3 Former AEW stars Tony Khan needs to bring back - 48-year-old veteran; WWE Hall of Famer
The quality of wrestlers that AEW currently employs is second to none. The Jacksonville-based promotion has many performers on its roster, and its talent pool overshadows WWE's roster to some extent.
Over the years, Tony Khan has brought in numerous renowned international superstars to All Elite Wrestling. However, Khan has also let go of plenty of talents for whom he did not have any solid creative plans.
Interestingly, certain former talents could thrive in the current era of the Tony Khan-led company. The return of some specific ex-stars could work in favor of AEW, allowing them to explore a few particular storyline possibilities.
In this article, we will look at three former stars Tony Khan needs to bring back to All Elite Wrestling.
#3. Bobby Fish could return to AEW to reunite with Adam Cole
Bobby Fish had a brief run in AEW from October 2021 to August 2022. The Round Eye Samurai wrestled against some prominent opponents in the Tony Khan-led company, including CM Punk and Bryan Danielson.
The former NXT Tag Team Champion had a brief reunion with Kyle O'Reilly and Adam Cole before he was ultimately let go by the company soon. At the moment, Fish is plying his trade in MLW.
Although he is currently part of a different promotion, the possibility of Bobby Fish's return to All Elite Wrestling can't be ruled out.
In his recent appearance on Conversations with The Wrestling Classic, Adam Cole expressed his desire to bring back Bobby Fish to AEW. While he is aware of how unlikely Fish's return is at this point, The Panama Playboy still wishes to work with The Infamous at some point.
With Kyle O'Reilly, Roderick Strong, and Adam Cole seemingly heading towards a reunion, it would make sense for Tony Khan to re-sign the 48-year-old at some point down the line. Fans have been yearning to see the erstwhile Undisputed Era join forces again, and the reunion might not hit the same if Fish was not around.
#2. Arn Anderson could contribute more to All Elite Wrestling
Arn Anderson is one of the earliest wrestling veterans who showed faith in AEW during its initial years. The Enforcer had a significant presence backstage, and he made numerous television appearances as well.
The 66-year-old veteran left the Tony Khan-led company after the expiration of his contract in May 2024. While he has already been featured on a few WWE premium live events since his departure, Jim Ross believes Anderson should be re-hired by Tony Khan.
In a recent edition of the Grillin JR podcast, Ross mentioned how it is important to have a knowledgeable veteran like Anderson on television. The legendary star shed light on Arn Anderson's efforts that helped mold John Cena into a main event superstar.
"I was surprised and disappointed because I always believed that having him around was a good thing. He was the guy that kinda molded John Cena and John Cena began one of the biggest earners in WWE history."
If Anderson could help create the biggest babyface of the past generation, several young AEW stars would benefit from acquiring his guidance.
Having ended his previous AEW run on a positive note, the veteran could return to the Jacksonville-based promotion to resume his role as a mentor to the young talent.
#1. Matt Cardona should be signed to a full-time contract by Tony Khan
It has been four years since Matt Cardona (fka Zack Ryder) was released from WWE. Since then, he has lit up the independent circuit, having established himself as the "Indy God."
Over the past four years, Matt Cardona has won numerous championships across several wrestling promotions. However, it is time that Cardona finally signs with a mainstream American promotion. Considering his tremendous growth as an in-ring performer, the former United States Champion could be an asset to All Elite Wrestling.
Interestingly, Cardona has appeared in AEW in the past. In 2020, he made a few appearances in the Jacksonville-based promotion to help out his longtime friend, Cody Rhodes. The 39-year-old star then embarked on a journey to conquer the independent circuit, keeping no association with either WWE or AEW.
In March 2024, Cardona finally returned to the Tony Khan-led company to answer Adam Copeland's Open Challenge for the TNT Championship. Although he did not win the prestigious title, it might not have been the last time fans saw The Deathmatch King on AEW television.
It is time for TK to give Cardona the platform to spell his magic on national television. The Indy God could bring a new dynamic to the AEW roster, further diversifying the company's talent pool.