5 Legendary WWE Superstars who could follow Sting to AEW in the coming year 

By Riju Dasgupta
Modified Dec 29, 2020 06:40 IST
Could one of these names show up in AEW next?
Could one of these names show up in AEW next?

They say that anything could happen in the world of professional wrestling, and that was certainly the case when WWE Hall of Famer Sting showed up, out of the blue, on AEW at their 'Winter is Coming' edition.

And this begs the question, could more WWE legends and Hall of Famers show up to AEW next? We pick the five likeliest names that could and invite you to chime in with your thoughts and views in the comments.

#5 Could WWE megastar Brock Lesnar mix it up with the AEW roster?

As stunned as the world was when Sting showed up in AEW once his contract expired, Brock Lesnar may well be a much bigger coup, in comparison, if he does sign with the company in due course of time.

Brock Lesnar's contract with WWE expired a few months ago, and he is now a free agent, who could potentially sign with the company when the time is right. There are enough big guys in the AEW roster, be it Brian Cage or Wardlow or Jake Hager, that Lesnar can potentially have great matches with.

The only reason why this option is so very low in this list is because apparently WWE is considering him for a big WrestleMania match, as can be read in the Tweet linked above. But speaking of WWE, Brock Lesnar still has unfinished business with Jon Moxley, or Dean Ambrose from the time when both men were in the company. They could certainly have the same match once again, considering that Moxley is a much bigger star than he was during his WWE run back then.

Even a possible match for 'The Beast' against Cody Rhodes just seems like a pretty big-ticket affair at this point.

#4 Could WWE Hall of Famer Kurt Angle finally get the farewell he deserves in the AEW roster?

Kurt Angle wrestled his WWE final match against Baron Corbin at WrestleMania, but many feel that it wasn't the send-off he deserves. Could AEW be where the legendary WWE Hall of Famer wrestles his last-ever match in a big program?

Even though the match with Baron Corbin was the culmination of a long feud, most WWE fans wanted Kurt Angle to wrestle John Cena in his last-ever match for the company. No, John Cena isn't a part of the AEW roster, but one has to assume that Kurt Angle would be able to take his pick from the existing talent available on offer.

Much like Sting, Kurt Angle's last run in WWE left many underwhelmed and one has to assume it was the same case for the legendary performer, who actually had a fantastic outing with his cameo in The Shield.

Could we see Kurt Angle mix it up with Cody Rhodes to get the sendoff that the legendary performer truly deserves?

#3 Could WWE icon Bret Hart become the manager for a promising AEW talent?

WWE megastar Bret Hart has actually shown up in AEW once upon a time, when he unveiled the inaugural AEW Championship and the WWE icon could show up once more. In fact, if Sting does become Darby Allin's manager, maybe Bret Hart could manage someone from the active roster for the next generation of the Sharpshooter vs. Scorpion Deathlock showdown.

Arn Anderson and Tully Blanchard and even Jake Roberts have discovered new legs late in their careers as managers for current stars. There is absolutely no reason why Bret Hart cannot do the same for someone in the AEW locker room, making his/her value skyrocket to no end.

Someone who immediately comes to mind as a candidate that can benefit from a potential alliance with the WWE superstar is Brian Pillman Jr. Brian Pillman and Bret Hart have quite the history from their time in the Hart Foundation, and for Bret Hart to unite with Pillman's son would just make all the sense in the world.

#2 Could WWE Hall of Famer Bubba Ray Dudley work a match or two in AEW?

WWE Hall of Famer Bubba Ray Dudley is no longer affiliated with ROH, meaning that there is a distinct possibility that he could sign with AEW in due course of time. Not only is Ray someone that everyone knows, from his stints in WWE, IMPACT Wrestling, and even ECW, he's one of the sharpest minds in the business even today. And the entire AEW locker room could benefit from his wisdom and insight.

He is a man that genuinely cares about the business, and anyone who follows his opinions on Busted Open Radio knows how much in tune he is with the WWE and AEW product. He is not someone who has washed his hands off the business by any stretch. Bubba Ray Dudley loves professional wrestling.

Maybe we see him mix it up with the multitude of talent available in the current AEW roster. Anyone who works with Bubba Ray Dudley will be elevated in the process.

#1 Does WWE icon RVD have an AEW run left in him?

There is an argument to be made that WWE legends like RVD paved the way for the AEW superstars of today, that employ a more high-flying style when it comes to telling stories. It is almost a guarantee and a certainty that if RVD goes to AEW, more than one star will consider him as an influence.

Plus, RVD was wrestling as recently as 2020, when he was a part of the IMPACT Wrestling roster. Sure, the legendary star may not be as quick and nimble as he was during his WWE and ECW runs, but he can definitely mix it up with the wealth of talent in AEW.

So, that concludes our list of former WWE stars that could potentially show up in AEW, following Sting's massive arrival. If you think we've missed out on any names, do let us know in the comments section below.

What do you think of AEW bringing in former WWE and WCW stars to get new eyes on the product, anyway?

What makes Sting special? His first AEW opponent opens up RIGHT HERE.