RedRooster Posted April 15 Share Posted April 15 It's often suggested that one of AEW's biggest problems is a bloated roster; leading to a general lack of focus. With that in mind, here's my challenge - move as many wrestlers as you deem necessary from AEW, adding them to the WWE roster. However, the moves you make must improve the company the wrestler is moving to - it can't be a barrage of dead weight jumping ship (eg. if you move Chris Jericho to WWE, justify why this would be a good thing for WWE...) Similarly, you want AEW to be in a better place by the switches you make - so it can't be a case of moving people simply because you'd like to see them in WWE, or because you'd like them to be gone from AEW. Hopefully all of that makes sense...with that in mind, I'd shift the following wrestlers: Danhausen - Probably an unusual choice to list first, but he's massively underutilised in AEW, and I could see him fitting in well as an undercard act in WWE. Now that Vince McMahon is gone, the fear of him turning into a zany supernatural irritant is also (hopefully) gone. Pénta El Zero M - I thought Penta and Fenix would both end up being main eventers for AEW when the promotion started; but it just hasn't worked out that way. While they would both prove positive additions to the WWE roster, I think splitting them up would benefit both companies - Tony Khan would be forced to use Fenix as a solo act (Fenix vs. Ospreay? Fenix vs. Hangman? Fenix vs. Joe? Yes please to all!) - and hopefully with a smaller roster, he'd do just that. I also think Penta would end up being a main event wrestler in WWE; breaking out due to his intimidating look and general intensity. Jon Moxley - There was a time when he felt like the heart and soul of AEW; but his association with the Blackpool Combat Club has ripped that soul out of him and he feels pretty dispensable. In short, he's served his purpose in AEW. Moving him to WWE would allow him to interact with Reigns, and for a Shield reunion. There's no reason for him to return to being Dean Ambrose either - Cole could explain that he rebranded himself when he left the company to give himself a fresh start, allowing him to keep a name that arguably has more value than the name he left behind. Britt Baker - I've no idea what's going on with Britt right now, but she seems to be out of favour with Tony Khan. As far as development goes, a stint in NXT before moving to the main WWE roster might do her a world of good. Thunder Rosa - Another wrestler who I think would be a huge star in WWE, but is kind of floundering in AEW. I don't think losing her would hurt AEW, but gaining her would benefit WWE. Eddie Kingston - a controversial one maybe, but now that Cody has won the belt, WWE needs an underdog of sorts who fans can get behind. In AEW, there seems to be a ceiling for Kingston; but in WWE, I think there's a very good chance he'd end up in a high profile match at Wrestlemania at some point, either as a face or a heel. Sammy Guevara - A lot of people are down on Sammy these days, but I still think he has a lot of potential in the right environment - and I think that environment could be WWE. He'd have a new set of opponents, and much more support as far as scripting and development goes. Ricky Starks - I mean, this is going to happen anyway - might as well throw him in there. Max Caster - His stock has fallen massively, but I think there's something there - he just needs to find an identity outside of the rap gimmick. And he can do that in NXT, while freeing up Anthony Bowens to go on a singles run in AEW. And finally... Jay White - I very nearly sent MJF over instead, but I think losing a star of his magnitude would be pretty damaging for AEW. The 'MJF is returning' card is one they can play to pop a rating, and with the signings of Okada, Copeland and Ospreay, there are fresh opponents for him; alongside the conclusion of his story with Adam Cole - which can still work out positively, if the booking is good. Any who wouldn't want to see MJF/Christian? White, on the other hand, has been handled pretty poorly - with the icing on the cake being the Billy Gunn match. Although his stock may have fallen in AEW, I don't think that would end up affecting him in WWE, and I imagine he'd get quite a healthy push. It's hard to stop at 10 wrestlers, given how bloated the AEW roster is - but my vision for the brand would be forward looking - you watch AEW, and you see the next generation of megastars emerge. And Dustin Rhodes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paid Members TheBurningRed Posted April 15 Paid Members Share Posted April 15 Keep Danhausen and Sammy Guevara away from AEW and WWE. Shite that shouldn’t be on tv. