5 AEW wrestlers you didn't know worked for WWE

For many years, WWE was the be-all, end-all of sports entertainment and the only option for the world's best competitors. After the demise of WCW and ECW, it was the last major wrestling company standing and though many smaller promotions were around, none were comparable to the pro-wrestling juggernaut, until All Elite Wrestling was established in 2019.

AEW provided fans with an alternative and it gave many lesser-known stars a platform to shine. Before the promotion's inception, these athletes competed in or had regular jobs in other companies, including WWE.

Even though they didn't have a successful run in the Vince McMahon-led company, they went on to establish themselves as talented professionals all over the world. With that being said, here are five AEW wrestlers you had no idea worked for WWE.

---

#5 Scorpio Sky

Scorpio Sky was involved in the Anger Management classes with Team Hell No

Scorpio Sky is a member of the popular stable SoCal Uncensored (SCU) where he's one half of the first-ever AEW World Tag Team Championships. Besides AEW, Sky has competed in and is known for his time with other wrestling promotions such as Ring of Honor, TNA Wrestling and Pro Wrestling Guerrilla (PWG).

However, not a lot of people know that Sky has also appeared in WWE. On the 27 August 2012 episode of Monday Night RAW, he was an extra in Daniel Bryan and Kane's anger management classes. He played a character called Harold, and you can check it out in the video below.

He made another appearance for the company in 2013 when he posed as a fireman during the Ring of Fire match between Bray Wyatt and Kane at that year's SummerSlam PPV. After he was done with WWE, he went on to have a successful career as an in-ring competitor.

#4 Leva Bates

Leva Bates competed in NXT as Blue Pants

Leva Bates currently competes in AEW as The Librarian. She made her debut for the promotion at Fyter Fest where she lost a match to Allie. What you probably didn't know is that Bates also wrestled in NXT under the ring name 'Blue Pants'.

She originally appeared in WWE as one of Adam Rose's Rosebuds and went to compete in the Black and Gold brand as an enhancement talent despite not being signed to the company. Bates was popular with the fans, so it's quite surprising why WWE didn't sign her.

In AEW, she accompanies her beau Peter Avalon to the ring. Although their librarian gimmick isn't popular with fans, Bates is a talented performer and she proved that during her time in NXT. Besides WWE and AEW, she also competed in other notable wrestling promotions such as Shimmer Women Athletes and Impact Wrestling.

#3 Sammy Guevara

Sammy Guevara was an enhancement talent in WWE

Sammy Guevara competes in AEW as a heel and is part of Chris Jericho's villainous faction known as The Inner Circle. Just like his colleague Leva Bates, Guevara initially accompanied Adam Rose to the ring as one of the wrestler's Rosebuds before being used as an enhancement talent in WWE.

He also does vlogs for his YouTube channel, and in some of his videos, he talked about his time with WWE including how he trained for his WWE tryout.

Guevara went from being a Rosebud to an enhancement talent and finally to a more prominent role in AEW alongside former WWE Champion and current AEW World Champion Chris Jericho. Sammy is a young and talented wrestler. From being a Rosebud to where he is today, he has proven that hard work pays off.

Here's a quick quiz: One of Adam Rose's Rosebuds main evented WrestleMania. If you manage to figure out who it is, let me know in the comments below.

#2 Maxwell Jacob Friedman

MJF is referred to by many as one of the best heels in the pro wrestling today

MJF is currently signed to All Elite Wrestling and Major League Wrestling (MLW) where he competes as a heel. He is known for his Burberry scarf and his self-praising catchphrases which has led to many fans calling him the best heel in the business right now.

He cemented his heelish persona by turning on his friend and AEW Executive Vice President Cody Rhodes at the Full Gear pay-per-view after he threw in the towel during Rhode's AEW World Championship match with Chris Jericho, costing him the title in the process.

Before AEW, MJF worked in WWE—as a security guard. This can be seen during Samoa Joe's entrance at NXT Takeover: Brooklyn II. He also submitted an audition tape for WWE Tough Enough in 2015 but he never took part in the competition.

#1 The Young Bucks

Nick and Matt Jackson were in WWE at some point

Matt and Nick Jackson of The Young Bucks are widely-known for their awe-inspiring moves and superkicks that they use in their matches. The Bucks were also members of the popular Bullet Club faction and along with Kenny Omega, they became known as The Elite.

They achieved success in several promotions such as Ring of Honor, Pro Wrestling Guerrilla, and New Japan Pro Wrestling. They currently compete in AEW where they also serve as the promotion's Executive Vice Presidents.

In WWE, they were used as extras in 2008 and they had a tryout for the producers before a RAW taping in 2011. Matt Jackson first competed in the company as an enhancement talent on an episode of SmackDown in February 2008 losing to Chuck Palumbo and months later he lost to Big Show in a Last Man Standing match.

The Bucks portrayed Shawn Michaels and Triple H in a segment on ECW, where they were attacked by the team of John Morrison and The Miz. Many fans and critics have referred to The Young Bucks as the greatest tag team in the world and they've even won several 'Tag Team of the Year' awards.