5 AEW manager-wrestler relationships that should end in 2022

AEW has made extensive use of managers since its inception. The promotion has specifically been able to utilize iconic wrestlers in supporting roles, usually pairing them with younger talent.

Fans have seen great pairings such as Sting and Darby Allin, Arn Anderson and Cody Rhodes and Christian Cage and Jurassic Express.

While there have been plenty of amazing teams in All Elite Wrestling, some wrestlers seem to have the talent to make it on their own. These are wrestlers who may have started off accompanied by a manager, but have since developed their own skills in the ring and on the mic.

Additionally, there are a few longtime pairings that seem to have gone on for a little too long, growing stale in the process.

Here are 5 AEW wrestlers who should lose their manager in 2022.

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#5. AEW's Absolute Ricky Starks and Team Taz

Ricky Starks has done a phenomenal job in AEW so far. From his past in NWA, it was easy to see that he had impressive in-ring ability, as well as giving decent promos.

In All Elite Wrestling, he has been given more opportunities to develop himself. He's improved on the mic and has managed to win over fans through his various comedic promos.

Starks' time on Team Taz has been a major highlight of his career so far. His chemistry with Taz and the other members of the faction is beyond entertaining. As evidence of this, one doesn't have to look further than the amazing back-and-forth banter between Starks and Taz in the commentary booth.

However, Starks seems ready to break off on his own. His time in Team Taz has lent him plenty of opportunities to grow on his own.

Should he eventually feud with Taz, the potential for hard-edged promos between the two would provide plenty of entertainment.

#4. Vickie Guerrero and Nyla Rose in AEW

Nyla Rose is easily one of the most dominant AEW female wrestlers. Billed as an unstoppable competitor, she's achieved notable success, winning the Women's World Championship.

On her own, Rose was billed as a performer whose actions spoke louder than words. Since being paired with Vickie Guerrero, she seems to have been somewhat watered down. Their lack of chemistry seems to be an issue especially. Rose doesn't seem like the type to need a manager. She would more adequately utilized if she were billed as a performer who arrives and completely decimates her opponents without a manager there to hold her back.

Should she decide to lose Guerrero as a manager in the future, Rose will hopefully be able to return to her old, dominant self.

#3. Matt Hardy and the Hardy Family Office in AEW

Matt Hardy is a wrestler whose creativity cannot be understated. Time and time again, he has reinvented himself with a new gimmick. Under his latest AEW gimmick (Big Money Matt), Hardy has successfully transitioned into a heel role. As Big Money Matt, he's begun recruiting several protégés, and even founded his own villainous faction, The Hardy Family Office (HFO).

As entertaining as Big Money Matt has been, it's beginning to feel like the gimmick has overstayed its welcome. This may be mostly due to the fact that Hardy and the HFO have lost pretty much every feud they've been involved in. However, even aside from their poor booking, the gimmick just seems to have lost its momentum and originality.

It was fun in the beginning and added a unique twist to Hardy's character. But now, it's starting to unfortunately grow a bit boring. Even worse is the fact that the HFO seems composed entirely of wrestlers who have no other storyline. If the HFO were to break up tomorrow, no doubt everyone in the group would benefit by going out on their own in AEW, none more so than Hardy.

#2. AEW's Men of the Year and Dan Lambert

AEW's Men of the Year might be one of the most underrated tag teams currently signed to the promotion. In singles competition and in tag team matches, Scorpio Sky and Ethan Page are extremely gifted athletes. They have a unique, diverse moveset and have incredible in-ring personas.

Individually, Men of the Year and Dan Lambert are extremely entertaining. All three men are flawless on the mic and are able to get an entire arena full of fans to boo them. While Lambert's relationship with Sky and Page has been fun to watch, their relationship isn't really merited.

In terms of promo skills, Sky and Page don't need any help on the mic. They're able to generate enough heat on their own, and having them paired with such a skilled speaker as Lambert seems like a waste of all three men's verbal talents. It would make far more sense for Lambert to be paired with someone who needs a mouthpiece, such as Brian Cage, Jake Hager, or Lance Archer.

#1. Kenny Omega and Don Callis in AEW

Kenny Omega's heel run as AEW World Champion was superb. Paired with Don Callis, the two perfectly embodied the role of heel world champion and his carny manager. The two had flawless chemistry, with Callis being a textbook example of the nonstop, trash-talking heel manager.

Their partnership was a major highlight of 2021. Without Callis generating as much heat for the duo as he had, it's doubtful someone as likable as Omega would've been as fantastic a heel champion as he was.

With Omega currently inactive due to injury, there are endless possibilities for his return to AEW. It's likely that fans will see the long-anticipated match between The Elite and Adam Cole's new group with reDRagon at some point. While that group seems stable now, with Cole as the temporary leader of The Elite, the rivalry is bound to begin when Omega returns.

If that is the case, then there would be no room for Don Callis to return as Omega's manager. Simply put, Callis is an excellent heel manager exclusively. It's doubtful that his talent for managing heels would translate over if the Cleaner returned as a face.