5 AEW stars that could be the inaugural winner of The Owen

AEW and the Owen Hart Foundation have announced a partnership that will allow wrestling fans to celebrate the legendary wrestler. The collaboration includes Owen Hart merchandise, action figures, and inclusion in the All Elite Wrestling video game. The biggest element of the partnership will be the introduction of the annual Owen Hart Cup Tournament.

The winner of the tournament will win a trophy that will become known as "The Owen." It will surely be a prestigious tournament with AEW and their roster wanting to honor the legacy of one of the all-time greats. Owen Hart meant a lot to several competitors and inspired a generation of wrestlers.

With the Owen Hart Cup Tournament on the horizon, it will be intriguing to see who emerges as the winner. It could be an established talent or an up-and-coming star. In this article, let's take a look at the five AEW stars who could be the inaugural winner of "The Owen."

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5) Lee Moriarty - AEW

Lee Moriarty became the latest independent talent to be signed by AEW after a series of impressive performances on Dark and Dark Elevation. Moriarty is one of the best technical wrestlers in the world and holds a great deal of potential.

Lee Moriarty has made appearances for IMPACT Wrestling and MLW over the past year and several independent promotions. "The Apex of Combat" is known for his in-ring skills. At just 26-years old, he has a bright future and should be a talent that AEW invests a lot into, with the Owen Hart Cup Tournament being the perfect opportunity.

Moriarty has shown that he can grasp any opportunity, is not afraid to take high risks, and is an expert striker. These abilities are very similar to Owen Hart in a lot of ways as there was pretty much nothing that Owen couldn't do inside the ring. If the tournament is going to be used to build up a star, there might not be a better option than Lee Moriarty.

4) Dante Martin - AEW

Dante Martin has been picking up steam for his exceptional performance on AEW Dynamite. The one-half of Top Flight has taken advantage of every opportunity and made the most of the spotlight shone on him. Be it in singles, tag teams, or multi-man matches, Martin has been a dynamo of excitement.

Dante Martin's high-flying arsenal is so unique due to his ability to take caution in the wind and get more height on his jumps than usual. He first gained the attention of the AEW fanbase in a six-man tag team match with Mike and Matt Sydal against AEW World Champion Kenny Omega and The Young Bucks of the Elite.

Owen Hart first got eyes on him for not only possessing the Hart family's technical ability, but he also showcased an amazing set of high-flying moves. His athleticism and agility were superior to his brother Bret and immediately made him a performer to watch.

If AEW wants to go all the way with this push of Dante Martin, the Owen Hart Cup Tournament presents a noteworthy accomplishment for the 20-year old to achieve. The series of matches will be another big chance for him to get further over with the All Elite Wrestling fans and have show-stealing contests with some top stars.

3) Daniel Garcia - AEW

Daniel Garcia is yet to sign a full-time deal with AEW, but he has been given huge matches. Garcia has been featured in the main event of AEW Rampage on two occasions against top stars Jon Moxley and Darby Allin. He has also interacted with Eddie Kingston and Sting.

Despite coming up short against these main event talents, Garcia was victorious on AEW Dark and Dark Elevation against Matt Sydal, Lee Moriarty, and Alan "V" Angels. He has also become one of the best independent wrestlers in the world today. Garcia is the current IWTV Champion and Limitless Wrestling Champion.

Garcia's superb technical ability has received praise from Bryan Danielson, among others. His style is very akin to Danielson, Zack Sabre Jr., and the Hart family in many ways. He works his matches like a chess match, using submissions to dissect his opponents, leading to victory.

AEW will eventually sign Daniel Garcia to a full-time deal, but winning the Owen Hart Cup Tournament could be his gateway to securing that agreement. He has all the skills to be a perfect inaugural winner and use that win to propel himself to an established spot at the top of the card for All Elite Wrestling.

2) Bryan Danielson - AEW

The Owen Hart Cup Tournament doesn't exactly have to be won by a rising star in AEW. Sometimes the best way to solidify a new concept is by having an established main-eventer as the inaugural winner. The first King of the Ring pay-per-view was won by Bret "The Hitman" Hart, who helped cement the tournament's place as a mainstay for the WWE in the years following.

Bryan Danielson came to AEW to prove himself as the best wrestler in the world. He wants to test himself against the most talented roster in wrestling today. The American Dragon may not be next in line to win the AEW World Championship, but the Owen Hart Cup Tournament could give him a new accolade to add to his illustrious resume.

Bryan Danielson may be the only competitor in AEW who can perform similarly to Bret Hart in 1993. Danielson winning "The Owen" would give the tournament instant credibility. He could face the newbies in AEW and put them over in matches.

To many fans, Bryan Danielson would be a dream opponent for Owen Hart if he was still alive. They are two of the most gifted technical wrestlers ever to grace the squared circle. Both developed distinct personalities, allowing fans to become invested in them. Bryan Danielson would be the ideal top star to win the Owen Hart Cup Tournament.

1) Brian Pillman Jr - AEW

There aren't many AEW stars who have a connection to the Hart family, quite like Brian Pillman Jr. He is the son of "The Loose Cannon" Brian Pillman. The latter trained at the famous Hart Dungeon and was part of the legendary Hart Foundation stable with Bret "The Hitman" Hart, The British Bulldog Davey Boy Smith, Jim "The Anvil" Neidhart, and Owen Hart.

Brian Pillman Jr. has made a name for himself in AEW as part of the Varsity Blonds tag team with Griff Garrison. Before officially signing with All Elite Wrestling, Pillman Jr. was one of the stars of Major League Wrestling. In that promotion, he was a part of the New Hart Foundation stable with Teddy Hart and Davey Boy Smith Jr.

Pillman Jr. has yet to break out in AEW on his own despite some good outings against TNT Champion Miro and a recent victory over Max Caster of The Acclaimed. His grudge match against MJF at the AEW Dynamite Grand Slam was highly praised.

The Owen Hart Cup Tournament could genuinely be his moment to shine and create a magical moment in the process. After MJF defeated him at the Grand Slam, a rematch between the two men at the tournament will be magnificent.

Brian Pillman Jr. could pick up a win against his arch-rival and earn his biggest achievement. Due to the duo's ongoing feud's emotional ties, the match will have the crowd's investment. Another competitor that could be a big win and obstacle for Brian Pillman Jr. is Chris Jericho.

In many ways, Chris Jericho helped Brian Pillman Jr. get signed to All Elite Wrestling. Brian has credited Jericho as one of his inspirations in wrestling. 'Le Champion trained at the Hart Dungeon and looked up to Brian's father throughout his career. Pillman Jr. beating Jericho would be a passing of torch that will only add to their emotional bout.

There are so many ways to make the most of the Owen Hart Cup Tournament. As seen in this article, the best use of the win should be to elevate a new star. However, no AEW star will have the drama of Brian Pillman Jr. winning the first one. Hence, he is the ideal inaugural winner of the Owen Hart Cup.