the interview.
Should Jon Moxley appear on Broken Skull Sessions, Austin could discuss his previous interview with Moxley, as well as the former AEW World Champion's WWE departure and current run with All Elite Wrestling. This would without a doubt make for compelling television.
