AEW boasts an incredible roster of established veterans like Chris Jericho, Samoa Joe, and Bryan Danielson. Meanwhile, exciting young stars like Swerve Strickland and Will Ospreay continue to make an impact in the Jacksonville-based promotion as well. Tony Khan is fortunate to have a huge talent pool, which outshines even WWE's roster in some ways.
Unfortunately, the head booker of All Elite Wrestling has not been able to utilize his wrestlers to their fullest. There are many hidden gems on AEW's current roster that could become the promotion's pillars if given a consistent push.
On the latest episode of AEW Collision, Cope locked horns with The Learning Tree's Big Bill. The 6ft 10in star did incredibly well against the Rated-R Superstar and pushed the veteran to his limits. Fans were greatly impressed by Bill's performance in this bout, with a huge section of the audience demanding his separation from Chris Jericho.
Big Bill stole the show in his recent match on Collision
AEW booked Cope vs. Big Bill to build hype for the ongoing rivalry between Rated-FTR and The Learning Tree. However, Bill's outstanding performance against The Ultimate Opportunist has now shifted everyone's attention towards the gigantic superstar.
The former WWE star has shown great improvement since his arrival in All Elite Wrestling. While his initial few months in the Tony Khan-led company were forgettable, his pairing with Ricky Starks helped bring the best out of the Redwood.
After a successful run as the AEW World Tag Team Champion, Bill aligned himself with Chris Jericho. Although The Learning Tree faction failed to have the desired impact, Bill's entertaining character work emerged as a silver lining for the group.
Big Bill's growth has been one of the few positives to have come out of his partnership with The Lionheart. Bill's promo work has significantly improved, and his ability to switch between his comedic and menacing sides further cements his versatility as a performer.
The Redwood is not a generic giant wrestler who lacks any personality to sustain the attention of the crowd. The match against Cope helped the behemoth star earn the praise of the audience, who were impressed to see Bill hold his own against a seasoned veteran.
The former AEW World Tag Team Champion constantly receives great response from the crowd, making a case for him being the next big star in the Jacksonville-based promotion.
Chris Jericho should pass the torch to Big Bill in his retirement match
Chris Jericho is one of the greatest wrestlers of all time, and he's managed to carve out a long and memorable career due to his ability to change with time. Unfortunately, The Lionheart seems to have lost his natural connection with the audience in the last two years.
The Learning Tree gimmick has done more harm than good to Jericho's reputation. Once considered to be a valuable asset, Y2J's underwhelming feuds against the likes of Hook, Ricky Starks, Adam Cole, and Mark Briscoe have changed the audience's perception of him to a great extent.
Chris Jericho's performance inside the squared circle has also degraded over time, as he appears to be way past his prime. On the latest episode of Collision, the reigning ROH World Champion battled Dax Harwood in a slow and sloppy main event, which generated a negative response from the audience.
The former WWE Intercontinental Champion is 54 years old, indicating that the end of his pro wrestling career is not very far away. While he no longer captivates the audience like he used to, Chris Jericho could go out on a high note by putting over Big Bill in his final match.
Big Bill could benefit from retiring a legend like Chris Jericho
Tony Khan might not be able to overlook Big Bill's popularity for a long time. The AEW President could put an end to The Learning Tree faction by having the gigantic star turn his back on Chris Jericho.
The Redwood could embrace the support of the fans and turn babyface in the coming months. The 38-year-old star could cut his ties with the Le Champion and set his sights on his ROH World Championship.
The duo could eventually face each other in a singles match down the line, where The Learning Tree would be compelled to put his career on the line. Ultimately, Big Bill could script history by winning the ROH World Championship and putting an end to the legendary career of his former mentor.
If Bill manages to retire The Learning Tree, he will be instantly established as a megastar in the eyes of the fans. It would also be the perfect farewell for Jericho, who would earn the appreciation of the fans for putting over Bill on his way out.
The 6ft 10in star could then proceed to have a memorable run as the ROH World Champion. Following the end of his title reign, Bill could be reincorporated into AEW's weekly programming, where he could have a career-defining singles run.