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#2. Johnny Gargano
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AEW has served as a primary landing spot for many who have departed NXT during the reshifting of focus WWE imposed on its developmental territory. The likes of Adam Cole and Kyle O'Reilly were main eventers in the black and gold iteration of NXT before departing the company after their contracts expired. Both now work for the competition.
Perhaps the largest departure of the year for NXT was the beating heart of the black and gold, Johnny Gargano. The Rebel Heart has been a free agent since NXT Wargames, at which he battled the new school of WWE talents in the event's namesake match. Gargano more than fits the billing for a main eventer standing opposite the likes of Bryan Danielson and Kenny Omega.
AEW are already bringing in former NXT coach Brian Kendrick tonight to take on Moxley. Maybe they add another WWE deserter to their ranks?
#1. Keith Lee
Perhaps one of the largest headscratchers last year was the creative mishandling of Keith Lee that culminated in his release from the company. As a big man with deceptive agility and incomperable power and pace, Keith Lee felt like a potential main eventer for years to come.
The only man to hold the NXT and NXT North American titles simultaneously legitimately stood toe-to-toe with Roman Reigns at Survivor Series 2019. In the 2020 Royal Rumble, his entrance even popped Brock Lesnar of all people.
Yet his arrival to Raw felt directionless, and severe changes to the formula that had worked for so long effectively hollowed out the Limitless One. Now free of WWE's micromanaged creative process and the Bearcat gimmick that encapsulated his torrid main roster career, Keith Lee might get another shot at greatness with AEW, possibly starting tonight.
