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Following the debut of one CM Punk, AEW was riding a huge wave of success that had firmly established them as the hottest promotion in professional wrestling. Then came All Out 2021.
Without a shadow of a doubt, the pay-per-view will go down as one of the greatest of all time. To borrow the quote Excalibur used to close out the show, AEW is the home of professional wrestling.
Whether you like technical brilliance in the ring, masterful storytelling, or high-octane action, there was something in this pay-per-view for every single person watching. From some of the finest in-ring action to game-changing debuts throughout the show, it was edge-of-the-seat excitement from start to finish.
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The segment that closed All Out was a touch of pure genius as it not only gave fans exactly what they wanted but came across as a huge surprise to everyone. That begs the question, though - what's next?
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On this list, we take a look at five AEW stars that could shape the company's immediate future. As always, if you feel like we've missed something, feel free to share your thoughts with us in the comments section below!
#5 AEW's latest signing - Bryan Danielson
Bryan Danielson could have retired 12 years ago and would still have gone down as one of the finest professional wrestlers to have ever lived. A generational talent, if there ever was one, he would make a name for himself in WWE.
Not only did he establish himself as a star in Vince McMahon's promotion, he even gave us some of the most memorable moments in wrestling history through the Yes! Movement.
In AEW, Bryan Danielson brings with him a wrestling mind unlike any other in the world. A unique presence both inside and outside the squared circle, he will be one of the most important additions to the roster AEW could have ever made.
To paraphrase the man himself, he may not exactly be here to help younger talent but instead to "kick their heads in," but there is no denying what he brings to the table. It may not be a coincidence that we've recently seen the rise of technical youngsters like Daniel Garcia in AEW.
#4 Former AEW TNT Champion - Darby Allin
Even before he stepped foot inside the ring against CM Punk in Chicago, Darby Allin was one of the hottest talents in AEW. After the match, though, he is certain to be a household name in professional wrestling for years to come.
As reckless and relentless as he can be, there is a certain quality to him that sets him apart from anybody else inside the squared circle. The man even got people in Chicago to chant his name, as he was wrestling CM Punk!
A future champion in AEW, Darby Allin, will go down in wrestling history as one of the most unique characters to ever step foot inside the wrestling ring.
#3 AEW Women's World Champion - Dr. Britt Baker D.M.D
CM Punk made his stunning return to professional wrestling at AEW Rampage: The First Dance on August 20th. The very first sentence he spoke had a very prominent name drop - Dr. Britt Baker D.M.D.
In the months leading up to her AEW Women's World Championship victory over Hikaru Shida, and even ever since Baker has elevated her entire division as well as the title. That's no knock on Shida's work through the pandemic either, but Britt has just taken the game to an entirely new level, and she's just getting started.
#2 AEW Dynamite Diamond Ring holder - MJF
Nobody in professional wrestling is as hated as AEW's Maxwell Jacob Friedman. A perfect heel who knows exactly how to rile up any crowd, MJF has built a reputation for himself to tell the villain's side of any story extremely well.
He's no slouch in the ring either, as every single match he has had so far has been a slow-paced throwback to a bygone era. With his feud against Chris Jericho and the Inner Circle now seemingly done and dusted, the Salt of the Earth could very well take a step toward attaining his first title in AEW.
#1 Arguably the most important signing by AEW in recent months - Ruby Soho
Ever since the inception of AEW, there has been one glaring criticism of the company - the treatment of its women's division. Yes, you have Hikaru Shida and Britt Baker's incredible title reigns, but the handling of the female roster was something that most fans didn't seem to get behind.
Enter Ruby Soho. A consummate professional who is universally respected and beloved. Punk Rock band Rancid's Lars Fredericksen even suggested that she could use the Ruby Soho moniker and the band's song of the same name as her entrance music.
The reception she got from the Chicago faithful at All Out and the subsequent sing-along that serenaded her to the ring for her AEW debut should speak volumes in and of itself. AEW's Women's Division is picking up steam, and the addition of Ruby Soho can do nothing but raise it to never-before-seen heights.
