5 Released WWE stars AEW should have signed but didn't

As the global lockdowns began, WWE, AEW, and every other professional wrestling promotion were put in a spot of bother. Professional wrestling is a form of sports and entertainment that is fully dependent on a crowd reaction.

This meant that the smaller promotions would have to shut shop for a while, and bigger ones would have to find a way to continue weekly programming and fulfill their broadcast deal contracts.

AEW and WWE approached it differently, particularly with their handling of talent. While Vince McMahon's company has continued to release superstars frequently, All Elite Wrestling has grown its roster size, signing many wrestlers released by the sports entertainment juggernaut.

However, it only stands to reason that not every released WWE Superstar can realistically be signed by AEW. Even they can't sign every talent in wrestling, as they have a budget of their own.

With growing star power on the roster, their wage bill has gone up, but these five released WWE Superstars would have been a great fit for the company.

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#5. Braun Strowman - A perfect fit for AEW

Braun Strowman is undoubtedly in the top five most shocking WWE releases of 2020-2021. A month before his release, he was involved in a World Championship match on pay-per-view against Bobby Lashley and Drew McIntyre.

Not only that, but a year prior to his release, he was in the middle of his sole World Championship reign in the company. He had been utilized as a key main event player for well over four years, and in the eyes of many, he should have achieved World Championship success far before he actually did in 2020.

Braun Strowman was on a lucrative contract, which meant that he negotiated well with WWE and knew his worth. This seemed to be one of the key reasons to cut him - something many people still consider a big mistake.

However, from the look of things, Strowman isn't AEW bound. IMPACT Wrestling is rumored to be his next destination, and that might be the best fit for him.

However, although there are big men in Tony Khan's promotion, none have the aura and star power of Braun Strowman. He would have been the most unique superstar on the All Elite Wrestling roster in terms of size.

#4. Peyton Royce - A valuable addition to the AEW women's division?

Peyton Royce was another of the surprise WWE releases in 2021, and she would have been a good fit for AEW. She seemed to know her fate upon seeing rumors of mass releases incoming.

Unlike a lot of other tag teams who are broken up in WWE before they're ready, it was Royce who pitched moving separate ways from Billie Kay and into singles stardom. While she seemed destined for a good spot in the women's division, it wasn't meant to be.

It was a bit surprising that AEW didn't pick her up as soon as her 90-day non-compete clause ended.

Peyton Royce would have been a good fit for the All Elite Wrestling women's division. She has all the talent and would have instantly been up there as one of the top female superstars in the company.

She wouldn't have the shadow of several other "big" names over her, and it would have been a good platform for her to thrive and become a bigger superstar.

#3. Deonna Purrazzo - Was IMPACT Wrestling lucky to sign her before AEW?

In hindsight, IMPACT Wrestling must be given credit for signing Deonna Purrazzo well before AEW could. She had a two-year stint in WWE that disappointingly ended with just 16 televised matches.

When Vince McMahon's company released her in 2020, it was a big relief as she didn't share the same creative vision as the team behind the scenes in NXT. Regarding her disappointing run, Purrazzo said that nobody understood the Virtuosa persona or character.

She revealed that she was told it was "too outlandish," and anything she said fell on deaf ears:

"I just felt like there were so many excuses and I was the person where it didn’t matter what I said or did or changed, they had an opinion and that was that,” said Deonna Purrazzo.

IMPACT Wrestling was quick to snatch her, although the partnership with AEW has resulted in a bigger chance of the Forbidden Door being opened. She said she's happy for AEW Women's Champion Britt Baker's success and wants to team up with her someday.

Purrazzo is in the prime of her career, and Tony Khan's promotion missed out on a huge signing for the women's division.

#2. Lana - A perfect companion for AEW TNT Champion Miro?

CJ Perry fka Lana wouldn't have been a signing made for the AEW Women's division, but more for Miro and to add to his character. That doesn't mean she can't wrestle in the company, or she shouldn't - just that a manager role might be better for her to start with.

She has proven for years in WWE that she is passionate about wrestling, never hiding her weaknesses and never pretending to be better than what she was. Unfortunately, WWE didn't utilize her as they should have.

Things started well for Lana and Rusev, but it quickly went downhill after 2015. The latter seems to have found a renewed vigor in his wrestling career with AEW, and it had the opposite start to his WWE run.

In the case of All Elite Wrestling, Miro's "best man" role seemed underwhelming, but he is now being used as he should have all along. When listening to him out of character, it's clear that he is enjoying his career more with the company.

Lana would be a good fit alongside the TNT Champion, helping to enhance his character.

#1. Buddy Murphy - Another IMPACT Wrestling-bound star that AEW could have signed?

This is a tough one to call because Buddy Murphy would have undoubtedly been a great signing for AEW. With that said, one could argue that IMPACT Wrestling is a far better fit for him.

One thing seems certain - Murphy reaching main event-level status in All Elite Wrestling is almost uncertain. While he is a great talent, the company is too stacked with main event stars in the men's division. This is why there were more women that AEW missed out on than men - because the division is still growing organically.

Either way, Buddy Murphy/Buddy Matthews has benefited from the independent wrestling scene slowly returning to normal. However, IMPACT Wrestling seems to be his next big destination, and that's where he might find a place to thrive as he should.

AEW may not have signed him with the intent of a main event-level superstar. He would have likely been on the TNT Championship or upper mid-card level. It will be interesting to see the next destination of Murphy - one of the most talented wrestlers in Australian history.