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AEW: 5 wrestlers with major star potential

By Bruce Lee Hazelwood

Britt Baker challenged Riho for the AEW Women's Championship on the October 16, 2019 edition of AEW Dynamite. Photo: Lee South/AEW
Britt Baker challenged Riho for the AEW Women's Championship on the October 16, 2019 edition of AEW Dynamite. Photo: Lee South/AEW /
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4) Kip Sabian and Penelope Ford (Kipelope? Penelekip? The Fordians?)

If your reaction to seeing Sabian and Ford is, “I hate these two,” trust me, that’s exactly the reaction they want to elicit from you.

Sabian is so good in the ring considering his age. Remember when he and Guevara (both extremely talented young wrestlers) had the first singles match in AEW history? Even then, he was showing his arrogant, grating heel side that is now his forte.

He was kind of forgotten until he and Ford teamed up both in real life and on-screen. Ford, herself an underrated wrestler, really completes this package with her work as a physically-capable and willing manager. She constantly involves herself in matches (usually to the benefit of Sabian), and many times takes a bump or two.

She really reminds of AEW’s version of what Zelina Vega has been doing on RAW for the past year or so. Sabian would be OK without her, but it’s really her presence that elevates both of these wrestlers.

Sabian and Ford also play the overconfident yet fearful heel well. The look on Sabian’s face after Colt Cabana slapped him a few weeks ago is pure gold, a little bit of “How dare you?!” mixed in with “I better not mess with him or I’m going to get my a** kicked.”

A subtle aspect they both excel in: taking bumps. Sabian (and Guevara) take some wicked, wicked Cross Rhodes bumps right on top of their heads. Ford understands how to use her slight frame to take bumps safely while making it look like her body is utterly destroyed.

I would like to hear more promos from Sabian in particular, but what he has done in AEW has come off well. Much like with pretty much everyone on this list (except maybe one), just give them the space to succeed or fail on the mic.

Sabian (with Ford) takes on Dustin Rhodes tonight in the first round of the TNT Championship Tournament, and Rhodes has vowed to retire if he loses. Retiring Rhodes could be a moment-maker for Sabian considering the stature and respect wrestlers and fans have for “The Natural.”

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