Sometimes of their own free will, and sometimes without better options, ex-WWE wrestlers often find themselves in AEW. Here is a list of the top five WWE to AEW flops.
Lee burst onto the scene in 2018, debuting for WWE in NXT. Those following independent wrestling may know of his work in Ring of Honor or Professional Wrestling Guerrilla. The buildup was at its height in PWG, with matches against Jeff Cobb, Trevor Lee, Ricochet, and others, leading to a championship victory over Chuck Taylor.
Lee had one of the best rivalries in NXT history with Dominik Dijakovic. He defeated Roderick Strong for the North American Championship, and while holding that title, defeated Adam Cole for the NXT Championship, becoming the first double champ.
Hitting the main roster in 2020, his start included winning his first PLE match against Randy Orton and being involved in WWE and United States Championship storylines. Lee lost momentum after missing five months due to heart inflammation brought on by COVID-19 and was later released on November 4, 2021.
Lee debuted for AEW with a surprise appearance on the February 9, 2022 episode of Dynamite. Things hit their height early, teaming up with Swerve Strickland to win the Tag Team Championship in July 2023. After the friendship implosion, Lee never gained any momentum. Despite being on the active roster, he hasn’t been since leaving for surgery in January 2024.
Paige in WWE, Saraya was an instant hit for WWE in 2012, becoming the inaugural NXT Women’s Champion in July 2013. She held the title until winning the Divas Championship and being forced to vacate. She was the youngest Divas Champion at 21 and had memorable championship storylines with AJ Lee and The Bella Twins. Saraya is credited as a big piece of the “Women’s Revolution”, empowering female superstars and rebranding the Divas Championship to the Women’s Championship.
Tension started between Saraya and WWE in 2016. She was suspended multiple times under the company’s wellness policy. Saraya claimed it was all due to prescriptions after a neck surgery, but WWE assured us it was for illegal substances. The neck issue escalated after taking a kick from Sasha Banks late in 2017, causing the match to shoot end early. On the post-WrestleMania episode of Raw, she announced her in-ring retirement.
Saraya made her AEW debut in September 2022, getting into a physical confrontation with Britt Baker. This sparked excitement in wrestling fans as her first physical interaction since December 2017. She won the AEW Women’s World Championship in 2023, after winning a four-way match in her home country.
Losing her title the following month, the title win seemed nothing more than a hometown pop. Saraya failed to have a memorable match or reach the height of fandom once held in WWE. She was used sparingly after this and hasn’t sniffed a major storyline since her attempt at a faction, The Outcasts. In November 2024, she announced her hiatus.
Rusev in WWE, Miro moved to the US to become a professional wrestler, signing a development deal with WWE in September 2010. After battling injuries and finding his way, Miro made his first major waves with his “Russia is better than America” gimmick. With manager Lana at his side, Miro was booked strong, leading to becoming WWE United States Champion in November 2014.
After dropping the title to John Cena at WrestleMania, Miro started working on character development. They separated him from Lana, working him into the Intercontinental picture. This was cut short due to injury. Other memorable WWE storylines include Rusev Day and two separate love triangles. Miro elevated his status in championship matches against names such as John Cena, AJ Styles, Shinsuke Nakamura, and more.
Miro was first seen on AEW in September 2020, introduced as The Best Man, involved in a wedding storyline with Kip Sabian. They did push Miro as TNT Champion after defeating Darby Allin for the title. AEW failed to book him in big-name matches, making his run feel unimportant. Afterward, AEW couldn’t find a good use for his “God’s Favorite Champion” gimmick. With poor booking combined with injury, Miro has been seldom used. He requested his release in September 2024 but is still on the roster, per AEW’s website.
Sasha Banks in WWE, Mone is one of the most decorated women in history. After wrestling on the independents she was signed to NXT in late 2012. She got noticeable traction in 2014, having storylines and matches in NXT against the likes of Charlotte Flair, Becky Lynch, Bayley, and Alexa Bliss, amongst others. Sasha Banks versus Bailey at NXT TakeOver: Brooklyn is one of the most memorable matches in NXT history, and the two, along with Flair and Lynch, earned the moniker “Four Horsewomen”.
Mone made her main roster debut in July 2015 as part of a revolution for the Divas division. After debuting with Naomi and Tamina, she started focusing on her singles career and a championship. Mone got that opportunity when drafted to Raw in 2016, defeating Flair for the WWE Women’s Championship. Flair and Mone went back and forth in one of the most storied rivalries in the women’s division. Mone also became the inaugural Women’s Tag Team Champion with Bayley.
A turning point in Mone’s career was when she had to drop the tag titles after 49 days. Upset with the decision, she let it be known she was under the impression they would have a lengthy reign, even canceling media appearances. Things would get to the point where she was denied her release. The two sides would mend fences, and Mone would head to SmackDown, where she had multiple championship runs. Mone and WWE fell apart in May 2022, when she walked out on an episode of Raw due to creative differences.
Mone was seen after WWE in New Japan Pro-Wrestling, where she first debuted the name. She was booked strong, winning the IWGP Women’s Championship the month after her debut. After losing and regaining that title, she would win the AEW TBS Championship in her debut match in the company, defeating Willow Nightingale at Double or Nothing.
Since joining AEW, it’s clear she has too much creative control. Demanding a championship to sign, she has held it since then. Her matches are spread apart and predictable. Putting no effort into furthering her skills, she seems to think she is a gift to the world. When Tony Khan gives creative control, who’s to blame?
Edge in WWE, Cope became widely popular in the tag-team storylines. Teaming with Christian Cage, the two had legendary storylines involving The Hardy’s and Team 3D. The three teams are credited with making Tables, Ladders, and Chairs, a widely popular match type, with classic matches in the early 2000s. Cope solidified himself as a singles star, becoming one of the most decorated stars in history.
Some of Cope’s most memorable storylines involved a personal feud with Matt Hardy, winning Money in the Bank twice to cash in on John Cena and The Undertaker, getting in bed with Lita in the middle of the ring, and many others. In April 2011, he shared a diagnosis of cervical spinal stenosis and was forced to relinquish the World Heavyweight Championship. WWE put Edge into the Hall of Fame in 2012.
Cope made his surprise return at SummerSlam 2019, giving Elias a spear in a non-match situation. After denying being medically cleared, he made another surprise at the number 21 spot in the 2020 Royal Rumble. Another injury kept him out until the 2021 Royal Rumble, which he won, granting him a championship opportunity at WrestleMania.
On the way out, Cope helped elevate WWE talent via the faction The Judgment Day. After getting that faction on its feet, he announced his retirement in August 2023, with an eye on his friend, Christian Cage. Making his AEW debut on October 23, he was immediately booked in a TNT Championship storyline with Cage.
After a lackluster TNT Championship run, Cope has failed to get over with the AEW audience. His promos in AEW are subpar and his athleticism is fading. Cope has failed to do anything memorable, resorting to a name change to try and gain some traction. He is currently trying to find a storyline with FTR, as the trio of Rated FTR. It’s strange to not see a building pop with excitement to see a WWE Hall of Famer in action.
The grass is not always greener on the other side, and these are just a few of the examples. Sometimes they may have a legitimate gripe with WWE, but sometimes, they may just know what they’re doing.
Howe Fresh
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