6 WWE wrestlers Vince McMahon didn't push who are top stars in AEW

AEW has grown by leaps and bounds in a short period becoming one of WWE's arch-rivals.

AEW has excelled in listening to the fans a lot more than WWE has in recent years. This has resulted in several talented wrestlers getting the opportunities that they duly deserve.

Some of these AEW stars were previously in WWE where they didn't quite get the push they deserved from Vince McMahon and co., some of whom have got a chance at top titles in AEW.

Let's take a look at six WWE wrestlers Vince McMahon didn't push who are top stars in AEW

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#6 & #5 FTR – Former AEW World Tag Team champions

FTR, the duo of Cash Wheeler and Dax Harwood, was known as The Revival in WWE and regarded as one of the best tag teams during their time in the company. They were a tag team in WWE from 2014 till the end of their run in 2020.

Vince McMahon and WWE's lack of interest in pushing tag team wrestling in WWE resulted in FTR not getting their due. They were disgruntled by the state of the tag team division in WWE.

"Look, the tag team division doesn’t get respect, it doesn’t get the time a lot of these teams deserve, and we want to take chances on ourselves," said Scott Dawson in an interview following their release.

The duo asked for their release in January 2019 and their wish was granted over a year later in April.

Just over a month after their WWE release, FTR debuted in AEW, where they got their long-awaited dream match with The Young Bucks. The former AEW World Tag Team champions have been in meaningful feuds in AEW with several top names apart from The Young Bucks.

With a packed roster and several world-class stars joining the company in recent months, FTR seems to have made the right decision to leave WWE and reinvigorate tag team wrestling in AEW.

#4 Ruby Soho – Debuted in AEW last month

Ruby Soho began her AEW career on a high

If there's an aspect of AEW currently lacking compared to WWE, it's the women's division. WWE has a women's roster featuring some of the best female pro-wrestling stars in the world.

But, AEW is building towards strengthening the women's division with signings like Ruby Soho. Soho, who went by the ring name Ruby Riott in WWE, was severely underutilized in WWE and didn't win any title in the company.

Her one big chance in the company came back in 2019, when she feuded with then RAW Women's Champion, Ronda Rousey.

For Soho, it's been entirely different in AEW. She arrived in the company as a top star and won the Casino Battle Royale in her debut match at All Out, earning a shot at the Women's Champion, Britt Baker.

Soho ran Baker close in the match at Grand Slam and the champ retained her belt after help from her friends, Rebel and Jamie Hayter.

Big things seem to be in store for Soho. She could live up to the promise many had for her in WWE.

#3 Cody Rhodes – AEW Executive Vice President

Cody Rhodes revitalized his pro wrestling career after his WWE exit

AEW wouldn't exist without a few people, one of them being Cody Rhodes. Cody was expected to follow in his father, the great Dusty Rhodes' footsteps, and carve a name for himself in pro-wrestling.

His WWE career couldn't be deemed a "failure" as he won several titles and was a part of the company for a decade, which in itself seems like a great achievement, considering the number of exits in WWE. But, he was never the "top guy" in WWE and didn't stand out on the card.

Cody's post-WWE career has shown what he's truly capable of; not just as an in-ring performer but also as a promoter. He had a good run in NJPW as part of the Bullet Club and The Elite. He also had a brief run in IMPACT Wrestling.

In AEW, his promos have been honest and impactful, while he has told a good story in the ring as well. Cody has had good feuds with the likes of MJF and the late Brodie Lee, and is now in a feud with Malakai Black.

#2 Miro – Former AEW TNT Champion

Miro has featured more prominently on AEW since his move to the company

AEW signed several stars who were released by WWE and perhaps one of the biggest names on that list is Miro. Formerly known as Rusev in WWE, Miro has been a constant fixture on AEW since last year.

Miro seemed to have it all in WWE: great looks, superb athleticism, and the ability to get the crowd on his side. WWE didn't quite capitalize on his popularity, especially with his Rusev Day gimmick, which seemed like a big missed opportunity. He was then put in an embarrassing storyline where his real-life wife Lana "married" Bobby Lashley and was made a joke on-screen.

WWE's loss may have been AEW's gain as Miro seems like a solid upper mid-card star for them, who can give fans good matches and interesting storylines. He's so far had one title run, having won the TNT Championship earlier this year and losing it recently to Sammy Guevara.

There's a possibility Miro could feud with a top babyface star in AEW in the future. He's a menacing figure who can destroy opponents, which he has already shown in AEW.

#1 Malakai Black – Debuted in AEW in July

Malakai Black has been in a feud with the Nightmare Family since his AEW debut

Malakai Black, one of the latest AEW stars to join WWE, is a wrestler who can very well go on to win the world title in the company. Aleister Black, as he was known in WWE, was underutilized on the main roster and didn't seem to have any momentum to craft his character.

Vince McMahon even apologized to Black for the way his character didn't go the way they had envisaged it.

Black has a unique gimmick that's rarely seen in pro-wrestling these days. Apart from being an exceptional in-ring performer, Black's dark and mysterious character has helped him stand out from the rest.

On his AEW debut, Black ambushed Cody Rhodes and Arn Anderson, and the feud between Black and Rhodes has continued. Black has been given time to build his gimmick in AEW and has featured prominently since his debut, wrestling with various members of Rhodes' Nightmare Family, before a match between Rhodes and Black at AEW's Grand Slam.

To feud against a top name like Cody Rhodes signals AEW's intent to use Black in a prominent position in the company.