It is far from unheard of for wrestlers of any promotion to fall through the cracks and not have they’re deserved time in the spotlight, and going to a new company presents a golden opportunity to reinvent yourself as a new kayfabe character.
AEW does not seem too interested in bringing back the very first woman to sign with them. Baker hasn’t wrestled in over a year, perhaps in part because that company is just so intoxicated by Mercedes Mone and Toni Storm. Starting over in another promotion could prove beneficial to her, as her in-ring talent and talking skills are among the best in the women’s wrestlers division.
Turning heel was the last thing The New Day could do in a promotion that they’ve given over a decade of their lives to. It is for this reason that audiences showed little interest in that new turn. The WWE universe has seen them dominate the tag team division throughout the bulk of their careers, and they have grown tired of it. Similar to Sasha Banks, there is nothing left for the New Day to give WWE; therefore, a clean slate in another promotion would be quite interesting. Perhaps in another company, Kofi Kingston and Xavier Woods could go the way of The Lucha Brothers and try their hand at singles competition.
It’s hard to remember the SmackDown Women’s Championship without thinking of her, as her 380-day reign is among the longest for woman wrestlers in WWE history. During that reign as a heel, Bayley did and said some truly heinous things, backed up by a highly obnoxious attitude and non-stop cheating and interference.
The point of no return had been reached, so when Bayley turned face seemingly out of nowhere in 2024, some fans struggled to get behind her due to her past transgressions. It is debatable just how different a revamped tenure in a new promotion would feel for her, but even if Bayley did want nothing else than to resume her face run, at least she can do it on a blank canvas with more experience.
Once a mainstay of AEW, the 3 remaining members of The Dark Order: Evil Uno, John Silver, and Alex Reynolds have been sidelined to Ring of Honor since 2023. Just like Britt Baker, The Dark Order played an essential role in gaining notoriety for AEW during its infancy. Yet despite their impressive in-ring skills, connection with the fans, and rich personalities, the bookers will not bring them back on television. The 3 of them deserve more airtime, and if AEW either cannot or will not give it to them, then they must take their talents elsewhere.
In 2019, Dakota Kai turned heel after betraying her partner, Tegan Nox. She would remain a heel up until her release from WWE in May of 2025. Betrayals would become a core principle of Kai’s heel run, as she would later go on to befriend and then betray Raquel Rodriguez (then known as Raquel González) and Bayley. This would all make for the ideal jump-off platform for a babyface run in another promotion, where she discovers just how valuable friendship and loyalty are. If booked correctly, a betrayal could be heavily hinted at, only for Kai to change course and stay a babyface.
There might be some debate from the list above. This is why we are fans, and this is why we rant! A demotion doesn’t have to mean that they are done. A fresh start might be all that is needed for these ladies top get back to form, and show their true potential.
If you love sports, download Stadium Rant from the Apple App Store and join one of the fastest-growing social sports communities. Be sure to follow us on socials too — you can find all our profiles on our Linktree.
