Better Off
By Scott Keith on 1st November 2023
Wanted to revisit an older email I had sent in. Now that we've had time to see alot of the ex WWE people in AEW stretch their legs, I am curious to see who you and the blog think is better off out of Vinceland. Personally, I am judging it more based off accomplishments rather than screen time, but I think both should be considered.
-Malakai Black, Cesaro, Miro, and FTR all seem in similar or worse spots than they were in WWE. None seem bigger stars in AEW. Miro was close but they fumbled big time. I saw a crazy stat that Black has only had 10 televised singles matches in AEW, and he did try to quit once already. Cesaro is the 3rd most popular guy in the BCC and has only won the ROH title, which seems like punishment.
-Adam Cole and Daniel Bryan have dealt with plenty of injuries, but have constantly come up short in any big match they had when healthy. Sure Adam Cole won the Owen cup, but what did he get from that? And Bryan is killing it in the ring, best he has ever been, but has jobbed alot and is no where near the star he was when he got there.
-Swerve is a tricky one for me. Had a tag title run that went too long with Keith Lee, and its now a running joke that they never paid off in 1vs1 match. Multiple groups made for him but they have mostly sucked. He seems way over now but still chasing a big win in a singles title match.
-Toni got a couple big title wins but they were all forgettable. Her new gimmick catching on, but they jumped the shark on it. But guess you can say her and Ruby have been given alot better opportunities in AEW. The Outcasts stuff was death.
-Christian, Hager, and 2point0 are def way better off in AEW. Christian is doing some of his best work of his career, and would not had that chance in WWE. Jericho and Mox are both better off as well. Saraya as well, but I don't think anyone really wants her there. Billy Gunn, Dustin Rhodes, and Sting obviously had their careers extended going to AEW, so good for them.
-Pac, if he could ever get on TV consistently, I would say he is better off, but what's his deal?
-Samoe Joe-I am torn on this. He couldn't get cleared in WWE any longer, but had a decent run. I enjoyed his Punk feud and match, but again, not a lot of big wins in AEW.
I'd say Black is better off now in that he's a featured guy who is the undisputed head of his own stable. Who knows where he would have ended up in WWE. Maybe better because he was a HHH guy, but it's not like his NXT was setting the world on fire either.
Cole is undoubtedly better off. Gets to be with his girlfiend, work with his friends, be featured in the biggest show in AEW's history. Bryan is doing what he wants on a weekly basis, and he doesn't care about jobbing and in fact seems to prefer not to win.
Swerve is way better off and I don't really see an argument otherwise.
Toni's gonna end up champion again and the Timeless thing is taking off. Again, way better off and not even an argument.
Pac I think is better off because he has more access to do what he wants outside of AEW, which he likely wouldn't have in WWE, but as you say, who knows what his deal is at the moment.
Joe is kind of a push for me.