Most WWE Top Stars Have Reportedly Asked About Going To AEW

As WWE continues to be plagued with record-low ratings and questionable booking amid a long-term struggle to create new stars, there are now reports that “virtually everybody” in WWE has inquired about jumping ship to AEW at some point.

Per Dave Meltzer of Wrestling Observer Radio:

“Of all of the guys, virtually everybody in WWE—including guys who have claimed different—at one point or another have called up people in AEW trying to see what they can get, or have had interest,” said Meltzer.

Meltzer went on to note that Roman Reigns was the only top guy in WWE who has not inquired.

WWE was recently grilled over its cratering viewership in comparison to WWE NXT and AEW during its Q2 2020 presentation. In even more alarming news, AEW has recently overtaken both Raw and SmackDown in the coveted 18-49 demographic with Dynamite even beating all three hours of Raw from August 10.

The most recent broadcast of AEW Dynamite doubled WWE NXT in 18-49 viewership as NXT failed to crack the Top 50.

AEW has not been shy about welcoming former WWE Superstars into the fold. WWE’s recent firing of hundreds of staff back in April, in response to COVID-19, created countless opportunities for former WWE Superstars to start anew as some joined AEW while others—most recently Brian Myers (Curt Hawkins)—have since landed in IMPACT Wrestling.

WWE has had a rough time transitioning from proven names out of fear of viewership decline. But even as it demoted the handful of up-and-comer who were pushed during the Paul Heyman administration, WWE’s ratings continue to suffer at a historic clip despite veteran Randy Orton doing some of the best work of his career.

For years there has been the perception of a glass ceiling in WWE. The promotion has been known to fight its fans on who deserves elusive opportunities, and its bureaucratic system of young stars having to go through NXT—sometimes for years—before setting foot in the main roster slows down the process of introducing much-needed new-blood. With John Cena long gone as a full-time star and Roman Reigns out indefinitely, WWE desperately needs to create mainstream stars, but time and again has proven to be inept in doing so.

What’s most concerning is interest in AEW is apparently not limited to just frustrated up-and-comers in search of an opportunity, but also established top stars who may be looking for a change of scenery. In reading the tea leaves, there has been no shortage of frustration from within the WWE locker room at all levels. The less WWE addresses its glaring problems head-on, the more Superstars will likely be open to new opportunities elsewhere.