10 AEW Wrestlers Everyone Expected To Fail (But Didn't)
When AEW began back in 2019, it came with a whole load of fresh new stars who were to that point unknown to a wider audience. Over the years, more names (both well-known and obscure) have been brought in to bolster the roster, but not all of those names were necessarily looked upon as potential successes.
In fact, there were several wrestlers who everyone thought would fail in some way, shape or form, but have in fact found their place in the company and done some good in AEW, far exceeding initial expectations of what they would do in the promotion.
10 Darby Allin
Darby Allin has a unique look and style and he is far smaller than most on AEW’s roster. Given the stereotypes of what makes a superstar in wrestling, Allin had a lot going against him when he first joined AEW, with many assuming his style would tire quickly.
However, he has been one of the most consistently over names on the entire roster, winning two TNT Championships and stealing the show on countless occasions. He is a mainstay in AEW, and it isn’t outside the realm of possibility for him to be a world champion down the line.
9 Dark Order
When the Dark Order debuted, no one liked the act. It was a bit too goofy and overly creepy, and they seemed destined for failure. However, once Mr. Brodie Lee emerged as their leader, the group received a big push and were legitimized.
They would then develop individual personalities and eventually turned babyface, becoming a major part in Adam Page’s rise to AEW World Champion in one of the best storylines in AEW history.
8 Wheeler Yuta
When Wheeler Yuta debuted in AEW, he was a lower card babyface who was good in the ring but that was about it, and fans didn’t see much of a future for him. However, after joining the Blackpool Combat Club he has unlocked a whole new intensity and side of himself.
Yuta recently scored the winning pinfall over Kenny Omega in the main event of Double or Nothing 2023, showcasing just how far he has come.
7 The Gunns
Austin & Colten Gunn were very low down the card for a long time in AEW, pretty much being an extension of Billy Gunn, hanging onto his name. They didn’t look like anything more than glorified enhancement talent at the start of their run.
However, after a heel turn they become so much more, and once they ditched their dad and stood on their own, they proved their worth. The Gunns are now former AEW World Tag Team Champions and an established team in AEW.
6 Sammy Guevara
Sammy Guevara was seen as a generic flippy dude when AEW began, and no one really saw him as someone who would be a main player in the company. However, he quickly showed great natural charisma as a heel and an ability to steal the show.
Whether it be as TNT Champion, in the Inner Circle, Jericho Appreciation Society and even briefly as a babyface, Guevara has managed to shine across the board.
5 Jeff Jarrett
There was a collective groan from AEW’s audience around the world when Jeff Jarrett debuted on Dynamite, with it screaming of the dark days of TNA (even though Jarrett wasn’t necessarily the worst part of that).
However, Jarrett has been perfectly handled in AEW. Both he and AEW have been very self-aware of the type of heat he receives and have played into it wonderfully. His signing has been a success for sure.
4 Orange Cassidy
It is easy to see why fans thought Orange Cassidy’s gimmick wouldn’t translate to TV, let alone become a long-time success. However, Cassidy has been consistently over with fans from day one, and no one has become tired of it after four years.
Cassidy has challenged for world titles, beaten Chris Jericho in a feud, and gone on one of the best title reigns in the company’s history as the International Champion.
3 Sting
Sting is an all-time legend, no one denies that, but when it was revealed that he would be stepping foot in the ring after six years of retirement and at over 60 years of age, no one had high hopes and it seemed like an almost certain failure.
However, Sting’s matches have never failed to not be entertaining, with him showing he still has it in small doses. His time in AEW has been a huge success and he has been handled perfectly. This retirement run over the last two years has been something he has no doubt deserved, and it has been far better than anyone expected.
2 Danhausen
Much like Orange Cassidy, Danhausen was a character which many assumed would only translate to a smaller audience and fail on a stage like AEW. However, he always receives big pops and has been a popular act so far.
The role he has been used in has been good, with him never really being someone who is in title contention, but rather as a smaller part of acts and storylines lower down the card. His humor and character has translated very well since he first debuted in AEW.
1 Britt Baker
It was clear early on that AEW were high on Britt Baker, but her babyface character was so bland that fans simply expected her to fail and to receive the same sort of treatment from fans like Roman Reigns did, in which fans would eventually turn against her.
However, AEW saw this and decided to turn her heel, which unlocked one of, if not the best heel in the women’s division within the company. She rose the ranks under this gimmick to become the AEW Women’s World Champion and most over woman in the entire promotion.
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