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AEW has made some groundbreaking talent acquisitions in 2024. From Mercedes Mone to Will Ospreay, Tony Khan has signed several international stars this year to help the Jacksonville-based promotion in its quest to be number one.
Another major talent is rumored to be headed to the Jacksonville-based promotion. The star in question is Bobby Lashley, who is allegedly looking to leave WWE at the end of his current deal. If Lashley parts ways with WWE, he will likely head over to All Elite Wrestling, where he could finally revive The Hurt Business.
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As beneficial as it would be for AEW to acquire Lashley, his arrival could appear as a threat to many talented stars on the roster. The All Mighty could be pushed straight to the top in the Tony Khan-led company, which could cause other credible performers to fall down the ranks on the roster.
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With his immense experience, Lashley could emerge as a reliable asset for Tony Khan, which would negatively impact a certain category of wrestlers in Jacksonville.
In this article, let's look at five AEW stars who may lose their spots to Bobby Lashley:
#5. Wardlow's hope for a comeback could disappear with Bobby Lashley's arrival in AEW
Wardlow's AEW career has taken a drastic fall in recent years. Following an underwhelming run as the TNT Champion in 2022, Mr. Mayhem has appeared as an afterthought on the roster, with Tony Khan refusing to trust him with a major role.
Last year, the 36-year-old star attempted to revitalize his in-ring career by aligning himself with Adam Cole's Undisputed Kingdom. Sadly, The Panama Playboy got injured, leaving the rest of his group without any creative direction.
As Wardlow continues to struggle to get back to winning ways, Bobby Lashley's debut could emerge as a major threat to his spot on the roster. The former WWE Champion could instantly establish himself as an unbeatable heavyweight talent in AEW, a role that once belonged to Mr. Mayhem.
As there is only a limited TV time available, Tony Khan could be compelled to choose between Wardlow and Lashley, where the 36-year-old could lose the battle against The All Mighty.
#4. Powerhouse Hobbs could find himself being overshadowed by Bobby Lashley
Powerhouse Hobbs has emerged as a reliable homegrown asset for Tony Khan. Since his debut in 2020, Hobbs has shown consistent improvement as a performer, turning into a believable heel under Don Callis' guidance.
While he is currently dealing with his injuries on the sidelines, the former TNT Champion would look to resume his ascent to the top following his comeback to the squared circle. Interestingly, the 33-year-old star could find himself in the presence of Bobby Lashley upon his return, who could potentially replace him as AEW's premier heavyweight star.
Following a decent run in the mid-card scene, Powerhouse Hobbs would be hopeful to get an opportunity to break into the main event scene. However, The All Mighty could edge past Hobbs in that line, leaving him stuck in his current position.
Considering his years of experience, The Destroyer has a lot more to offer to All Elite Wrestling than a budding talent like Hobbs. While the 33-year-old star does have age by his side, Tony Khan may end up choosing Bobby Lashley's popularity over Hobbs' untapped raw potential.
#3. Malakai Black could lose his spot to The All Mighty
Malakai Black's run in AEW has been nothing less than a roller-coaster. The Dutch star made huge waves in 2021 when he took down Cody Rhodes and Arn Anderson in his AEW debut. Following this moment, fans expected Black to be pushed straight to the top.
After a solid start in the Tony Khan-led company, the former NXT Champion lost his way entirely. Despite being a total package, Malakai Black found barely any success in the singles division. While he did get some allies in the form of House of Black, the group has also blown hot and cold throughout their run so far.
Thankfully, the spooky faction has found themselves being consistently featured on Collision as of late. The group has seemingly turned babyface in their rivalry against The Patriarchy, which appears as a much-needed character shift for Malakai and his allies.
Unfortunately, the House of Black could be brushed under the carpet if Tony Khan signs Bobby Lashley soon. The former WWE Champion is adamant about reviving The Hurt Business, which is one of his biggest motivations for cutting his ties with WWE. If Tony Khan approves a Hurt Business revamp in AEW, many great factions could lose their spots on the roster.
One such faction could turn out to be the House of Black, which could potentially lose its push in the process. A weakened HOB could also spell doom for Malakai Black's career, who is yet to hold any singles title in the Jacksonville-based promotion.
#2. Claudio Castagnoli could get lost in the shuffle
Claudio Castagnoli's AEW run has been a massive hit so far. Following years of negligence in WWE, The Swiss Superman jumped ship to All Elite Wrestling in 2022 to show fans what he was capable of. With countless in-ring classics under his belt, it is safe to say that Claudio has absolutely delivered on his promise in the Tony Khan-led company.
The King of Swing has remained an integral member of the Blackpool Combat Club since 2022. While the group has been an invincible force so far, the upcoming few months could turn out to be tough for the hard-hitting faction.
With Bryan Danielson set to retire as a full-time performer, The BCC is expected to take a massive hit very soon. With The Hurt Business seemingly set for a reunion, The BCC's days as the most dangerous AEW faction may be numbered.
The Hurt Business' arrival would majorly affect Claudio Castagnoli. The former WWE Superstar could lose his spot to Bobby Lashley, who is known for his hard-hitting combat style.
Since losing the ROH World Championship, Castagnoli has registered a string of disappointing defeats. Unless something drastic happens, The Swiss Superman might continue on the downward spiral, while Bobby Lashley grabs all the opportunities in the main event scene.
#1. Bobby Lashley could instantly replace Brian Cage
Brian Cage is among the most experienced talents on the AEW roster. The Machine made a name for himself in IMPACT Wrestling for years before making his AEW debut in 2020.
While Cage has not accomplished the desired success in All Elite Wrestling, he remains one of the most physically gifted talents on the roster. The former FTW Champion makes appearances on AEW TV from time to time, keeping fans in the loop about his incredible abilities.
If Bobby Lashley signs a contract with the Tony Khan-led company, it would deal a major blow to The Machine's career. The former WWE Champion will be a like-to-like replacement for the 40-year-old star, who has been massively underutilized by the management.
The All Mighty's rise to prominence could significantly lessen the importance of Brian Cage in the eyes of the audience. Bobby Lashley's push could shut down all the opportunities for Cage, crushing his aspirations of becoming a main event player in All Elite Wrestling.
