AEW: Six Sleepers That Will Become Future Stars
As we head into the weekend, the eyes of the professional wrestling world have undoubtedly turned to AEW’s upcoming All Out pay-per-view. And rightfully so.
There are a number of compelling stories heading into Sunday’s event. Chris Jericho competing in a retirement match, the return of CM Punk, the Young Bucks and Lucha Bros continuing their epic rivalry inside a steel cage, and of course the speculation of the possible AEW debuts of a number of free agents, such as Daniel Bryan, Ruby (Riott) Soho, and Adam Cole.
As exciting as the present status of AEW is and the possibility of All Out living up to the hype of being the best pay-per-view since Covid-19 changed the world, it is also important for the promotion to look to the future and start evaluating which members of their roster will be the stars of tomorrow.
Let’s take a look at three women and three men that may have a hand in shaping the future of AEW in the near future.
Honorable Mentions
Julia Hart: The female member of the Varsity Blonds has been very impressive in her handful of wrestling matches, (mostly on Dark and Dark: Elevation) since bursting onto the scene in AEW. Hart is just 19 years of age and the two-time National Cheerleading Champion is unquestionably very green. But if she continues to progress at her current rate she will be looking at a very long and successful career in professional wrestling.
Kip Sabian: Sabian has been on the shelf after undergoing surgery on his injured arm. Sabian has struggled to find success as a singles competitor since joining AEW but has enjoyed some on the tag team scene, partnering with both Jimmy Havoc and Miro. Sabian definitely has all the ability in the world inside the ring, the question is can he find that niche that allows him to go to the next level.
Abadon: Abadon is the owner of the most unique gimmick in AEW. The horror genre can work when done right in professional wrestling. The Undertaker, The Fiend, and to an extent, Malakai Black are recent examples of making it work at a very high level. But it is tricky to pull off and if not done well the fanbase will turn quickly on the gimmick. AEW obviously sees something in Abadon as she holds victories over Tay Conti and Red Velvet already. It may just be a small tweak in the gimmick that is needed, but if they figure it out Abadon can be a future AEW Women’s Champion.
Angelico: The South African submission specialist with the funky dance moves is someone to keep your eye on as well. While he has had some appearances on Dynamite and is part of the Hardy Family Office, Angelico is capable of more. Whether it is in a tag team or as a singles competitor the man is very underrated in the ring. If his ability on the microphone is as good as his ability in the ring and his flair getting to the ring then AEW could have an under-the-radar future TNT Champion on its hands.