AEW: Who will be the first to leave?

[El Pollo Guerrera]

FIRST AND FOREMOST, I want to say that this isn't a dig at AEW, nor is it an "old man yelling at cloud" rant against modern wrestling. I feel this is a serious question about the future of AEW.

Right now, AEW has put together some highly-regarded PPV shows, and the future does look bright for the company. However, once the company starts producing a weekly show, the company will settle into a certain groove, a style for the show, a particular way of presenting wrestling to the audience... and it's not going to please everyone on the roster. On the Wiki page, there's 38 male wrestlers on the roster. Is the company going to give everyone the same amount of airtime? Once the company settles on a booker/booking team/writer/writing team for the show, some wrestlers are going to be pushed and some aren't. You can't please everyone, and those who aren't pleased can leave.

Of course, that's not the only reason a wrestler could leave. One could get a better offer from the WWE, decide to follow a dream and wrestle in Japan, just quit because of the schedule, or injuries, or 'spend time with the family', etc..

So, I put the question out there: who do you see leaving AEW first?

Jericho or Moxley, getting a batter payday from the WWE?

One of the more indy-based wrestlers like Allin or Janela, who don't want to 'tone down' their style for TV?

Everyone's been saying Jungle Boy and Luchasaurus are the 'next big thing'... would they jump ship for money?

Maybe even Cody? It's his baby but will he break under pressure from investors and TV production concerns?

Who leaves first?





(I didn't do this as a poll because I figured this would work better as a discussion)

[Deleted]

they've signed a lot of people for a 2 hour show. Somebody's bound to feel left out after a while

[Mozenrath]

Moxley going back to WWE for money is hilariously unlikely.

Hmm, maybe Jericho leaving AEW after a few years, just due to how mercurial he can be. Also could see Jungle Boy maybe going to WWE if the offer was too good to pass up, and getting to work with the Hardyz or some other dream match for him, but I see him as someone AEW would probably want to keep around for a while.

[Jonathan Michaels]

I can’t wait for Raw’s Newest Superstar, Tangerine Bonaduce.

[Yamashita Enforcement Division]

Realistically, Jericho retires into the sunset relatively soon, especially after the strain of being a feature figure of a TV production for however long he is going to be at the forefront.

[Cyno]

Jericho's a guy I can see retiring sooner than later. He can still go in the ring, and can work exceptionally well for a guy his age. But time catches up to us all.

Also, Moxley isn't going back to WWE unless Vince retires or croaks. And Triple H takes over and ushers in an entirely new creative process. Moxley's not someone who chases dollar signs; he's happy with what he made in WWE, but he only cared to make enough so he could get a house and live a comfortable life. He left WWE because of creative frustrations and if money was the prime motivator, he would've signed a new contract with WWE (who by all accounts threw money at him nearly to the point of giving him a blank check to stay).

If Cody, Omega, or the Bucks set foot inside a WWE ring, it's because AEW no longer exists.

Anyone else, I have no idea. It's something we'd have to revisit once AEW gets into a groove and becomes a full-time promotion with it settling into its regular schedule. You'll definitely hear some noise near when contracts start to expire.

[crashmatsbazz]

Depending on how TV goes for him i could see MJF jumping to WWE, everyone is super high on bim at the minute anyway, after a year on TV and when Vince sees him im sure he will try and steal him away.

[Oh Cry Me a Screwball]

Probably someone who is on a short term contract that they don't opt to sign full time, like Private Party prior to Fyter Fest.

[sportatorium]

MJF- He’s extremely young & if he keeps ascending at his current pace his eventual jump to WWE will be for staggering money.

[Fade is a CodyCryBaby]

Sammy. For some reason. Just got a feeling.

[Deputy Muscle]

Aug 25, 2019 2:33:36 GMT -5 Fade is a CodyCryBaby said:

Sammy. For some reason. Just got a feeling.

That's because Sammy is the shits

[This Player Hating Mothman]

Sammy Guevera is the only one mentioned in what I think will be the zone of likely jumpers. Whoever moves over first is going to be someone who's probably not feeling they have a big shot in AEW and who gets a big offer from WWE to come over, skip NXT, hit Raw the very first week they're free. Someone on a short term deal and someone who isn't being strongly featured already right now on the cards. MJF is a hot commodity, but he's also a hot commodity who has a clear shot to be the top heel for a whole damn promotion for a while once he's built up enough, beyond any personal loyalties that's big, and it's something that'll never happen in WWE. There's a reason every big name in WWE was bought with a massive pay raise and a lot of the moves were in underused midcard guys.

[koreycaskets]

Aug 25, 2019 2:25:25 GMT -5 sportatorium said:

MJF- He’s extremely young & if he keeps ascending at his current pace his eventual jump to WWE will be for staggering money.

He will be in WWE before we know it. He's a better version of The Miz.

[Oh Cry Me a Screwball]

Hard disagree with Sammy. He's among the regulars on Being the Elite and was literally in the first match announced for AEW on TNT, which is a good sign for how AEW management sees him on their show. He's also a heat magnet, which is something that only a handful of roster members really have going for them making him an asset in the company. Lastly, he's a Cruiserweight and while I enjoy 205 Live more than most people, the way it's promoted is probably the biggest turn off anyone under the weight limit would have when considering a WWE deal.

Even if Sammy were to get lost in the shuffle for a bit as AEW gets into his groove, I can't see a guy like him looking at WWE and thinking it would get any better on their massive roster and vastly underutilized Cruiserweight division.

[honsou]

Its going to be someone they end up not using as much as they thought they would and they leave on good terms.

My guess is Peter Avalon

[Deleted]

Aug 25, 2019 2:58:00 GMT -5 koreycaskets said:

Aug 25, 2019 2:25:25 GMT -5 sportatorium said:

MJF- He’s extremely young & if he keeps ascending at his current pace his eventual jump to WWE will be for staggering money.

He will be in WWE before we know it. He's a better version of The Miz.

I would say he's more like a better EC3.

[timelimitdraw]

Janela. Feels like he enjoys booking and having creative freedom a lot, so I can see him leaving after a few months.

[Hypnosis]

Aug 25, 2019 7:10:36 GMT -5 timelimitdraw said:

Janela. Feels like he enjoys booking and having creative freedom a lot, so I can see him leaving after a few months.

There's also the possibility of a Matt Hardy/Edge/Lita situation with him, Kip Sabian, and Penelope Ford, since Janela did get into a fight with Enzo.

At the risk of sounding like a broken record, my other prediction is Kylie Rae, due to what's been going on with her since June.  Hasn't wrestled since Double or Nothing, not appearing at Starrcast III in Chicago, and no future bookings lined up.  Unless she makes a surprise return at All Out, it looks like she's done with wrestling for now.

[saneiac]

I thought Angelico had interest from WWE after he left Lucha Underground. If they make him an offer, I can't see him turning it down, even though I think he'd be a terrible fit there.

[The 1Watcher Experience]

Let’s say AEW doesn’t draw outsiders to their movement and end up in TNA ratings territory. Then I could see a guy like MJF wanting more visibility for his career and leaving for the WWE. Their ratings aren’t stellar right now but they are obviously much more established and well known.