7 biggest AEW stars not born in the US

6) Former AEW Women's World Champion Hikaru Shida

The building blocks of AEW are in The Elite, and they have a strong connection and history in Japan. Many fans expected the company to feature prominent talent from across land of the Rising Sun. This wouldn't just include just some of the top male competitors, but the stars of Joshi women's wrestling as well.

Hikaru Shida quickly became one of the stalwarts of the All Elite Wrestling women's division. She is also the longest reigning Women's World Champion in the company's history with a run of over a year. She has had countless great matches against the likes of Dr. Britt Baker, D.M.D., Nyla Rose and Penelope Ford. Shida will remain a featured talent in this fledging division.

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5) AEW star Malakai Black

Malakai Black has been a name mentioned quite often over the past few years. The Netherlands-born star earned fans with his efforts on the UK and US independent scenes before eventually signing with WWE in 2016. He quickly became an anchor of the company's NXT brand, winning the top title and having standout feuds with Velveteen Dream, among others.

After a shocking release from the promotion last summer, Black shocked the wrestling world with his debut for All Elite Wrestling. He inserted himself into a feud with Cody Rhodes where he scored two straight wins over the American Nightmare. Malakai has furthered his influence by aligning with Brody King as the Kings of the Black Throne.