Former AEW star wants to face Randy Orton in a dream match

A former AEW star has expressed interest in facing Randy Orton in a dream match. The talent in question is none other than Frankie Kazarian.

Frankie Kazarian was among the early signees who had inked a deal with All Elite Wrestling during the promotion's foundation in 2019. He enjoyed modest success in the company, becoming the first-ever AEW World Tag Team Champions alongside his SCU stable-mate Scorpio Sky. He was later involved in a feud against The Elite after losing the right to continue teaming with long-time partner Christopher Daniels owing to the duo's defeat at the hands of AEW EVPs The Young Bucks in a stipulation match for the tag titles in 2021.

However, after an underwhelming program at the TNT Championship, Kazarian left the Tony Khan-led promotion in late 2022 and returned to TNA in 2023. Based on his recent social media post, Kazarian is seemingly open to the prospect of returning to the Triple H-led promotion and squaring off against its top stars.

During a Q&A session on X/Twitter, Frankie Kazarian was asked by a fan who his dream opponent in pro wrestling was. The latter responded by claiming that there were a few competitors with whom he had not yet locked horns, specifically mentioning former WWE Champion Randy Orton.

"Still a few that I'd love to get in there with that I haven't yet. @RandyOrton is at the very top of that list," wrote Kazarian.

Courtesy of the promotion's recent partnership with WWE, the self-proclaimed King of TNA also appeared on NXT last month, unsuccessfully competing in a Battle Royal for an opportunity at the NXT Championship.

Frankie Kazarian on the leadership of AEW President Tony Khan

Frankie Kazarian recently shared his views on AEW and the leadership of Tony Khan, the President of the Jacksonville-based promotion.

During an appearance on Busted Open Radio in May, The Heavy Metal Rebel spoke about his time in All Elite Wrestling and critiqued the company's supposed "lack of leadership."

"The negative stuff, you know, just ultimately the lack of leadership. Inmates running the asylum in a way. No real direction. I think there’s also, at least when I was there… So there were stories that was presented. ‘We’ll do this, this, this and this.’ Okay, but after that, what are you gonna do? That was always a problem. It was always, ‘Oh, I have a story for three weeks.’ Then what? That’s why I think angles are dropped so quickly and everything and I just ultimately think, you know, a lack of leadership is — in this business, you need that guy," he said.

Kazarian was unsuccessful at becoming the TNA World Champion in a six-way title match at Slammiversary 2024.