5 AEW stars who were better off in WWE

The inception of AEW in 2019 led to an interesting trend in the pro wrestling business. Earlier, WWE had a strong monopoly over the industry, which proved detrimental to the wrestling economy to a great extent.

Before the birth of All Elite Wrestling, wrestlers had no alternative to choose from in case they were dissatisfied with their booking in the Titanland. The Tony Khan-led company brought a massive shift in the industry, as it became a platform for ex-WWE stars to weave their magic outside the limitations of Stamford-based promotion.

From Christian Cage to Toni Storm, numerous former superstars revitalized their careers in the Jacksonville-based promotion. However, not all WWE to AEW deflections have turned out to be a hit.

Many superstars left WWE for AEW to get better featured on television, only to be massively underutilized under Tony Khan’s regime. In this article, let's look at five All Elite stars who were better off in World Wrestling Entertainment.

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#5. Saraya was treated much better in the WWE

Saraya (fka Paige) was always considered a main event talent in WWE. Before her unfortunate retirement in 2018, the Anti-Diva was a staple of the women's division, with numerous great accomplishments under her belt.

Her feuds against AJ Lee, Nikki Bella, and Charlotte Flair helped the former Divas Champion establish herself as a massive draw.

Unfortunately, Tony Khan has failed to utilize Saraya to her fullest potential. Despite being constantly featured on television, The Outcasts' leader is nowhere near the presence she had in WWE. While she did win the AEW Women's World Championship at All In 2023, her overall run has been a massive letdown.

Many believe Saraya is not even among the best five female talents in AEW, which indicates the steady decline in her career. The situation is the opposite of her run in WWE, where she was actively pushed as the flagbearer of the women's division.

#4. Keith Lee was a force to be reckoned with in WWE

Keith Lee was one of the brightest talents in WWE from 2019-20. The Limitless One established himself as the face of NXT, where he once held the NXT Championship and the NXT North American Championship simultaneously.

While his main roster run left a lot to be desired, he still had his shining moments on WWE's flagship shows. The 39-year-old star beat Randy Orton clean at Payback 2020, and by January 2021, Keith found himself challenging for the WWE Championship. Owing to his health issues, Lee has not been able to recreate the same success in All Elite Wrestling.

The Limitless One arrived in the Jacksonville-based promotion in 2022. Keith Lee was soon paired up with Swerve Strickland, and The Swerve in Our Glory was formed. The two stars found great success as a unit, as they went on to capture the AEW World Tag Team Championship.

Once the team disbanded, Lee's career took a sudden nosedive. His recurring injury struggles and health issues prevented the former NXT Champion from taking his AEW career to the next level.

Even if Tony Khan would have wanted to push the behemoth star, Lee's unavailability made it difficult for Khan to book him consistently. It is unfortunate that Keith Lee couldn't make as much of an impact in AEW as he did when he was in NXT.

#3. Miro has been massively underutilized in AEW

While he rarely found himself in the main event scene, Miro (fka Rusev) was a reliable upper mid-card talent during his time in WWE. The Bulgarian Brute constantly reinvented himself from time to time, going from a dominant heel to a crowd-favorite babyface.

The fans were very fond of Miro's "Rusev Day" persona, which turned out to be one of the hottest WWE acts of the 2010s. While the company was guilty of not capitalizing on his immense potential, they still gave him a consistent push throughout his run.

The Redeemer stacked some great accomplishments in the Stamford-based promotion, which includes multiple reigns with the United States Championship. Unfortunately, Miro has not been able to accomplish much during his time in All Elite Wrestling. Following his debut in 2020, Miro was paired up with Kip Sabian, an alliance that did not achieve anything for both individuals.

After cutting his ties with Sabian, Miro became a dangerous heel, who was ready to run through the entire roster. The Redeemer had a decent run as the TNT Champion, which helped him gain fame among the AEW audience.

However, Miro's momentum suddenly derailed the moment he lost the TNT Title. Recurring injuries spelled doom for his run, as the former WWE star lost his spot to the newly signed stars during his absence.

While Tony Khan has tried to book Miro in various storylines, The Redeemer has not been able to regain the intimidating presence he once had. Despite having its shining moments, the Bulgarian star's AEW run pales in comparison to what he achieved in WWE.

#2. Buddy Matthews was on his way to becoming a Superstar in WWE

Buddy Matthews (fka Buddy Murphy) made headlines in WWE during the summer of 2019. After being called up to the main roster, The Best Kept Secret was inserted in an important storyline, where he worked with Daniel Bryan and Roman Reigns.

The Australian star then entered a rivalry with Aleister Black (aka Malakai Black). The duo churned out back-to-back classics during their feud, making the fans take notice of their in-ring chemistry. Matthews was soon recruited by Seth Rollins, and the duo went on to terrorize the WWE locker room for several months.

Unfortunately, the creative team lost the plot on how to book Buddy Matthews the moment he separated from The Messiah. After an unexplored relationship angle with Aalyah Mysterio, the 35-year-old star tried to mend ways with Seth Rollins, which reset his entire character arc. Soon after this development, The Best Kept Secret was handed his release from WWE in 2021.

A few months later, the former RAW Tag Team Champions joined The House of Black in AEW. Since then, Matthews has remained stuck in the tag team division, with barely any opportunities in the singles competition. Known for his incredible in-ring abilities, it is regretful that Tony Khan has not been able to capitalize on The Best Kept Secret's immense potential.

Aside from being an in-ring mastermind, Matthews is also renowned for being a solid onscreen character. While he did get opportunities to showcase his skills in WWE, the same couldn't be said about his run in All Elite Wrestling.

#1. Adam Cole was the center of attraction in WWE NXT

Despite never joining the main roster, Adam Cole crafted an untouchable legacy in WWE that will live on for years to come. The Panama Playboy carried the NXT brand on his shoulders for years, helping it go from a developmental show to a legitimate third brand.

During his record-setting reign as the NXT Champion, Cole took the former black-and-gold brand to great heights. As the leader of The Undisputed Era, Adam Cole helped WWE thrive at a time when the main roster product was on a decline.

At All Out 2021, The Panama Playboy shocked the wrestling world by making his AEW debut. Cole had a burden of expectations on his shoulders, as the AEW fans expected him to elevate the All Elite Wrestling brand as well. The 35-year-old star took some time to settle in the Tony Khan-led company before he eventually entered a feud with the AEW World Champion, Hangman Adam Page.

Unfortunately, the former NXT Champion sustained an untimely injury a few months later. The Panama Playboy was forced to stay away from the squared circle for a long time, which proved detrimental to his career.

The leader of The Undisputed Kingdom returned to the company in January 2023. The next few months turned out to be fruitful for the former NXT Champion, as he went on to have a memorable program with Maxwell Jacob Friedman. The duo also clashed in the main event of All In 2023, where Cole fell short of winning the AEW World Championship.

In September 2023, Cole sustained a gruesome ankle injury, which has kept him on the sidelines till now. Adam Cole's absence ruined the whole Devil storyline, which could have been a massive success. Despite being given a consistent push, The Panama Playboy could not attain the same peak in AEW that he once did in WWE.