Who Is/Will Be the First AEW Made Star?

[KAMALARAMBO: BOOMSHAKALAKA!!!]

For the longest time WWE was really the only place that could create wrestling stars. There was TNA most of that time, but people even doubted their biggest non-WWE grown talent AJ Styles could even get signed by WWE. I’ve read arguments that some think the big reason Styles got such a push out of the gate was that he hit it out of the park in NJPW.

So I’d argue NJPW became capable of making wrestling stars but only at the very tip of the card. I mean when something as mainstream as Rolling Stone picks a pre-AEW Kenny Omega as their wrestler of the year, it’s tough to say NJPW did not create a star.

With some of the biggest stars on the roster you can argue AEW is too young of a company to have really created stars yet. But I’d disagree. I’d say MJF is a star, so that would be my answer. He’s been featured and heavily promoted regularly since the start of the company. It’s true he was very successful in his short career before AEW but AEW is the only company to really have the reach to make him what I think of as a star.

Other than MJF, probably a bunch more would qualify too. Maybe Eddie Kingston, Luchasaurus, and Jungle Boy. Kingston because he really hit it out of the park in his main event feud and got a good amount of TV time because of it. The other two because with their unique look they’ve been featured a good amount and used to advertise the product. Heck you can even make the argument for Brandi Rhodes. While she was signed to WWE there she was much more Female Wrestling Announcer #4 than anything resembling a star.

We’re playing fast and loose with definition of star for the sake of this thread so interpret it as you will.

For most of the top company guys though I’d say they earned their spots as a star elsewhere.

Chris Jericho- WCW
Jon Moxley- WWE
Cody Rhodes- WWE
Kenny Omega- NJPW
Young Bucks- NJPW

["Evil Brood" Jackson Vanik]

I'd say Cody entered star territory in ROH/NJPW but I agree he was already one pre-AEW. The initial names that came to mind for me were Page, MJF, and Darby.

[Deleted]

I expect the first truly AEW identified and developed star to be Max Caster, personally. That guy has all the tools to be a major star in professional wrestling.

[kingoftheindies]

I'd say either Hangman or Darby no? Hangman was there for multi man matches in New Japan and ROH. Many saw him as a future star but he has become a star in AEW.... and Darby was far from a big name on the indies when signed

[kidkamikaze10]

I think it will be Jade Cargill, if they put investment in the women’s division.

Likely truly AEW made, aka trained by the Nightmare Family.

[Dr. Bolty, Disaster Enby]

A lot depends on the definition of every term in the question.

If we go by "scores ratings equal to the Jericho/Mox/Omega tier" for the definition of star, then MJF, Hangman, Darby Allin, John Silver, Orange Cassidy, Britt Baker, Sammy Guevara, Jungle Boy, and Eddie Kingston are already there. Max Caster probably hits that tier in not very long with the way his career is going.

If we go by "trained in AEW or had no noteworthy buzz from any other promotion before signing" definition of AEW made, then the conversation centers on Anna Jay, Jade Cargill, and Lee Johnson. They are all probably becoming major players pretty quickly.

If we go by the "mainstream recognition" definition of star...woof, who even knows if anyone gets there. Hangman, Silver, Jade, Caster, and Orange jump to my mind as the likely possibilities, but none of them is really a guarantee.

[Deleted]

I think Darby already is.

-proven to move the needle from reports I've seen

-immediately put into a program with the biggest-name vet they have in Sting

-TNT champion

[Gerard Gerard]

I get major 'Batista in late 2004' vibes from Wardlow. Which is amazing considering Wardlow never even appeared on anyone's radar pre-AEW.

[eJm]

Apr 7, 2021 18:57:49 GMT -5 Gerard Gerard said:

I get major 'Batista in late 2004' vibes from Wardlow. Which is amazing considering Wardlow never even appeared on anyone's radar pre-AEW.

That cage match, which I think we weren’t that far past the year anniversary of, had no good reason to be as great as it was. Just none.

The moment Wardlow does his version of the thumbs down moment to MJF, dude’s made.

[smokinvokoun86]

I think MJF, Hangman and Darby are just about there. I think MJF and Hangman are one title win away from being made stars. Darby you can argue is already made by winning the TNT title and being associated with Sting.

[Yamashita Enforcement Division]

Hangman, Allin, Ogogo, Friedman, Jungle Boy, KiLynn King, Cargill, Conti.

lots of names.

actually, my answer is Dr. Britt Baker DMD

[RKTaker]

MJF, Jungle Boy, Darby, if you count ricky starks him too

[Bang Bang Bart]

Apr 7, 2021 18:16:51 GMT -5 kingoftheindies said:

I'd say either Hangman or Darby no? Hangman was there for multi man matches in New Japan and ROH. Many saw him as a future star but he has become a star in AEW.... and Darby was far from a big name on the indies when signed

Even when Hangman was being set up as top guy at AEW's birth, he wasn't quite there with fans until the Anxious Millennial Cowboy Shit gimmick and the wonderful character work from him changed his trajectory for the better.

[Captain Stud Muffin (BLM)]

Hangman Adam Page

He is what Cowboy James Storm should have been if TNA reacted smartly to his popularity

[Allie Kitsune]

Fully Homegrown?

Max Caster.

[bob]

MJF, Darby, Hangman Adam Page, Orange Cassidy

[Cyno]

It's tough in this environment to have a truly "homegrown" star since a lot of the guys thought of as AEW guys (as in, people who never were in WWE in any prominent way), didn't just come straight from the indies to AEW. A lot of them had pretty good careers in some of the more renowned indies like CZW, PWG, and GCW. A lot of them had appearances in the mid-majors like ROH, MLW, and TNA/Impact. Hell, a lot of them had solid careers in major Japanese and Mexican promotions.

That disqualifies a lot of folks from being seen as homegrown if you want to be a stickler for the definition. Granted, the guys thought of as TNA "homegrown" stars like AJ Styles, Samoa Joe, and Christopher Daniels had come from ROH and even WWF and WCW. Guess it's more a matter of where you break out as a major fixture of a promotion instead of being a career lower or mid-carder.

[Dub H]

Darby and OC are already stars.Depending what you count as first "aew".

[EvenBaldobombHasAJob]

I'd say Hangman Page, Darby Allin, MJF and Orange Cassidy are all already there.

[Clash, Never a Meter Maid]

If I have to play fast and loose, then they’ve already done it with Darby.

I’d still need to know if you meant “Dwayne Johnson style crossover to A-List mainstream star”. Because they’re rapidly building people in the wrestling world.