Yesterday on Instagram, Rey Fenix on Instagram posted 10 images from his time in All Elite Wrestling that felt like an official farewell to AEW.
In a way it felt less like a farewell to AEW and more a farewell to pro wrestling, including photos of his time in AAA, The Crash, and meeting Kenta Kobashi. Maybe Fenix is fully aware of what WWE will mean. No more pro wrestling you can be proud of. Put on the Olaf costume and get skating for the kids.
I loved The Lucha Bros. From Lucha Underground to Impact Wrestling to All Elite Wrestling, they’ve been my favourite duo of any company. In Lucha Underground they were more rivals than partners, but I still enjoyed any time they got in the ring together. Penta especially was one of my absolute guys in Lucha Underground, my favourite wrestling promotion of the 2010s.
It’s bittersweet to see them leave, with a lot of injuries causing delays on pushes and storylines, but I can never shake the vision of Cody Rhodes eating an arm break from Penta only to roll him up with the strength of the same arm and try to convince us it was some sort of instinctual action and not him completely no selling an alleged arm breaking for a cheap roll up. Yes I’m still bitter about that. And him no selling Darby’s Coffin Drop. Anyway.
There was likely a lot more AEW could have done with the Lucha Bros. and it didn’t happen. They still got a lot of great memories in the company, and a lot of big moments. They were my favourite tag team in the promotion, and it felt right any time they held gold, either as a duo or in Death Triangle with PAC.
The departures of Fenix and Penta make you think about some other AEW wrestlers who have just disappeared off the radar, as to whether it’s an injury or they are on their way out of the company. I have already discussed Miro requesting a release from his contract with All Elite Wrestling.
(DISCLAIMER: Saying you don’t think a wrestler is a fit in a wrestling or promotion or you’d rather them work for a different promotion does not mean I want them fired or homeless or whatever silly hyperbole you want to come up with. It’s no different to saying you want a hockey player traded. I’m not expressing for these human people to have their lives ruined. I think there’s a better destination for their happiness and financial stability and it just isn’t in AEW. Got it? We cool? No? Whatever I’m rolling.)
Daniel Garcia
Last Match in AEW: September 7, 2024 at All Out 2024
I did discuss Daniel Garcia’s decision already but unlike with Miro I do want to say something on his decision. The Lucha Bros. are the second time someone in AEW was leaving and I thought going to WWE was a bad fit. Cody Rhodes, Jade Cargill, Brian Pillman Jr., Shawn Spears, and Ethan Page all make sense for WWE. CM Punk was fired so that’s different. The Lucha Bros. though? Maybe they don’t fit AEW perfectly, but they certainly won’t fit WWE, the home of Speed matches and wrestlers with Mexican heritage always bunched together or made to fight each other with little movement up the card unless you’re the son of Rey Mysterio Jr. Just ask Andrade El Idolo, the first time it was a bad fit.
Daniel Garcia going to WWE would be a bad fit. If he worked there for three years he’d still be in his 20s and young enough to return to All Elite Wrestling so maybe that’s not a bad idea for the money and recognition. I don’t see it ever being a good time for him in the ring, and in the ring is what counts.
Stay or Go: Stay. He fits All Elite Wrestling. That TNT Championship is saying his name. He just needs to sign on the line which is dotted and take it from Jack Perry. Are you man enough to take it?
Ricky Starks
Last Match in AEW: March 30, 2024
I was there live for Ricky’s last match in AEW, which seemed due to an injury but nobody was really sure. Starks insists he isn’t hurt and can wrestle any time, and has wrestled on the independents.
When asked about Starks around All In 2024, Tony gave a boilerplate answer about Ricky still being under contract and how he thinks highly of him.
Ricky, much like Wardlow, is constantly in debates on how AEW handled him and if this was the mishandling of a future World Champion. I tend to agree with this instead of that viewpoint.
I think Ricky Starks is a good 34-year-old midcard wrestler but just the way people over exaggerate his ability in the ring, on the microphone, and his general charisma, it honestly makes me not want him in the company just so those people go with him as well. I’ve enjoyed a lot of his matches and think there could be a place for him, but if he sees his trajectory in the business to being higher than what it is now (which I’m sure he does) then AEW isn’t the place for him.
Whenever people complain about his spot, his opportunities, his chances, I just think about Swerve Strickland. Everything Swerve Strickland accomplished up to today could have been Ricky Starks. It isn’t anyone’s fault but Ricky. I always think back to WrestleDream 2023 when Starks was coming off two amazing matches with Bryan Danielson and now had to face Wheeler Yuta on the pay per view. This was a chance to show to everyone he shouldn’t be in a non-title singles match but up in the main event. Instead, Ricky gave us a filler performance and a filler match. When Swerve had a similar situation, facing Dustin Rhodes as a replacement at World’s End? Swerve put on a great performance on a bad pay per view and then stole the post-show press conference. That’s why he became AEW Men’s World Champion in 2024 and Ricky Starks is nowhere to be found.
