5 biggest missed opportunities in AEW history
AEW has gone through a lot of ups and downs in recent years. The Jacksonville-based promotion has gone through extended periods of success, but it has also had its fair share of struggles and shortcomings.
In recent years, Tony Khan has put together plenty of intriguing storylines on AEW television. The All Elite Wrestling CEO has given the fans many rare dream matches, which may not have ever happened without AEW.
Despite having a world-class roster, the AEW creative team has not been able to capitalize on the incredible talent pool to its full potential. While they have churned out many quality storylines, the Jacksonville-based promotion has often let down the fans with its inconsistent booking.
The Tony Khan-led company has often failed to recognize several blockbuster ideas that could have potentially benefitted AEW in its battle against WWE. In this article, let's look at the five biggest missed opportunities in the history of All Elite Wrestling.
#5. Daniel Garcia should not have turned on Bryan Danielson
Daniel Garcia rose to prominence in AEW when he joined The Jericho Appreciation Society. While Garcia did an exceptional job with his "sports entertainer" gimmick, his insane wrestling skills made the fans believe he could achieve greater heights in the future.
The Red Death was involved in his first major feud in 2022 when The Jericho Appreciation Society developed issues with The Blackpool Combat Club. The 25-year-old star found himself in a moral dilemma when he was forced to choose between Chris Jericho and his childhood hero, Bryan Danielson.
The American Dragon actively tried to recruit Garcia into the BCC to help him return to his roots as a technical wrestler. However, The Lionheart was adamant about keeping The Dragon Slayer on his side.
Ultimately, Garcia turned his back on Bryan Danielson, deciding to continue with his sports entertainer gimmick. It was one of the biggest fumbles for Tony Khan as a booker, as an alliance with The American Dragon could have turned Garcia into a legitimate star.
With his able mentorship, Danielson could have helped Garcia break into the main event scene, something he may not have achieved as part of the JAS. The Red Death cut ties with Jericho a few months later, making him look witless for not choosing Danielson when he had the chance.
#4. Wardlow's lackluster TNT Championship run destroyed his momentum
Once considered a popular homegrown talent, Wardlow has had a drastic fall from grace in the last two years. Following an impactful program with Maxwell Jacob Friedman (MJF), Mr. Mayhem became one of the hottest acts in the business, with many fans clamoring for his crowning as the next AEW World Champion.
The 36-year-old star was paired with the TNT Championship in 2022 to help him prepare for a bigger role in the future. Unfortunately, the creative team massively botched his title reign, causing the fans to withdraw their investment in Mr. Mayhem. Inconsistent booking combined with a lack of credible challengers spelled doom for Wardlow's TNT Championship reign.
Things got worse when Wardlow got himself involved in a hot-potato contest for the TNT Championship with Powerhouse Hobbs and Samoa Joe. Owing to the atrocious booking, the behemoth star lost all the momentum he had built over the years.
Despite joining the Undisputed Kingdom in 2023, Wardlow still hasn't recovered from the damage done to his credibility by his failed TNT Championship reign.
#3. Jade Cargill should have been involved in the AEW Women's Title picture
Jade Cargill made her All Elite Wrestling debut in 2020. At a time when the AEW women's division was struggling for recognition, Cargill impressed the promotion's audience with her larger-than-life persona.
Admittedly, Big Money Jade was an unfinished commodity without any major wrestling experience on her side. However, Cargill's charismatic personality helped her keep the fans invested in her character.
Interestingly, Jade Cargill was kept far away from other top female stars despite being a popular figure in the women's division. Although Tony Khan did crown her as the inaugural TBS Champion, Big Money Jade defended her title primarily against mid-card talents during her 508-day reign.
It was a huge missed opportunity that Tony Khan did not pit Cargill against main-event talents like Britt Baker and Toni Storm. The former WWE Tag Team Champion should have been involved more in the AEW Women's World Championship picture, even if she was not handed the title right away.
With Jade eventually jumping ship to WWE in 2023, it seems like Tony Khan made a mistake by not fully utilizing AEW's homegrown talent.
#2. CM Punk vs. Kenny Omega could have been a blockbuster rivalry
Following the infamous Brawl Out incident at All Out 2022, Tony Khan suspended both CM Punk and The Elite. The two sides were involved in a physical altercation backstage moments after Punk blasted Kenny Omega and The Young Bucks for allegedly spreading false rumors about him in the media.
While The Elite returned from suspension two months later, it was not until June 2023 that The Best in the World made his comeback to All Elite Wrestling. Interestingly, The Elite and CM Punk were kept on Dynamite and Collision, respectively, to prevent the chaos from escalating any further.
However, the brand split did not stop the two sides from taking shots at each other. It seemed like Tony Khan was building towards Kenny Omega vs. CM Punk before the Voice of the Voiceless got fired after his altercation with Jack Perry at All In.
In today's era, it is very difficult to get the fans invested in a storyline. Since Omega and Punk had genuine real-life animosity, their onscreen rivalry could have blurred the lines between reality and fiction. The feud could have tremendously helped AEW on the ratings front, where it has constantly struggled since Punk's departure.
Known as two of the best wrestlers in the world, Omega vs. Punk could have ended up being the biggest rivalry in AEW history.
#1. Cody Rhodes should not have bound himself with the strange world title stipulation
Cody Rhodes found himself involved in the AEW World Championship scene soon after the company's inception. However, many fans were wary of Rhodes potentially misusing his backstage pull to keep himself in the main event picture.
The reigning AEW World Champion at the time, Chris Jericho, also called out The American Nightmare for taking advantage of his EVP credentials to get himself a title shot.
In an attempt to silence his critics, Cody Rhodes announced that he would never again challenge for the AEW World Championship if he lost his match against the Le Champion at Full Gear 2019. The shocking announcement drew divisive reactions, with many fans criticizing Rhodes for booking himself into a corner.
Ultimately, Chris Jericho defeated Cody Rhodes in their much-anticipated match, leaving Cody without a title shot for the rest of his AEW tenure. While many expected The American Nightmare to backtrack on his promise, the current Undisputed WWE Champion kept his word until he eventually left the young promotion in 2022.
It was one of the most controversial booking decisions in AEW history, as the stipulation significantly limited what Cody Rhodes could have achieved in the Jacksonville-based promotion. His refusal to turn heel made matters worse, as a lack of clear direction made the fans turn their backs on The American Nightmare.
Had he not bound himself with a strange stipulation, Rhodes could have had an even more significant impact in AEW, similar to Jon Moxley, Bryan Danielson, and CM Punk. Although he is now in a great position in WWE, his run in All Elite Wrestling will forever remain tainted due to his decision to distance himself from the World Championship.