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cousin Jim Bob Posted April 15 Share Posted April 15 Moxley, Penta and Kingston would be massive losses to AEW. Losing those guys wouldn't "help" them in any way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paid Members air_raid Posted April 15 Paid Members Share Posted April 15 11 minutes ago, RedRooster said: Moving him to WWE would allow him to interact with Reigns, and for a Shield reunion. There's no reason for him to return to being Dean Ambrose either - Cole could explain that he rebranded himself when he left the company to give himself a fresh start, allowing him to keep a name that arguably has more value than the name he left behind. Come again? If we're literally bringing him back to transplant him back into The Shield, why wouldn't we want to call him by the name he was when he was in The Shield the first three times? He was WWE Champion under that name, it's not Derrick Bateman or Stardust. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr_Danger Posted April 15 Share Posted April 15 Eddie Kingston would make a cracking Brooklyn Brawler in WWE. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedRooster Posted April 15 Author Share Posted April 15 8 minutes ago, Cousin Jim Bob said: Moxley, Penta and Kingston would be massive losses to AEW. Losing those guys wouldn't "help" them in any way. What's the last significant thing Moxley or Penta did in AEW; and what's the last significant storyline that Kingston was involved in that didn't involve ROH? And why would losing them be damaging to AEW? I'd wager that most people, sadly, wouldn't even notice if Penta disappeared. I think you've missed the point, though. There are so many main eventers in AEW, that there is little room for exciting younger wrestlers to break through (eg. Takeshita, Rush, Bowens, Hobbs, Garcia) and there's also little room to maximise the value of the main event wrestlers that they do have. So therefore, it's about making difficult decisions to ensure that this can happen. 16 minutes ago, air_raid said: Come again? If we're literally bringing him back to transplant him back into The Shield, why wouldn't we want to call him by the name he was when he was in The Shield the first three times? He was WWE Champion under that name, it's not Derrick Bateman or Stardust. I'd argue that there's a stigma around the Ambrose name and character - and bringing him back as Moxley would differentiate him from 'wacky' Dean Ambrose character; much as they had Diesel return as Kevin Nash and Razor Ramon return as Scott Hall, following their stints in WCW. I reckon there's more value in the Moxley name than there is the Ambrose name - I'd also not want to transport him into The Shield - you'd want to build up to that. That said, I wouldn't have a massive problem if he did return as Ambrose - I'm not sure that he'd want to do that though, and again, I think there's something to be said for signifying that this isn't the same person that left the company. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cousin Jim Bob Posted April 15 Share Posted April 15 Penta had a great match with Copeland literally last week. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paid Members Chris B Posted April 15 Paid Members Share Posted April 15 13 minutes ago, RedRooster said: What's the last significant thing Moxley or Penta did in AEW; and what's the last significant storyline that Kingston was involved in that didn't involve ROH? And why would losing them be damaging to AEW? I'd wager that most people, sadly, wouldn't even notice if Penta disappeared. Kingston just blew off a really good feud with Brian Danielson. I'd say that's pretty significant. With Penta, the biggest issue is that they don't give him some big feuds or wins. The Copeland match was excellent, but it was never in question who was winning, because Penta's not presented as that kind of threat. Which is frustrating, because he's so good. Mox would be a huge loss - he's stepped into the main event so many times and always delivered. Sure, he's been lower this year, but with him just winning the NJPW title, I'd expect we'll be getting Mox/Okada in the near future (although probably after he drops the title). