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While the war between WWE and AEW hasn't been nearly as intense as the one between WWE and WCW in the 90s, it does lead to interesting possibilities. WWE has been offloading talent over the past few months, many of whom could end up at AEW at some point!
We have seen how FTR, Jon Moxley, Miro, and well, Cody Rhodes, have gone on to win gold and glory in All Elite Wrestling. There could very well be five more former WWE Superstars likely to make their mark in one way or another by adding gold to their collection in AEW.
Here are the 5 former WWE Superstars we think could be future AEW Champions. Agree? Disagree? Want to add more names to the list? Feel free to sound off in the comments division below.
#5 Could former WWE megastar CM Punk make history in AEW too?
Don't pretend you haven't heard the rumors yet. CM Punk, arguably the biggest WWE Superstar of the past decade, is likely to show up in AEW. And if he does, he's not going to be a part of the All Elite Wrestling mid-card, is he?
Expect CM Punk to become the AEW World Champion within a year of him showing up in the company. In fact, Tony Khan's vision may be more in line with what he believes than WWE's was. So, if he sticks around for the long haul, expect CM Punk to hold a lot of gold in AEW.
Thankfully, there are many dream matches for CM Punk in AEW (and WWE too, but that's a topic for another day). Whether it's Kenny Omega, Hangman Page, or Malakai Black...the options are endless.
#4 Will Malakai Black be booked better than his WWE run?
When former WWE Superstar Aleister Black showed up in AEW, the world was stunned! He immediately rose right to the very top, mixing it up with the man who's the face of the company, Cody Rhodes.
It's only a matter of time before Malakai Black captures either the AEW World Championship or the TNT Championship. One has to wonder if he'll become the modern-day equivalent of The Undertaker under Tony Khan's supervision.
#3 Will AEW Superstar Paul Wight prove he's still got it?
The Big Show showed, in the twilight of his WWE career, that he could have supremely competitive and entertaining matches. His feud with Braun Strowman was arguably one of the best of his career.
As good as he is behind the commentary desk, one has to imagine that Paul Wight is itching to get into an AEW ring.
Even if the former WWE Superstar does not become the AEW World Champion or indeed, the AEW TNT Champion, he could certainly win the Tag Team Championship! Maybe alongside his old friend, Mark Henry! Imagine Wight and Henry against The Young Bucks...
#2 Will Daniel Bryan rediscover his love for wrestling in AEW once again?
Daniel Bryan was told that he would never wrestle again, but he defied the odds, returned to wrestling, and rose to the highest level once again.
If the rumors are indeed true (as they likely are), Daniel Bryan is certainly going to capture gold in AEW at some point. His run may even overshadow his WWE tenure!
#1 Former WWE NXT star Tay Conti could be the face of the women's division
It's a wonder how that former NXT Superstar Tay Conti did not rise to the top in WWE. She has it all - the look, the athleticism, and a connection with fans that only a few others do.
The more screen time she gets in AEW, the more prevalent it is that Taynara Conti is the future of women's wrestling. It's only a matter of time before she holds the gold in the company. To borrow a phrase - this is not a prediction, this is a spoiler!
With both WWE and AEW being such hot topics, we caught up with Ricardo Rodriguez, whom you may best remember as Alberto Del Rio's manager. We quizzed him at length about CM Punk and Daniel Bryan coming to AEW. His take is certainly very insightful.