Stay or Go: Go. Some say if he goes to WWE, he will have Cody Rhodes in his corner and a big platform to prove AEW wrong. Cool. I hope he makes a hundred million dollars there. He ain’t making it in AEW. There’s over 20 guys ahead of him who don’t have a permanent boo-boo face any time they have to do something that isn’t them winning and being the star.
Powerhouse Hobbs
Last Match in AEW: April 24, 2024 on AEW Dynamite
There are four matches in 2024 that tell the tale of Powerhouse Hobbs. First is his last match against Jon Moxley for the IWGP World Heavyweight Championship. It was not a good match. Hobbs got hurt during it, but even before the injury it had fallen off the rails. It was a mistake in booking and a mistake for Hobbs.
The second match was against Sammy Guevara in February, a no disqualification match on AEW Collision. It’s one of my favourite matches of the year. It’s exactly what Hobbs and Guevara excel at. It was a 17 minute TV match that earned every minute.
The next two are tag matches, where Hobbs would tag team with Kyle Fletcher. First was against Best Friends and the next was against Blackpool Combat Club. Hobbs was excellent in both of these matches, and really showed where he fits in the AEW roster.
Even if he can have the match against Sammy Guevara that shows him at his peak? It’s more likely you’re going to get something in between the Moxley match and that Sammy match, and unfortunately more on the low side. But in tag team contests? You give Hobbs a partner and he shines. That’s where he fits best in AEW.
Stay or Go: Stay, but only if AEW finally realizes he isn’t a singles wrestler and puts him in a tag team. Speaking of potential tag team partners…
Wardlow
Last Match in AEW: March 13, 2024 on AEW Dynamite: Big Business
Every once in a while on Twitter, people will debate on whether Wardlow was a missed opportunity by AEW or a limited power guy who just ran out of gas.
I am a big Wardlow fan, and I’ve felt for some time he’s a victim of too many people trying to tell him who to be. Sometimes he’s trying to basically be Sean O’Haire 2.0, an athletic big man who can fly at times or just beat you down. Other times he’s just trying to be a generic power guy with the multiple powerbombs. I think so many people are in his ear he can’t find exactly who he is supposed to be.
Add on to the fact that his best quality is saying little but making it mean something. Once he started trying to cut full length promos? I think that lost a lot of people.
At 36 there isn’t much left for him to learn, so what you see is probably what you’re going to get. But similar to Hobbs, I think the problem is a misunderstanding of what Wardlow is. He isn’t Dave Bautista or Bill Goldberg. He’s Road Warrior Hawk. He needs to find his Animal.
Stay or Go: Stay, but like Hobbs? He needs to be in a tag division. I’m going to stay on this until it’s no longer possible. Wardlow and Hobbs as a tag team would be the best thing for both men and a great addition to the tag division. It needs a recognizable power team. If you’re just going to give them stop and start singles pushes again? Let them go elsewhere.
Madison Rayne
Last Match on AEW: February 21, 2024 on AEW Dynamite
Madison Rayne was a surprise signing for AEW back in 2022. Having spent much of her career in TNA as with quick stints in ROH and WWE, she was originally announced as just being a coach. She would soon make her in-ring debut and wrestle a few matches, with none of them really going well for her.
Madison Rayne back in TNA had a great run as Knockouts Champion. Her Killer Queen was one of my favourite themes from the company. It was so campy. She played a heel really well, and hasn’t really done anything of the sort in AEW. I don’t really know if she has a place on the main roster.
Stay or Go: If she’s working more as a coach then there’s no point letting her go since she probably does good work there. If she is planning to be a full-time wrestler any time soon? I don’t see a place for her in AEW at all.
Danhausen
Last Match in AEW: February 14, 2024 on ROH HonorClub
Stay or: Just go.
Ortiz
Last Match in AEW: January 20, 2024 on AEW Collision
Ortiz should have been an AEW World Tag Team Champion with Mike Santana (Mike Santana) but unfortunately we can’t go back in time. We just have to live with the moment being passed. Santana has gone on to TNA Wrestling, where he seems to enjoy his place there as a singles wrestler.
Ortiz unfortunately has been dealing with a torn pectoral but it’s looking like he could be back soon. He told Renee Paquette back in early August he didn’t know his timetable for returning but was close.
Stay or Go: Stay. I love Ortiz. He’s a good wrestler who works hard and doesn’t complain no matter where you put him. He has a good reputation with the roster and is always believable in the ring. A guy like that you might not feel like you need, but when he’s not around you miss having that reliability. There’s guys who are more athletic but not as many guys with his smarts around building a match. Keep Ortiz. If you can’t find a spot for him on AEW TV you make him one of your top guys in ROH.
Keith Lee
Last Match in AEW: December 23, 2023 on AEW Collision
Keith Lee was supposed to wrestle Swerve Strickland at World’s End 2023 but instead went out for injury.
Lee had to undergo double surgeries and had heart inflammation from COVID back when he was released from WWE. There was apparently talk from Fightful that he was still hurt when his status was asked about around All In 2024.
