Paige VanZant has unlimited potential as a pro wrestler in AEW

Paige VanZant made her mark on the sporting world as a member of Invicta FC and then reached her peak popularity fighting for the UFC.

VanZant and the UFC parted ways in July of 2020 and VanZant became a free agent. Instead of signing with another MMA organization, VanZant shocked many when she signed a four-fight contract with the upstart Bare Knuckle Fighting Championship promotion.

VanZant is two fights into her current contract and she has yet to earn a victory with her current promotion. And in the world of professional fighting, no matter how big your name may be, you need wins to remain a draw.

That is not the case, however, in professional wrestling.

While the program between American Top Team and the Inner Circle has never really gotten off the ground for a variety of reasons, one very bright spot has been the work of VanZant.

Paige VanZant has the potential to be a massive star in AEW.

There are a number of paths that one can take to become a star in the world of professional wrestling.

Some wrestlers get over with the crowd because of their looks. Some rely on their charisma to attract fans. Others sharpen their skills on the microphone and are able to appeal to the emotion of both the live crowds and those watching at home.

A handful of wrestlers choose to go the traditional route and work really hard on their in-ring skills and rely on amazing matches that keep the fans invested and entertained.

And when anyone comes along that can put three or four of those things together, that is usually a performer that reaches a level of superstardom that vaults them right up to the top of the card in their promotion and sets them up for many years of success in professional wrestling.

VanZant seems to have all of these things in spades.

Yes, professional fighting and professional wrestling are two very different things. And being successful at one is in no way a guarantee that you will be successful at the other. However, there are similarities in the roots of both sports.

Those similarities have been displayed by a number of MMA fighters that have transitioned into professional wrestling with great success.

Fighters like Ronda Rousey, Ken Shamrock, Shayna Bazler, Sonya Deville, and Matt Riddle have gone on to do very well in the world of professional wrestling after spending time in the world of professional fighting.

And one could argue that VanZant at least equals if not exceeds the MMA fighters turned professional wrestlers on this list in the categories of looks, charisma, and ability on a microphone. Couple that with the fact that you cannot reach an even moderate level of success in MMA without having a very strong work ethic.

VanZant can use that strong work ethic as well as her wealth of fighting knowledge to train vigorously to pick up in-ring professional wrestling skills at a rapid pace. And when she is ready to get into the ring, adding another known name like VanZant to the ever-improving AEW Women’s division will continue to put more eyes on the AEW product.

VanZant has never been able to quite reach the mountaintop of professional fighting in her career.  But her very good work on AEW Dynamite lately has made me wonder if professional wrestling might just be her best path to become a champion.