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paid Members air_raid Posted April 15 Paid Members Share Posted April 15 6 minutes ago, Cousin Jim Bob said: Penta had a great match with Copeland literally last week. 2 minutes ago, Chris B said: With Penta, the biggest issue is that they don't give him some big feuds or wins. The Copeland match was excellent, but it was never in question who was winning, because Penta's not presented as that kind of threat. Which is frustrating, because he's so good. In AEW is he permitted to do the Canadian Destroyer as a nearfall, as I saw him do on an indy show? Bush league nonsense, that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedRooster Posted April 15 Author Share Posted April 15 6 minutes ago, Cousin Jim Bob said: Penta had a great match with Copeland literally last week. Why was that match significant? Why is Penta integral to AEW? He's literally there to lose to big name wrestlers. Has he ever had a featured singles match on PPV? 5 minutes ago, Chris B said: Mox would be a huge loss - he's stepped into the main event so many times and always delivered. Sure, he's been lower this year, but with him just winning the NJPW title, I'd expect we'll be getting Mox/Okada in the near future (although probably after he drops the title). He has, but I think he's dispensable - of course, you're free to disagree, and I'd be interested to see who avid AEW viewers would part ways with. I'm not saying you're doing this - but people seem more keen to explain why AEW couldn't possibly part ways with certain talent as opposed to pointing out who should go - the whole point of the thread is making hard decisions to make room on the card. That's not to say the people in question aren't valuable - obviously they are. But the point of the thread is to tie into the idea that AEW would be better off with a less bloated upper card. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Infinity Land Posted April 15 Share Posted April 15 19 minutes ago, RedRooster said: What's the last significant thing Moxley Hangman feud into the Elite reunion into OC matches only disrupted from an International Title reign because of the concussion. Straight onto the Continetnal Classic where his winning streak carried the importance of the tournament, and his post-match promos helped shaped the overall style the company as carried on. He was likely to be part of the tag tournament most recently, but is has been rather obvious he was being tapped for the IWGP World Title. What a shame he hasn't done "anything significant" for 3 months after being the company workhorse for years. Something that still includes the attempt at elevating STP, CMLL sidequest, and FTR feud. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paid Members BomberPat Posted April 15 Paid Members Share Posted April 15 I think AEW would suffer hugely from losing Moxley. While I think that the Blackpool Combat Club has potentially diminished what Claudio, Moxley and to a lesser extent Danielson, bring to the table as top tier talent, Moxley is such a statement wrestler for the company - he's not a WWE cast-off or also-ran, he's someone who chose not to re-sign with WWE, and who got on board with what AEW were offering when they were still unproven. That's the kind of wrestler that lends a promotion credibility, and reinforces them as an alternative to WWE rather than a second-choice. I have an Acclaimed foam finger from All In in my living room but, based on recent appearances, I'd struggle to justify them still being around - the Trios division has ground to a halt, and they seem as cold as a featured act can get, so right now I can say I wouldn't miss them, and that they might benefit from a WWE run. Ricky Starks kind of fits the same description, everything has been too stop-start with him. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Chili Posted April 15 Share Posted April 15 Why do they all have to go to WWE who also have a bloated roster? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RedRooster Posted April 15 Author Share Posted April 15 3 minutes ago, Chili said: Why do they all have to go to WWE who also have a bloated roster? Because it's a hypothetical topic, WWE is the other major company (the bigger names aren't going to TNA, are they?) and I disgagree with your assessment of WWE's roster - they could do with a few more stars to pad out RAW, Smackdown and even NXT. The perfect example to illustrate this is by removing Cody from the roster. If he's not there, who does Roman lose to? There's no obvious choice - although you could make a case for people like Sami or Drew, they're not as 'nailed on' as Cody is. WWE, simply put, does not face the same problem as AEW, as far as having too many wrestlers go. It's the opposite problem, and they could do with a refresh. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paid Members Supremo Posted April 15 Paid Members Share Posted April 15 42 minutes ago, RedRooster said: What's the last significant thing Moxley Literally this graphic from Collision. A genuine rush of excitement. Forget the Punk bullshit. He’s back to save the day yet again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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