There was at one point a lot of rumours that Keith Lee had tried to walk out of AEW or that he refused to lose to Swerve Strickland at World’s End, but it’s all just rumours and speculation. The walkout rumours were denied by Fightful, and it’s pretty clear it seems like Keith had legitimate injury issues.
Stay or Go: Stay. If Keith Lee is truly 100% an injury situation? 100% stay. His health is not his fault. Be patient with him and have a spot ready when he’s ready to go. If the rumours about former WWE wrestlers refusing to do jobs are true with Keith? He’s more than welcome to go back to Bearcat Country.
People however forget that it was both Swerve Strickland and Keith Lee who told Tony Khan that WWE tried to approach them in getting out of their AEW contracts and weren’t interested. I don’t know who starts rumours on Keith but I wish him the best in recovery and to return to AEW at 100%.
Scorpio Sky
Last Match in AEW: October 7, 2023 on ROH HonorClub
Scorpio Sky has been on TV in 2024, appearing in a taped segment on August 16, 2024 bringing up he had some “serious business” to talk to Private Party about. Most thought that meant maybe Scorpio was going to be joining Private Party so they could work trios matches against teams like Top Flight, but we’ve yet to see him since. It’s almost October.
The former AEW World Tag Team Champion and former AEW TNT Champion has had a lot of stop and start pushes, partially due to injury and partially due to him just losing momentum and being unable to grab the crowd. The TNT Championship program with Sammy Guevara did a lot of damage to both men, and while Sammy struggles to shake it, it’s pretty much sidelined Sky indefinitely. He can’t get back to wherever he was before it.
Stay or Go: It’s time for Scorpio Sky to go. There’s only so many times you can keep repackaging the guy. I know he’s had injury issues like Keith Lee and others but I just don’t see a role for Scorpio Sky that isn’t going to make people say, “Really? Him again?” so it’s nothing against the man. It just hasn’t worked out. Thank you for your service.
Tay Melo
Last Match in AEW: January 11, 2023 on AEW Rampage
There was a point in AEW that Tay Melo felt like one of the top stars of the women’s division, getting closer and closer to her own AEW Women’s World Championship run. It hasn’t happened for a myriad of reasons. From injuries to the crowd being confused as to how to respond to her and Sammy Guevara’s relationship announcement (because Tony Khan took a dark segment and put it on TV making a previous relationship engagement announcement kayfabe to the show), Tay has had some setbacks that weren’t really her own fault.
On the Sammy Guevara vlog, Tay Melo did announce that she was cleared to wrestle, which was about a month ago. If she’s going to be returning it’s likely soon. Where she fits is tough to figure out.
Stay or Go: Stay. Had lots of potential and was showing it but then injuries and bad storylines caused that potential to move to a crawl. I’d like to see her come back and see if she can belong in the current AEW Women’s Division, or work in ROH.
Penelope Ford
Last Match in AEW: October 12, 2022 on AEW Dark: Elevation
Former tag partner of The Bunny who departed AEW back in November 2023, Penelope Ford hasn’t wrestled in almost two years. She has had a very rough go of it with hip surgery and complications from said surgery, as well as other personal issues I won’t discuss on this but you can hear Kip and Penelope talk about here.
Penelope is someone I have felt for a while had the potential to be more than what we saw of her in the ring but she just didn’t wrestle enough and didn’t wrestle good enough to get there. She was on the top of my list for wrestlers to go to Japan or Mexico on excursion in hopes of improving. I’m glad Anna Jay got to do it, but I would hope for Penelope to get a similar opportunity.
Some might hear what she’s had to go through and think she might be closer to retirement than an in-ring return but she’s still only in her early 30s. If she plans to return I think there could be a place for her, either as a manager or wrestler.
Stay or Go: Stay. Similar to Tay Melo’s situation. It doesn’t have to be a major role, and in fact she’d be good for ROH to try and get back up to speed. Her best work was in a tag team, so find someone she can work with for tag matches in Ring of Honor. If she wants to stick around in pro wrestling but can’t get up to speed, her work as a manager is still strong. Nobody is better at sneaky head scissors. Just… don’t try against Hangman Page. Especially now.
AEW can’t keep everyone.
Some wrestlers are just going to choose not re-sign and All Elite Wrestling can’t do much at all about that. These are independent contractors not property of AEW.
You also need to make space for the new talent you sign, even if you never got everything out of the people on the roster you currently have.
It’s tough decisions, but it’s something AEW President Tony Khan understands from his time in other sports. Sometimes you cut somebody who becomes a star elsewhere. Sometimes you watch someone leave and even though they become a star elsewhere, the spot you created meant someone else could step in and become a bigger star than if they still had to stand behind the person you let go.
You win some and you lose some. It’s not about winning every decision. It’s about making enough good decisions you continue progressing forward. That’s the case for the promotion and the talent. Hopefully some of these ghosts aren’t dead but just need to be called back to the land of the living properly. Can you tell I originally wanted to write this around Halloween? Enjoy Dynamite: Grand Slam tonight!
