AEW: Fight Forever – 10 Best Former WWE Stars
A few big names from WWE have moved to AEW, but which of them are the best?
In 2018, the wrestling world got a new kind of sports entertainment that promised to get back to what meant most: a place to see some of the best in-ring talent in the world. With the release of its first video game, AEW: Fight Forever, this year, All-Elite Wrestling seems to be taking its feud with top company WWE to the console world.
The game looks like it was made in the arcade style of wrestling games, and it has a cast full of the company’s best wrestlers. Among the game’s stars, there are a few former WWE wrestlers who have made a name for themselves in AEW. Which of these former WWE wrestlers is the best example of a WWE star who made it big in AEW: Fight Forever?
The Hardys
Matt and Jeff Hardy are two of the most famous pioneers of the Tables, Ladders, and Chairs match. They are also known as the “icons” of aerial wrestling. During the 2000s, when the Hardy Boys were in WWE, they won tag team gold many times and had some of the most memorable feuds in the company’s history. This gave the tag division the respect it earned.
Even though both brothers are past their best, old-school wrestling fans are happy to see them back in the ring together.
Saraya
The return of Saraya to competition was one of the best things to happen in women’s wrestling. She used to be well-known in WWE under the ring name Paige, which helped her win a lot of titles while she was there. She was the first Divas Champion and the youngest Divas Champion ever. Her career was cut short by injuries to her neck, which led her to announce her retirement at the age of 25.
Many people were surprised when Saraya made her first showing in AEW in September 2022 to face Britt Baker. She did this to tell Britt that she was now medically cleared to compete, which surprised even more people. Even though she hasn’t been very involved with AEW, it’s great to see such a talented wrestler back in the ring.
CM Punk
He is known for being divisive and controversial everywhere he goes, but whether you like him or not, you can’t deny that CM Punk gets people to sit down. Punk is a past WWE Champion who held the title for over 430 days, which is one of the longest in WWE history.
Punk’s rise to fame didn’t need any help, but his start on AEW in August 2021 got one of the biggest cheers from the crowd at any wrestling event that year, regardless of brand. He has since won the AEW World title more than once, adding to his long list of ring victories.
Christian Cage
During his time in WWE, the names Christian Cage, his “brother” Edge, and Tables, Ladders, and Chairs (TLC) matches were often used interchangeably. In the early 2000s, when he only went by his first name, Cage was a popular member of the famous tag team. He was a key player in the great TLC matches with The Hardys and the Dudley Boys. He would later turn on his brother and have a successful run as a bad guy, winning the Intercontinental and World Heavyweight Championships.
Cage is also doing well in AEW. On his first match there, against Kenny Omega in 2021, he won the Impact World Championship. He is currently working with the huge Luchasaurus, and he has had good stories with people like Wardlow.
Claudio Castagnoli
Fans of WWE would remember Claudio Castagnoli as Cesaro, who was a part of the Bar with Sheamus and won multiple Raw and SmackDown Tag Team Championships. Even though he was getting more and more popular in WWE, Castagnoli was never able to take his job there to the next level. When his contract ended, he decided to leave the company.
Castagnoli’s professional career went well after the move, as the Swiss wrestler won his first big world title in AEW’s sister company Ring of Honor. He is the ROH World Champion for the second time, and he is a part of the Blackpool Combat Club with former WWE stars Jon Moxley and Bryan Danielson.
Malakai Black
Malakai Black used to be known as Alastair Black in WWE, but now he is one of the most famous stars in AEW. As the leader of the famous group House of Black, he has been a key part of the team’s reign as AEW Trios champions. As Alastair Black, he showed popular wrestling fans his martial arts style and dark persona, which have grown stronger since he joined AEW.
Buddy Matthews, who used to be known as Buddy Murphy in WWE, is also in Black’s group. Since joining AEW, he has also become more famous. The House of Black faction has been the right match for Malakai Black’s character every time he steps into the ring.
Chris Jericho
Chris Jericho is one of the best wrestlers of his time, so he could have quit 10 years ago and had nothing left to show. Jericho is no stranger to success in the squared circle. He has been a top star in wrestling with WCW, WWE, and now AEW. During his time in WWE, he beat The Rock and Stone Cold Steve Austin on the same night to become the first-ever Undisputed Champion. This may have been his best wrestling achievement.
Jericho would also do well in Slope Game, even though he was no longer in his best shape. He was the first man to be named AEW World Champion, and he kept the title for more than 180 days. At the moment, he is leading the Jericho Appreciation Society as the charming heel he is known for.
Bryan Danielson
Under the stage name Daniel Bryan, Bryan Danielson was one of WWE’s best performers for over 10 years. He was once thought to be the most famous babyface in the company. During his time there, Danielson won the WWE, World Heavyweight, Intercontinental, United States, and Tag Team Championships. This put him in a special group of athletes who have won the Grand Slam.
Danielson was an important addition to AEW’s plans to take over the professional wrestling world. Even though he has never won the AEW Championship, his membership in the Blackpool Combat Club, which is one of the most famous groups in AEW, has helped the company.
Adam Cole
Adam Cole may not have reached his full potential on WWE’s main roster, but there was no denying his raw ability when he was on the development brand NXT. During his time with the company, he had the longest NXT World Title reign in history. However, artistic differences led to him leaving the company.
Cole may have benefited the most from his move to AEW because he was finally able to prove himself as one of the company’s best. As a major roster wrestler, he has had memorable tag team matches with opponents like Christian Cage and Orange Cassidy. He is expected to be the most likely person to beat the current AEW World king, MJF. This is because he came very close to beating the king in a timed match.
Jon Moxley
Jon Moxley was a member of the famous group The Shield, which terrorized the entire WWE roster from 2012 to 2019. He was best known in WWE as “Lunatic Fringe” Dean Ambrose. Since the group broke up, all three members, including WWE Undisputed Universal Champion Roman Reigns and World Heavyweight Champion Seth Rollins, have continued to do well as solo rivals.
Moxley is one of the most well-known AEW stars, and he has won a lot of gold on his own. He is the first person to win the AEW World Championship three times. He lost the title to the current king, MJF, in November 2022. He and Bryan Danielson and Claudio Castagnoli are all members of the Blackpool Combat Club.
AEW Fight Forever will be out on June 29 for PC, PS4, PS5, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, and Nintendo Switch.
