Big Matches That Happened In Both WWE & AEW

Over the last seven years, several notable wrestlers have made the jump from WWE to AEW and from AEW to WWE. This has led to several instances of the exact same match taking place in both promotions, though under very different circumstances and in different eras.

There have been a surprisingly high number of notable matchups that have occurred in both WWE and AEW, though some are more high profile than others (for instance, Chris Jericho vs. Matt Sydal/Evan Bourne isn’t a match that will turn many heads). It is interesting to take a look at some of these bouts to see which promotion did it better.

8

Cody Rhodes Vs. Ricky Saints/Ricky Starks

• Ricky Saints AEW debut came against Cody Rhodes.
• His WWE main roster debut also came against Rhodes.
• Saints & Rhodes are friends outside of the ring.

When Ricky Saints arrived in AEW, his first point of call was answering a TNT Championship open challenge against Cody Rhodes, coming up short in a strong performance.

In what was likely an intentional repeat, Saints’ debut on SmackDown also came against Cody Rhodes, who at the time was the reigning WWE Champion. In both instances, Saints was handed the chance to work with a defined star in order to give him a boost.

7

Chris Jericho vs. Dean Ambrose/Jon Moxley

• Jericho & Moxley feuded over a potted plant in WWE.
• In AEW, Moxley defeated Jericho to become world champion.
• Their AEW feud was superior to their WWE one.

Jon Moxley & Chris Jericho had high profile singles feuds in both WWE and AEW, though one was far more serious than the other. During their time in WWE, Jericho and Moxley battled on RAW in a feud that featured the destruction of a potted plant and the one-and-only “Ambrose Asylum” match, which didn’t go down well.

In AEW, Moxley would dethrone Jericho to become the second ever AEW World Champion. They would also meet again in an even better match in 2022, once more competing over the top prize in AEW.

6

Adam Cole vs. Aleister Black/Malakai Black

• In NXT, Cole & Black had a banger.
• Black’s final AEW singles match was against Cole.
• Their AEW match was underwhelming.

During their days in NXT, Adam Cole and Malakai Black met more than once, but their best match came in an Extreme Rules clash at NXT TakeOver: Philadelphia.

Their next singles match would come a whole six years later in AEW, though neither man was in as strong of a position as they were in NXT. This would be Black’s final singles match in AEW before departing for a WWE return.

5

Dean Ambrose/Jon Moxley vs. Daniel Bryan/Bryan Danielson

• Moxley & Danielson have been both rivals and allies.
• Moxley ended Danielson’s career in AEW.
• Danielson feuded with The Shield in WWE.

When Jon Moxley made his debut on WWE’s main roster, Bryan Danielson was one of his first rivals as The Shield attempted to take down WWE’s biggest babyfaces. They would have several singles matches on WWE programming over the next couple of years throughout this bad blood.

In AEW, Moxley & Danielson were joined at the hip as both rivals and opponents, competing on major PPVs such as Revolution 2022 & WrestleDream 2024 (the latter of which for the AEW World Title in which Danielson’s career came to an end), plus teaming up with one another as part of the Blackpool Combat Club.

4

Christian/Christian Cage vs. Edge/Adam Copeland

• Christian Cage & Adam Copeland are long time friends.
• They have won world tag titles in both WWE & AEW.
• Cage & Copeland have wrestled as rivals in both promotions.

Christian Cage & Adam Copeland have not only won tag titles in both WWE and AEW, but they have also wrestled against one another too. These long-time friends met as opponents for the first time on an episode of SmackDown in 1999 before actually imploding and feuding in 2001, battling in a feud for the Intercontinental Championship.

In AEW, they would also compete over a midcard title, feuding for the TNT Championship in a personal rivalry that led to several strong matches. In both WWE & AEW, their matches delivered the goods.

3

Goldust/Dustin Rhodes vs. Stardust/Cody Rhodes

• Cody & Dustin Rhodes are brothers.
• In WWE, they wrestled as Stardust & Goldust.
• Their match in AEW is one of the greatest matches in the promotion’s history.

Cody Rhodes & Dustin Rhodes had always wanted a feud and match with one another, and WWE finally granted them that wish in 2015… only they were still competing as “Stardust” and “Goldust”, leading to an absolutely awful match at Fastlane 2015 which received zero follow up.

AEW’s existence allowed them to truly live out their dream, with Cody Rhodes & Dustin Rhodes stealing the show at Double Or Nothing 2019 in a bloody, emotional, and gritty war between brothers which still exists among the best matches in AEW history.

2

Chris Jericho vs. Daniel Bryan/Bryan Danielson

• Danielson & Jericho wrestled in NXT.
• They competed several times in both WWE & AEW.
• They wrestled for the ROH World Title.

Bryan Danielson’s first positive impression in WWE came on an episode of the NXT game show where he delivered a great five-minute performance against multi-time world champion Chris Jericho, which turned many heads. Later they would also compete on RAW in singles action in 2013, but neither of these matches were as good as their AEW meetings.

At both All Out 2022 and later on a Dynamite episode that year for the ROH World Title, Jericho & Danielson showcased their natural chemistry with two very well wrestled bouts.

1

Dean Ambrose/Jon Moxley vs. CM Punk

• CM Punk feuded with The Shield in WWE.
• Punk & Moxley wrestled once in FCW.
• Moxley & Punk feuded for the AEW World Championship.

The rivalry between Jon Moxley & CM Punk in AEW was divisive, but it still led to some electric and exciting clashes for the AEW World Championship, which were unfortunately overshadowed by the whole “Brawl Out” incident. These weren’t their first matches together though, as they met in singles action in WWE.

CM Punk had some issues with The Shield in WWE despite the man to bring them to the main roster as his hired goons, with Punk and the former “Dean Ambrose” competing in singles matches on both RAW & SmackDown. It is also a fun note that they wrestled once in FCW all the way back in 2011 too, before Ambrose had received his main roster call up.