Evaluating All Elite Wrestling’s Roster

The wrestling industry is still buzzing after the All Elite Wrestling (AEW) rally in Jacksonville, Florida, on Tuesday. The press conference was hosted by Conrad Thompson of “Something to Wrestle With”, “83 Weeks” and “What Happened When” podcast fame, as well as The Young Bucks and Cody “Don’t call him Rhodes.” Multiple announcements were made regarding pay and corporate structure for the company, a working relationship with Oriental Wrestling Entertainment (OWE) in China and “Double or Nothing,” the sequel to ALL IN happening on May 25 from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

Let’s look at the names that are now associated (and rumored to be) with AEW that doesn’t include the obvious signings of Brandi, Cody Rhodes and The Young Bucks.

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This is a three-man deal at the end of the day. Some might think that time could be running short on the careers of Kazarian and Christopher Daniels, but their resurgence in the last year has proven otherwise. They still have some years left in them and can easily be the locker room leaders for AEW. Scorpio Sky is one of the most athletic guys on this early roster and can be a force to build major storylines around for the next few years.

Hangman Page

We knew this was definite, but now is the time for Adam Page to shine. Ring of Honor dropped the ball on not pushing Hangman further, at least making him a Television Champion during his tenure. He has already made his intentions known that he wants to be AEW Champion. Cody and The Bucks will likely be pushing Hangman as their top guy because they know that there is a lot of untapped talent involved.

Britt Baker

“The Doctor is in” AEW. Britt was the first official signing of the company and she will likely be the face of its women’s division. She mentioned that she wants to help revolutionize the women’s wrestling revolution. Dr. Baker is arguably the top women’s wrestler on the independent scene and a great scoop for AEW.

MJF

I have only seen one match from Maxwell Jacob Friedman and that was back at ALL IN against Matt Cross. I was impressed that night and very impressed with his promo skills during the rally. The rumor out right now suggests that this was Cody’s decision to sign him as “The American Nightmare” sees something in MJF. Expect him to be pushed heavily in AEW, but it’ll take some time for him to connect with an audience that hasn’t yet been exposed to his nefarious ways.

Joey Janela & Penelope Ford

Another package deal like SCU. While Janela has been out for months now with a knee injury, Penelope Ford has proven herself to be one of the most athletic and resilient women in the independent wrestling scene. When I mentioned earlier about Britt Baker arguably being the top women’s wrestler in the indies, Ford is the argument. She will be a major player in the women’s division and I’m hopeful that she sees action at “Double or Nothing.” For Janela, it’s wishful thinking that he’ll be back in action by May 25. There can be so much done storyline wise with “The Bay Boy” and “The Bad Girl” of profession wrestling.

PAC

The former “Adrian Neville” left WWE over a year and a half ago, never looking back. He reappeared in Dragon Gate with most assuming that he wouldn’t be showing up in the American wrestling scene again for a while. Well, he showed up at the rally and immediately got in the face of Hangman Page. It appears that we could have our first match set for “Double or Nothing.”

Chris Jericho

This was the shocker of the day. The rumors surrounding Jericho suggest that he was likely staying with New Japan to work out a new deal and face Hiroshi Tanahashi somewhere down the line in 2019. However, he appeared at the rally yesterday and announced that he had joined the roster. I can only image with his recent his matches with Kenny Omega, Evil and Tetsuya Naito, that Jericho is ready to cause chaos and be the top heel within AEW.

EXCLUSIVE: Chris Jericho (@IamJericho) is Officially signed to @AEWrestling #AEW #AEWRally pic.twitter.com/In6Nc96am5
— All Elite Wrestling (@AEWrestling) January 9, 2019

Kenny Omega (Rumor)

Omega’s contract with New Japan is up and according to Dave Meltzer, he has turned down an offer from WWE. Should he decide not to return to New Japan, The Best Bout Machine will have many options on the table. To be with his friends and “family” in the wrestling business at AEW would be the obvious pick. Omega can walk into the door and bring his style of wrestling to the forefront, immediately in contention to be the first AEW Champion. The answer to the Kenny Omega’s future should hopefully be revealed by “Double or Nothing.”

Kota Ibushi (Rumor)

Ibushi has reportedly been working as a freelancer with New Japan since his return; therefore, he is not under any official contract. In what was “art imitating life,” a worked stretcher/concussion job at Wrestle Kingdom turned into real life when he did seriously suffer a concussion and need to be stretchered from the ring. While he recovers, he is likely weighing all of his options. Expect Ibushi to go where Kenny Omega goes. Maybe Ibushi and Omega can team up as the “Golden Lovers” once again and face off with the last rumored names?

Lucha Bros (Rumor)

Pentagon Jr. and Fenix are currently under contract with Impact Wrestling, but those contracts are due up this year. After their performances at ALL IN, it’s clear that AEW wants to bring them both in and, along with The Bucks, build a tag team division around them. The best thing about both Pentagon and Fenix is that they both have established names as tag team and single’s stars. They can easily be in the mix for World Titles, secondary titles and tag team championships at the same time on the same show.

This is an “Elite” roster. Regardless of who is already signed and who is rumored, this roster is already one of the best around and with the matches that happened at ALL IN, “Double or Nothing” should be an excellent show. The wrestling world awaits where this upstart promotion goes from here.