The tribalism among wrestling fans when discussing the battles between WWE and AEW has made the sport less enjoyable for some, but for those who lived through the Monday Night Wars, the tension between the companies makes for must-see television.
One of the best parts of the war between WWE and All Elite Wrestling is the possibility of stars jumping from one promotion to another. From Dean Ambrose becoming Jon Moxley again to Cody Rhodes becoming Triple H’s American Nightmare, wrestling is more interesting when performers have options.
Here are the next big names who could make the jump from one major company to the next.
After years of being a major cornerstone of the AEW women’s division, Britt Baker has become an afterthought for the company, with her last televised match happening in November 2024.
When her contract expires, she should make the jump to WWE.
In addition to getting booked on television and pay-per-view again, the 34-year-old would help rebuild her own name under WWE’s globally recognized brand. The company could help elevate her beyond wrestling into mainstream entertainment.
While the financial side of the business may be similar between WWE and AEW, the in-ring dream matches would make the transition ideal for Baker. Potential matchups against the likes of Becky Lynch, Charlotte Flair, Rhea Ripley, Bayley, and Tiffany Stratton would be ideal for all parties involved.
When Triple H took over control of WWE’s creative team, many fans believed Shinsuke Nakamura would finally get the main event push he deserved. Instead, he has been used sparingly as a gatekeeper.
In AEW, the 45-year-old would be booked as a top champion.
When Nakamura’s time with WWE concludes, he should be moving to AEW for a multitude of reasons, including having more input into his character, matches and promos.
Add in a working relationship between AEW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, and the dream matches for The King of Strong Style would be highly anticipated, including Kenny Omega, Will Ospreay, Bryan Danielson, and Kazuchika Okada.
Nakamura’s marquee WWE moments were incredible, but they were too few and far between. In AEW, he could restore his legacy with a late-career renaissance.
His success would strengthen the promotion’s international presence, and his experience in the business would give the locker room another legend willing to mentor and teach younger stars.
For Wardlow, jumping from AEW to WWE will be more complicated, as he’s dealing with an injury and has more time left on his contract.
Regardless of how long it takes, he should make the transition to sports entertainment.
Injuries have plagued Wardlow’s career with AEW, as has inconsistent storytelling. With WWE’s affinity for larger-than-life characters, his physical size will make him stand out and provide him with more opportunities at prime-time spots on the card.
And just like Jade Cargill, Wardlow’s unique look can be better leveraged when in WWE to more non-wrestling opportunities. As seen by the steady stream of performers acting in movies and television, the 37-year-old would be exposed to larger TV audiences and more mainstream media.
A physically dominant star like Wardlow is more valued by a company like WWE, which places less emphasis on in-ring quality and more on its characters. When his contract with AEW expires, expect him to be a top-priority signing for Triple H and Co.
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