Three free agents you expect to see in AEW in 2022
Free agency in professional wrestling has become a hot topic as more names are jumping between major companies.
2021 was challenging for wrestling fans because WWE released some of this generation’s most exciting wrestlers, including Bray Wyatt, Braun Strowman, Ember Moon, Taya Valkyrie, and more. Ring of Honor also closed its doors in 2021 and ended talent contracts such as Jonathan Gresham, Bandido, and The Briscoe Brothers. Tony Khan would buy Ring of Honor and announce that he would be handling the booking for AEW and ROH going forward.
AEW has become home to several recently released WWE wrestlers and free agents. With the company looking to grow and become the top professional wrestling company, there are likely more on their way throughout the year. In 2021 AEW was able to create big surprises by signing CM Punk, Adam Cole, Bryan Danielson, and Brody King. This article breaks down three wrestlers that AEW Needs to sign in 2022.
3. Athena
One of the most promising names to break out after being released by WWE, the former Ember Moon returned to the Ring earlier this year when she faced the current AEW woman’s champion, Thunder Rosa, at a Warrior Wrestling event. Athena would fit well in the AEW women’s division because she has the talent to make up for where her microphone skills are lacking. Athena could impact AEW because AEW made sure to put professional wrestling first. Being in AEW would give Athena the freedom to do whatever she wanted with her character and overall presentation, which was something she couldn’t do in the WWE.
2. Jonathan Gresham
In 2021 when ROH Final Battle went off the air, the foundation stood tall. Jonathan Gresham defeated Jay Lethal to win the Honor world championship’s original Ring of the Honor. This was a celebratory and sad moment because that was the final ROH event under that management. Tony Khan would buy Ring of Honor in 2022 and announce that he will be booking ROH going forward. Jonathan Gresham’s future is bright. After all, he has made it clear that he is a fighting champion because he has defended the ROH championship in other companies, such as IMPACT Wrestling. Gresham also has his own wrestling promotion called Terminus, which made its debut in January and included wrestlers from many different promotions. He could focus on his promotion or sign with a company that can help him build it, such as AEW.
It would be wise for Tony Khan to create his version of Ring of Honor around Jonathan Gresham. The ring of honor world championship has been held by some of the world’s best wrestlers, and Gresham is making sure the world knows that the championship is still one of the top titles to hold in professional wrestling today.
1. Johnny Gargano
When it comes to who is the hottest free agent available in professional wrestling, Johnny Gargano is at the top of that list. After spending the last few years as the heart and soul of the Golden NXT brand, Johnny Gargano decided to not re-sign with the company and enter the free-agent market at the end of 2021. Johnny Wrestling was the perfect nickname for Gargano because he made sure that he delivered every time he stepped foot inside the Ring. Gargano’s ability in the Ring is unquestioned, and he showed his adaptability by evolving his character in NXT from loved baby face to heel.
Over Wrestlemania weekend Tommaso Ciampa said his goodbyes to NXT, making fans wonder if Tommaso Ciampa is leaving WWE. AEW has made it clear that tag team wrestling will always be important to them when it comes to tag team wrestling; if Gargano and Tommaso Ciampa are free agents, then AEW should look into signing DIY so that ROH can have good tag teams on that brand. The current AEW roster has some of the biggest names in professional wrestling today, such as CM Punk and Bryan Danielson. If Tony Khan wants to rebuild ROH, then signing Gargano and making him the face of that company would be the best decision he could make.