AEW vs WWE: 6 AEW starts who you forgot were once signed to WWE's developmental system

AEW might be the second-biggest alternative wrestling promotion, but because of the immense size of WWE, they've had various developmental systems over the years. Before the WWE Performance Center, there was Florida Championship Wrestling.

FCW acted like a small indie wrestling promotion, where wrestlers received first hand experience in developing their skills. During their formative years, most wrestlers looked and acted completely different. Because of this, even if you followed them or knew of them back then, you might not recognize them in AEW today.

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6. Former AEW World champion, Jon Moxley is an FCW alumni

Jon Moxley has had quite the character change since his debut in AEW. The second world champion in the promotion's history, he carried the company's flag on his shoulders during the pandemic.

Moxley has been wrestling for years, and his time at WWE is what many fans still remember him for. But before he could become the 'Lunatic Fringe', he had to iron out his work in FCW.

Moxley debuted for FCW in April 2011 under the name 'Dean Ambrose'. During his debut, Mox would attack his future Shield teammate, Seth Rollins. Rollins was the FCW Jack Brisco 15 Champion. This unique title could only be contested during 15 minute Iron-Man matches and it was also a medal instead of a title belt.

Moxley would feud with Rollins on an ongoing basis before having a few angles with CM Punk and Mick Foley during their visits. This helped build the Dean Ambrose persona. Moxley would then go on to debut at WWE in 2012 at Survivor Series, alongside his Shield teammates.

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5. Serena Deeb is a former Queen of FCW

Serena Deeb is one of the more dominant female wrestlers on AEW's roster. Keen-eyed fans will recognize her from her brief WWE run alongside CM Punk and Doc Gallows as part of the Straight Edge Society. Unfortunately in WWE, she didn't have the chance to show off her impressive in-ring skills.

Deeb has recently been feuding with Hikaru Shida in AEW, where she's taken a heel turn. Her technical skills made WWE/WCW veteran Dean Malenko crown her the 'Woman of a Thousand Holds' in homage to him. Deeb was also the NWA Women's Champion for some time while signed to AEW.

In 2009, Deeb debuted for FCW, where she wrestled in a six-Diva tag team match. Shortly after her initial appearance, she'd change her name to Mia Mancini and her gimmick would be a Mafia boss's daughter. Deeb would pick up the Queen of FCW crown during this time and even defend it against female wrestlers from the television roster.

Deeb made her initial WWE appearance while still wrestling at FCW. Her Straight-Edge gimmick would be incorporated into her Mancini gimmick during this time as well. Deeb would eventually lose her crown to AJ Lee. She took part in the tournament for the newly created FCW Women's Championship, in a losing effort.

Her run with the Straight-Edge society was lackluster, but since then Deeb has rebranded herself and made a name in AEW.

4. Former AEW TNT champion, Miro, is also a FCW alumni

AEW's 'The Redeemer' developed his wrestling persona and trained within FCW before moving into NXT. Unfortunately for Miro, a miltitude of injuries held him back from wrestling too often in FCW before it became NXT.

Miro was signed to WWE in September 2010, and was assigned to FCW. At first he went by the ring name, Alexander Rusev. He would wrestle off of television for months, and he would eventually have his first televised match on July 17th, 2011. Not too long after debuting, Miro would pick up multiple injuries and spend six months recovering.

Miro returned to FCW nearly a year later with a new manager. This return was interrupted when Rusev suffered a broken neck, temporarily paralyzing his arm. This injury has been referenced in AEW with his Redeemer persona. During his rehabilitation, he traveled to Thailand and learned Muay Thai, which would be heavily used by his Rusev persona from then on.

Before making his final return, FCW would be rebranded as the NXT we know today. After his neck injury healed, Miro would debut as Rusev on NXT television, competing in a battle royal.

He would have dominating runs and even the odd team up with Dax Harwood. It would be some time before WWE teamed Miro up with Lana, creating a duo many fans loved to hate.

3. Ruby Soho was trained by the WWE Performance Center

Before debuting as Ruby Soho in AEW, this talented grappler went by the name Ruby Riott in WWE. Although the punk-rock inspired wrestler has been wrestling since 2010, she did some training in the WWE Performance Center shortly before debuting on NXT.

Soho would travel the world, beginning in the Independent Circuit and making her way through to Japan. Before going abroad, Soho had a lengthy run in OVW (Ohio Valley Wrestling). While here she would gain further experience, even picking up the OVW Women's Championship. After this period, Soho would take her journey abroad, wrestling in Chikara and World Wonder Ring Stardom. In Japan, Soho would learn from the Japanese wrestlers. Incorporating their daredevil style for the character she'd go on to display in WWE and now AEW.

On December 15, 2016 Soho would begin training at the WWE Performance Center. One month later, Soho would make her debut in WWE NXT as Ruby Riot - notably without the second "t" in her name.

This would begin her interesting yet disappointing run in WWE. Since her debut in AEW, Soho has shown a lot of progress and could establish herself as a legitimate contender.

2. AEW tag team, FTR, trained at the WWE Performance Center before their WWE debut

Since debuting at AEW, FTR members Dax Harwood and Cash Wheeler have fought really hard to dust off the WWE rust. But regardless of their many accolades in AEW, a lot of fans still see them as WWE guys.

Cash Wheeler and Dax Harwood are longtime friends, and naturally became a team as they both began to wrestle. Harwood would first be hired by WWE in 2012 where he spent most of this time wrestling under the Scott Dawson name.

As Scott Dawson, Harwood would be in various tag team matches and solely wrestled on live shows. In 2014, both members of FTR would meet each other again at the WWE Performance Center.

The two would be paired quickly, and then-WWE producer, the late Dusty Rhodes, pitched the idea of the two as a team. Rhodes would become influential in the creation of the team and never doubted them right until his passing in 2015.

Wheeler and Harwood would change their names to 'Dash and Dawson' in late 2015, forming the team that would become The Revival.

1. Tay Conti trained at the WWE Performance Center and wrestled on NXT

Tay Conti is one of the biggest fan favorite female wrestlers in AEW. Conti has had two AEW Women's Championship title shots this year alone. Even though she didn't pick up a win against Hikaru Shida and Britt Baker at the time, she gained the respect of fans. Conti is still very "green" and learning the ropes while she perfects her craft.

Quite a few fans might have missed Conti's run with WWE, but in October 2016 she was signed and began her training in the WWE Performance Center. Conti hadn't wrestled professionally before her time with WWE. Many of the moves she now executes in the AEW ring could have been taught to her by the talented trainers in the Performance Center. Conti made her professional wrestling debut a few months after her training began.

Conti would eventually take part in the inaugural Mae Young Classic, where she lost to Lacey Evans during the first round. Conti made an appearance on NXT, assisting The Undisputed Era and preventing Nikki Cross from winning a match. Conti and Cross then began a feud which ended in a loss for Conti. She'd end up competing in the Wreslemania Women's Battle Royal and qualify for the 2018 Mae Young Classic as well.

Tay Conti would be released in April 2020, due to budget cuts. Conti noted that she was unhappy yet denied her release by WWE when she requested it. WWE could likely have held Conti back to prevent her from debuting in AEW immediately. Conti would eventually debut in All Elite Wrestling, and as of now has gained far more recognition than she ever had at WWE.

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