5 former WWE stars who are struggling in AEW

With AEW skyrocketing in popularity to compete against WWE's mainstream presence, several superstars from Vince McMahon's roster have jumped ship to join Tony Khan's promotion instead.

The entry of Chris Jericho was the first major signing of a WWE veteran into AEW, which had helped the company gain legitimacy in its early period. Further down the line, CM Punk, Adam Cole, and Bryan Danielson's entry also helped draw attention to All Elite Wrestling.

However, not everyone who left WWE has had a flourishing career in AEW. Here are five of those stars who seem to be struggling in Tony Khan's organization right now.

#5 Shawn Spears did not gain much after moving out of WWE

Shawn Spears performed in both WWE and ECW. However, he did not get the sense of fulfillment he sought in the arenas.

Spears, formerly known as Tye Dillinger in WWE, has previously stated that a major reason for leaving WWE was his urge to 'take a shot' at himself.

While the storyline with The Inner Circle and the rise of Pinnacle was one of the most exciting feuds of 2021, Shawn Spears did not really get to be in the spotlight much. Furthermore, Pinnacle's leader MJF has mostly appeared on his own recently, which only serves to diminish the importance of The Chairman.

Shawn Spears has defended AEW's decisions by saying that Tony Khan prioritizes the audience. Hopefully, he will be pushed into the spotlight with a good storyline in 2022, bringing him up to prominence.

#4 Matt Sydal was one of the most talented high-fliers in WWE as Evan Bourne

Matt Sydal has had a colorful career, being a part of many organizations apart from WWE. His high flying capability, mixed with a hybrid Lucha libre and puroresu style, gives him a unique moveset. This has resulted in him becoming one of the best high-flying entertainers in the business.

Although the veteran has bought his spectacular skills to AEW, it is hard to see Matt Sydal as a frontline performer on Tony Khan's promotion right now. With its ever-expanding roster of prominent stars like Bryan Danielson and CM Punk, it's easy to get lost in the over-saturation of talent.

Unfortunately, Sydal seems to be in the latter category, and he will hopefully have a more visible role in AEW in 2022.

#3 Lance Archer's move from WWE has not helped his career much yet

Lance Archer has had a long career in the wrestling community, having performed in multiple promotions like IMPACT Wrestling, NJPW, and a short stint in WWE in 2009-2010.

On The Wrestling Daily podcast, Archer has talked about his reasons for joining AEW. His urge to always go for better opportunities has been a significant factor in his departure from WWE as well.

"As far as me, I'm just looking forward to the future," Archer said.

However, a botched move in a match on AEW Dynamite had fans fearing the worst for Lance Archer. The Murder Hawk Monster landed on his head after under-rotating during a moonsault, resulting in a jammed neck. This halted Archer's plans to face Kenny Omega for the title.

It's safe to say that while things were on the right path at one point, Lance Archer's career in AEW is struggling as of now. Fans can only hope that Archer makes a quick recovery to get back on track soon.

#4 Jake Hager is being fazed out of his WWE 'Swagger.'

The entry of WWE's Jack Swagger to AEW saw him join Chris Jericho's side as Jake Hager.While the Inner Circle has been involved in very interesting feuds, one can't help but notice that Jake Hager has hardly been able to draw the crowd's attention recently.

While part of the reason is his bookings, it is also true that the over-saturation of stables and talent in AEW might be a reason for overshadowing the veteran. Furthermore, new major signings like CM Punk and Bryan Danielson have also impacted his relevance in AEW.

Going forward, it would be good to see Jake Hager get a decent run in 2022. Hopefully, he can gain a better footing in AEW's roster after leaving WWE.

#1 Matt Hardy's character in AEW is a shadow of his WWE persona

While Matt Hardy has had a good run in the WWE, his story in AEW is vastly different. Leading the Hardy Family Office, the 47-year-old veteran has a lot of screentime.

However, that does not seem to help his inability to connect with the audience. This struggle has also hurt his following, resulting in him being far away from the frontline of Tony Khan's roster.

Fans hope Matt Hardy turns around his AEW run soon. We would love to see him gain mainstream relevance in 2022.