Since its inception, All Elite Wrestling has signed numerous former WWE talents, giving opportunities to wrestlers who were not creatively fulfilled in their previous company. While some, like Bryan Danielson, were already main event stars, many others have used the platform to prove that WWE’s creative decisions failed to get the best out of them.
With that in mind, here are six wrestlers who have been far better in AEW than in WWE.
Toni Storm
Most fans expected Toni Storm to be a significant success in WWE based on her strong booking in NXT UK and NXT. However, upon moving to the main roster, her character was devalued, culminating in an infamous segment with Charlotte Flair that involved a pie in her face. Storm subsequently requested her release, and WWE’s loss became AEW’s gain. In AEW, she has become a four-time AEW Women’s World Champion, and her “Timeless” Toni character is regarded as one of the most compelling and imaginative gimmicks in modern wrestling.
FTR
Widely considered one of the best tag teams on the planet, FTR (Dax Harwood and Cash Wheeler) had a successful run in NXT under Triple H. Their main roster presentation, however, was a severe disappointment as they were turned into a “horrible comedy act”. This was reportedly due to former WWE Chairman Vince McMahon’s lack of interest in tag team wrestling. In AEW, Tony Khan has presented them as serious competitors, which has resulted in two reigns as AEW World Tag Team Champions and numerous critically acclaimed matches.
Athena
Athena, formerly known as Ember Moon in WWE, has always been regarded as one of the most gifted in-ring performers of her generation. While she had a successful run in NXT, her main roster career never reflected that talent, and she was “never given a real opportunity”. Since joining Tony Khan’s promotion, she has been presented as a dominant force, particularly in Ring of Honor (ROH). As the long-reigning ROH Women’s World Champion, she has been booked as a “badass” who dominates her competition.
Swerve Strickland
While WWE showed glimpses of Swerve Strickland’s potential, few expected the level of success he has achieved in AEW. In WWE, he was primarily pushed as the leader of the low-card faction Hit Row and never held a main roster singles title. Tony Khan has allowed Strickland to flourish as one of his most prominent performers, highlighting his in-ring work and complex character, which led to him becoming a former AEW World Champion. This is seen as a clear “missed opportunity on Triple H’s behalf”.
Ricochet
Ricochet’s highlight-reel style was always evident in WWE, but his run was often criticized for a lack of character direction or promo time. This led to a common perception that he lacked the charisma to be a top star. Since his arrival in AEW, Ricochet has proven that WWE “failed to get the best out of him”. His work as a heel has been described as “sublime,” showcasing strong promo skills and a new level of charisma that has “unlocked the last piece of the puzzle” for him as a performer.
