Over the last few years, fans have seen many WWE stars jumping ship to AEW and other promotions, with the most popular being Jon Moxley, who joined the Jacksonville-based promotion in 2019. Moxley has reinvented himself as a harder, rougher character and shed all his skin as Dean Ambrose. Currently, he is the World Champion in Tony Khan's company.
While the current AEW World Champion is proud of his run with his former Shield brothers in WWE, he is certainly in need of protection right now, with half of the All Elite roster against him. Even though Moxley has his Death Riders around him, a Shield-like group would work better for him, as they successfully dominated the whole roster when they debuted in 2012.
We're here to take a look at those former WWE stars who can now join Moxley in a newer Shield-like faction.
#4. Chris Hero/Kassius Ohno could join Moxley from WWE's original Shield
As you may know, CM Punk pitched the Shield faction as his stable. But The Second City Saint didn't have Roman Reigns in his mind, as it was supposed to be Chris Hero/Kassius Ohno joining Jon Moxley and Seth Rollins.
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Kassius Ohno ended up leaving the company in 2013. However, he returned in 2016 and had a decent four-year before departing once again in 2020. Ohno is currently signed with AEW as a coach, and he could join forces with Jon Moxley, recalling this story in a newer Shield-like group.
#3. Samoa Joe can return to AEW to meet Moxley
Samoa Joe has been absent from TV to film the newest season of his show, Twisted Metal. The season has now finished filming, and he is expected to return to AEW soon.
The Samoan Submission Machine left WWE in 2022 and joined AEW a few months later. He had an intense rivalry with CM Punk in 2023 and even became the World Champion last December. Joe has been absent since August and certainly needs a new line of direction for the feud once he returns, and we're sure he could be looking to establish himself again. Perhaps we might see him come across Jon Moxley soon and have this two feud again.
However, we could also see him join Moxley in his group. He would greatly fit in a Shield-like group as the powerhouse veteran who would elevate the faction. The duo's destructive nature would also greatly complement each other.
#2. Sami Callihan could reunite with Moxley
Before Jon Moxley became a major name in the industry, he made his name on the independent wrestling circuit alongside Sami Callihan. The two stars share a storied history and established themselves as a tag team called "The Switchblade Conspiracy."
Sami Callihan was part of WWE from 2012 to 2015 but never got to share the ring together. Following Moxley's All Elite Wrestling debut, many fans have been hoping for a reunion between the duo in the young promotion. However, Callihan has confirmed that he will be staying with TNA Wrestling instead. Even though he were ever to make his way into the Jacksonville-based promotion, we're sure he would cross paths with Mox sometime soon.
Sami Callihan would be a natural addition to a rougher, harder-core version of Moxley's Shield, as they share a passion for gritty, hard-hitting wrestling.
#1. Claudio Castagnoli has been loyal to Moxley
Claudio Castagnoli has been a loyal ally to Jon Moxley ever since he joined All Elite Wrestling. The two former WWE stars, along with Bryan Danielson, became members of The Blackpool Combat Club. They have since turned on The American Dragon to form The Death Riders.
We've seen them wreak havoc together, and it's evident that the two stars are fond of each other. We're sure that if Jon Moxley were looking to form his own Shield, he would not single out Claudio, as he would make a wonderful addition and be a trusted ally.