OPINION - Rather than building stars, is AEW relying on borrowing from WWE?

Is AEW really WWE’s competitor?

In 2019, when All Elite Wrestling was formed, it seemed to be a true alternative to WWE. Financed by Tony Khan, the wrestling program was supposed to offer a different style of wrestling, more creative freedom, and a chance for wrestlers whom the Stamford-based promotion considered to be irrelevant.

Tony Khan spoke to the media after WrestleDream 2026 PPV and said that he would be glad to have Kairi Sane in his wrestling promotion. In addition, there are some speculations about the joining of former WWE Champion Sheamus.

Though the number of such additions has been growing recently, there arises a disturbing question about AEW’s recruiting strategy: does it develop its own stars or does it use those that were made famous by the Stamford-based promotion?

Former WWE stars dominate AEW’s biggest attractions

The difference is important because while signing a famous wrestler will help in attracting instant attention, building up an AEW headliner will bring long-lasting value. AEW has obviously created many stars of its own and good storylines, but its reliance on wrestlers with WWE backgrounds is becoming one of the key traits of this brand. The problem is not that there should be no wrestlers with WWE experience in AEW. The problem is whether the promotion does enough for the homegrown talent.

Just take a look at all AEW big signings through the years, and the answer becomes quite obvious. Jon Moxley, Jericho, Danielson, Copeland, Cage, Samoa Joe, Castagnoli, Mercedes Mone, Ricochet, and Ciampa – they all used to work in the Stamford-based promotion.

Some of them even appeared in WrestleMania events, were champions, or had a big fan base prior to their appearance in Tony Khan’s company.

Moxley became a key member of AEW’s main event stable, while Jericho helped lend some credibility to the fledgling promotion. Danielson had high-level credentials in the ring, while Copeland could bring the draw of an accomplished veteran. Now Ilja Dragunov also joined the mix.

However, the issue arises when these wrestlers become the go-to guys for any big-name draw for the promotion. The AEW stable has been full of ex-WWE wrestlers appearing in championship matches and other big storylines.

There is logic behind this approach, as it ensures that the promotion has a guaranteed draw for casual viewers who recognize them from WWE and wrestlers with instant credibility. However, there is a danger here, as AEW will be using the reputation of the wrestlers that they have earned elsewhere rather than developing their own stars.

Talented AEW stars struggled to receive consistent opportunities

Another criticism that comes across about the roster management of AEW is the mismatch between the quality of the talent roster and the opportunities for certain wrestlers. There were several wrestlers who were promising in the beginning but were unable to maintain a continuous flow of success, especially because of the new signings who have come into the picture of the main event match.

While certain stars from the Stamford-based promotion side like Miro (Rusev), Keith Lee, Andrade El Idolo, Deonna Purrazzo, and Hardy Brothers did not justify the expectations of fans in AEW, they hogged the limelight; statistically speaking, around 30% to 35% of the active roster in All Elite Wrestling (AEW) have been WWE wrestlers.

Their presence has affected the opportunities of emerging wrestlers in AEW. But there is a flip side to this also.

WWE has also benefited from AEW’s talent pipeline

It is worth noting that the movement of the wrestlers is not one-sided only. One of the most obvious examples of wrestlers who returned to WWE from AEW and became one of the most successful performers in the promotion is Cody Rhodes. Jade Cargill joined WWE and won the Women’s Championship and the Queen of the Ring tournament. The wrestler Penta currently possesses the Money in the Bank briefcase, and Rey Fenix defended his AAA title 11 times in the Stamford-based promotion.

It is also important to note that WWE was able to capitalize on the talents of those wrestlers but still kept their participation to a minimum percentage in the company.

In any case, the use of wrestlers who previously worked in WWE by AEW is not something that is intrinsically wrong, or that shows that the promotion cannot produce its stars. However, the main problem is to combine recruitment with development. Only in this way will AEW be able to show the audience that it is a competitor of WWE.

For more updates, follow Khel Now Wrestling on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram; download the Khel Now Android App or IOS App and join our community on Telegram & Whatsapp.