Current AEW Wrestlers Who Would’ve Thrived In WCW

WCW was a wild, bizarre, and surreal promotion – and that was the company at its best! The dominant spell of WCW within the 1990s ousted WWE momentarily from the top spot in the professional wrestling world, and this came thanks to fresh booking, star power, depth in multiple divisions, and more.

Amidst all the huge egos in WCW, there were several names who managed to thrive and succeed, and when looking across the current AEW roster there are clearly some names who would have been able to stand out and hold their own in WCW, whether that be due to in-ring quality, promo style, or something more.

7

MJF

• MJF is a generational talent.
• He would have thrived in any era of WCW or WWE.
• MJF has versatility to do anything asked of him.

The truth about MJF is that he’d have thrived in any era of professional wrestling and in any company; he is simply that good. When looking at WCW in particular, it is very easy imagining MJF settling into a role similar to that of a Ric Flair – someone who backs up everything he says on the mic, isn’t afraid to take any and every cheap route to victory, and exudes class and superiority.

MJF might’ve even been more hammed up than he is currently if he were around during the days of WCW, being handed limousines, valets, private jets, and more during his run as a heel. He would have no doubt achieved world title success in WCW and remained a focal point of the promotion no matter how many huge stars came in and out of the roster.

6

Bandido

• Bandido is a world class in-ring performer.
• WCW’s cruiserweight division would have had Bandido as it’s face.
• WCW elevated the likes of Rey Mysterio.

The WCW cruiserweight division was home to some of the greatest in-ring work of the 1990s within North American professional wrestling, spotlighting many great luchadors, technical wizards, and promising young names.

When looking at the sheer in-ring quality of Bandido and the way he has forged a natural connection to the fans with just his wrestling skills alone, he’d have been right up there as one of the main stars of the cruiserweight division in WCW.

5

Chris Jericho

• Chris Jericho is a legend of professional wrestling.
• The current day Jericho would be able to use his sway in WCW.
• WCW was dominated by older and established stars.

Chris Jericho was a success in WCW back during his early days as a wrestler, using his personality matched with in-ring ability to stand out as one of the biggest stars of the cruiserweight division. If we were to fast-forward to the present day, a 55-year-old Chris Jericho would also succeed and thrive.

This is due to the fact that anyone with any sort of name value, previous success, and contract leverage was able to dominate WCW’s creative team and get handed main events and world title success. With how much of a legend Jericho is today, he’d have been in and amongst the likes of Hulk Hogan, using their name to thrive regardless of whether it was good or bad for the company.

4

Nick Wayne

• Nick Wayne’s cocky and arrogant gimmick would’ve worked wonders in WCW.
• He would have been the focus of WCW’s cruiserweight division.
• WCW did well at building stars outside the main event scene.

Nick Wayne is a rising star, showcasing plenty of experience and quality despite just being 21 years of age. In the days of WCW, younger names were spotlighted, particularly when it comes to the cruiserweight division, where it is easy to imagine Wayne being a big focus and success.

With his mix of incredible in-ring quality and his hateable arrogance, Wayne would have followed in the footsteps of the likes of Chris Jericho and Eddie Guerrero in WCW’s cruiserweight division.

3

FTR

• FTR are a throwback tag team.
• Cash Wheeler & Dax Harwood would have been part of the Four Horsemen.
• AEW attempted to recreate WCW’s magic with The Pinnacle.

FTR are among the best tag teams on the planet and have thrived in AEW, but it is very easy to imagine them thriving back in the days of WCW. They are a complete throwback and modern day version of The Brainbusters (so it was no surprise to see them align with Tully Blanchard for some time in AEW).

If they were present in WCW, Cash Wheeler & Dax Harwood would have been included within some iteration of the Four Horsemen. Although The Pinnacle faction was ultimately abandoned in AEW, the attempt to recreate a Four Horsemen-type stable started off well and had plenty of potential with FTR included.

2

Adam Page

• Adam Page’s cowboy persona would’ve worked a treat in WCW.
• He’d have been a Sting-like character taking down the nWo.
• Page can carry himself in the ring and on the mic in AEW.

Adam Page has been the ultimate babyface and hero of AEW, fending off the likes of The Elite and The Death Riders over the years. Turning back the clock, Page could have also filled that position in WCW against the nWo.

He would have easily been able to fit the Sting role – and perhaps even team up with Sting against the likes of Hulk Hogan, Kevin Nash, Scott Hall, and others. AEW’s resident cowboy would have worked well in WCW, without a shadow of a doubt.

1

Jon Moxley

• Moxley’s style would have been accepted in WCW.
• He is the modern day Cactus Jack.
• Cactus Jack and others were popular stars in WCW.

Jon Moxley has the mic skills and versatility to thrive in any era of wrestling, and he would have certainly done so in WCW. Whether it be as a consistent main event guy or elsewhere on the card, Moxley would have found a place in the promotion.

In many ways, Moxley is akin to Cactus Jack in WCW, so he would have certainly found a way to stand out, showcase his style, and compete in violent classics.