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AEW's aggressive recruitment of former NXT talent doesn't seem to be stopping anytime soon. Owner Tony Khan recently made headlines for seemingly teasing another new signing.
Following this week's Rampage, the company's head honcho took to Twitter to announce that Isiah Kassidy would compete against the debutant next week in a qualifier match for a spot in the Face of the Revolution Ladder match in March.
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Two former WWE superstars whose non-compete clauses have run out are Braun Strowman and Samoa Joe. Both superstars would be excellent additions to Tony Khan's promotions. But which one would be considered the better signing? Here we look at 3 reasons why it should be Braun Strowman and 2 reasons why it should be Samoa Joe.
#1. Braun Strowman can be a legitimate AEW world championship contender
Before his WWE release, Braun was considered one of the company's main eventers. He is a former Universal champion, defeating Goldberg at WrestleMania 36 for the title. He also featured in marquee matches against the likes of Shane McMahon, Roman Reigns and Brock Lesnar. Say what you will, but the Monster Among Men is a recognizable name who can bring star power to any promotion.
In an interview with The Ring Report, Paul Wight talked about the possibility of Strowman and other names joining the company:
“For those other talents like Bray Wyatt, Braun, Ric Flair, and all those guys, there’s always an opportunity for people of that caliber to be a part of AEW and contribute,” Wight said. “That’s the thing with wrestling. You never say never. It would be great to see those guys come in and be it’d be great to see some of the young talent get the chance to interact with guys who have seen that massive stardom and how that molds your performances and in-ring psychology. They can learn from that and prepare these young AEW talents for what’s coming in the future, giving them the opportunity to grow and be part of what’s going to be a globally impactful company.”
If Tony Khan signs him, he will add another credible world title contender to his main event scene. He could be placed in a world title program against current champion "Hangman" Adam Page and no one will bat an eye, such is his standing in the industry.
#1. Samoa Joe can be a backstage veteran to help mentor younger talent
Speculation amongst AEW fans is growing rampant as Samoa Joe's 30-day non-compete expired last weekend, which could lead to the former NXT champion heading to All Elite Wrestling. He even went on Twitter to tease about his current absence.
At 42 years old, he is considered a veteran at this point in his career and can be used to help guide and mentor the next generation of talent in Tony Khan's company. Imagine Joe as a locker room leader giving advice to the likes of younger heavyweight wrestlers Powerhouse Hobbs and Luchasaurus. His decades of wrestling experience can prove invaluable to these young stars.
#2. Braun Strowman adds another heavyweight wrestler to AEW's smaller-sized roster
Someone of Braun Strowman's stature could immediately make him stand out from the AEW roster. The younger athletes in the division are smaller-sized in comparison. Having Braun adds another addition to the company's heavyweights, which are few and far between.
While speaking with John Maakaron of Sports Illustrated, Braun Strowman revealed that he sat down with AEW's higher-ups. The former Tag Team Champion further added he doesn't have as much time to continue being a full-time performer, regardless of which promotion he ends up signing with:
“Yeah, we’ve sat down and discussed stuff like that with my agent and things like that." Strowman continued, "We’re just trying to find a fit now, where everything kind of will work together since now, there’s so many things that I’m working on in my personal life. I don’t have as much time to devote to the full-time schedule to wrestle now."
Strowman could be the collosal attraction that's missing from the company's roster of undersized talent.
#2. Samoa could have dream matches with various AEW talents
Joining AEW offers Samoa Joe the opportunity to tick off a number of dream matches that will have wrestling fans on their toes. From the likes of past rivals such as CM Punk and Bryan Danielson to new ones like MJF, Kenny Omega and Hangman Page, the possibilities are endless.
CM Punk called out Samoa Joe on Twitter over his loss to the former NXT champion 17 years ago. Reflecting on his trilogy of matches against the Samoan Submission Machine:
"17 years ago today @SamoaJoe beat me and I just want to say f**k you! I was bleeding and you were putting your feet on the ropes and probably paid off the ref," CM Punk said in a tweet.
Perhaps Punk can finally avenge that loss to Joe if he were to turn up in AEW.
#3. Braun Strowman could be positioned as the leader of AEW stable The Dark Order
Letting Braun Strowman join The Dark Order would be a great way to pay tribute to former leader and fellow Wyatt teammate Brodie Lee. When the former Luke Harper was part of the Wyatt family in WWE, Strowman was part of the same faction which ran roughshod through the company.
Since Brodie's death, the Dark Order has continued without a leader, other than having a close association with world champion "Hangman" Page. Adding Strowman to the mix would revitalize the faction and immediately make them a legitimate threat.
