'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
WWE has always been the undisputed promotion in the professional wrestling business. From financial muscle to in-ring talent, they are the leaders in every field. Some other promotions like Ring of Honor, Impact Wrestling (formerly TNA), etc. have tried to challenge the might of WWE, but ultimately failed to usurp the behemoth.
The latest promotion in the list is the Shahid Khan and Tony Khan bankrolled All Elite Wrestling (AEW). They have already made ripples by signing Kenny Omega and Chris Jericho. Not to forget Cody Rhodes and the Young Bucks are the first contracted talents and executive vice-presidents of the company.
WWE has most of the best in-ring workers in the business today. As a result of that, the main roster has become bloated. Talented superstars who might get chances elsewhere are not given proper opportunities. This has led to dissent by many superstars, and many have asked for their release from WWE.
Here are 5 WWE superstars/teams who might sign for AEW in 2019:
#1 Dean Ambrose
Much speculation has been ongoing for some time regarding the future of Dean Ambrose in WWE. If recent reports are to be believed, Ambrose is leaving the company after his contract runs its course. In fact, the Lunatic Fringe might have had his last match in WWE for the foreseeable future, losing in the Last Man Standing match against Drew Mcintyre.
Dean Ambrose made his main roster debut as a member of Shield which also included Roman Reigns and Seth Rollins. The trio had a memorable run in the company, destroying everyone in their path. What was apparent was the fact that all three of them can become successful on their own.
While Romans and Rollins are arguably the top superstars in the company, Ambrose has had an up and down ride. He is one of the selected few to be grand slam champions. But, WWE never portrayed Ambrose as the top star in the company. The main reason for Ambrose wanting to leave has been his unhappiness over the creative control of the character.
Hopefully, the Lunatic Fringe can have a more successful future if he does end up leaving WWE after Wrestlemania.
#2 The Revival
The tag team division is the most neglected in WWE. The Revival was seen by many to be the saviors of the fledgling tag team division. There was much excitement when the duo was called up to the main roster in 2017. Sadly, that is where all the excitement ended.
The former two-time NXT tag team champions have had quite a bumpy road in the company. The Revival was below teams like B-Team, Bray Wyatt and Matt Hardy in the pecking order. The feuds with joke teams like Lucha House Party did not help them at all.
The Revival did end up winning the RAW Tag Team Championships last month, but their run as champions has been lackluster, to say the least. Even the lead up to the championship win was mediocre, with them losing constantly to Bobby Roode and Chad Gable.
The Revival duo Dash Wilder and Scott Dawson reportedly asked for a release from the company and judging by how their careers are going it would not be a surprise if they do the same again.
#3 Shinsuke Nakamura
The King Of Strong Style is a two-time former NXT Champion. In fact, Samoa Joe and Shinsuke Nakamura are the only superstars to have won the NXT Championship more than once.
Nakamura made his main roster debut on the first Smackdown Live episode after Wrestlemania 33. His WWE career started on a decent note with a feud against Dolph Ziggler. Shinsuke also found himself a part of the Money in the Ladder match at the Money in the Bank pay-per-view.
Nakamura's WWE career really took off, when he won the men's Royal Rumble match in 2018. A mouth-watering clash against AJ Styles awaited the Rockstar at Wrestlemania 34. But an unsuccessful challenge at the Show Of Shows started Shinsuke's downward spiral.
The fact that WWE decided to put Jinder Mahal over Nakamura really hammered home the point that he was not rated. In recent times, Nakamura has sided with Rusev and according to rumors has completely lost interest at WWE and is just looking for a paycheck.
#4 Good Brothers
Another tag team that has been ill-treated by the WWE creative. Luke Gallows and Karl Anderson have largely had an unsuccessful stint in the company.
Gallows and Anderson made their WWE debuts as a heel team in 2016. After numerous attempts at winning the tag team championships, they won the RAW tag team championships in a pre-show match at the Royal Rumble in 2017. They lost the titles to the returning Hardy Boyz at Wrestlemania 33.
Last year during the superstar shake-up, Gallows and Anderson were drafted to Smackdown Live. After an unsuccessful challenge against The Bludgeon Brothers, the former Bullet club members have largely been absent from TV programming.
WWE reportedly offered multi-million dollar deals to Gallows and Anderson but they were rejected by the duo. They are expected to leave the company when the contract expires in September. The point of contention for not signing the contract is the lack of exposure and significant storylines. Surprise. Surprise.
#5 Asuka
Asuka was this unstoppable force of nature in her NXT days. The Empress of Tomorrow was unbeaten in her whole run in NXT and remained champion for 510 days before an injury abruptly ended her reign.
She was promoted to the main roster in 2017 and continued the unbeaten and eventually went on to the Royal Rumble in 2018. Asuka faced Charlotte for the title and tasted her first defeat at Wrestlemania 34.
Asuka's fortune has taken a nosedive ever since that match, much like her Japanese counterpart in this list. From goofy segments to underwhelming feuds, Asuka has had a tough run in the main roster. All seemed to have changed for the better when she won the triple threat match at TLC in 2018 also involving Becky and Charlotte.
But, WWE again pulled the plug on her, firstly through a mediocre title run and now through her losing less than two weeks before Wrestlemania 35. This seems to be the final straw in the relationship between Asuka and WWE.
A departure from the company for the 38-year-old would probably the best course of action for all parties concerned.
