9 Wrestlers AEW Will Sign In 2024
Tony Khan doesn't need any more wrestlers - but that hasn't stopped him before...
You could make the argument that AEW does not need to sign a single wrestler, not one, in 2024.
This is a fairly pretentious turn of phrase, apologies, but since 2022, Tony Khan has ravaged his narrative ecosystem. It is impossible for AEW to be the best version of itself with such an overcrowded roster doing little of meaning.
He cannot possibly maximise his best talents because so many of them occupy that tier on the cusp of the main event. The main event scene is itself stacked. MJF, Kenny Omega, Jon Moxley, Bryan Danielson, Chris Jericho: Khan seems reluctant to elevate anybody else into that bracket. This leaves Konosuke Takeshita, Daniel Garcia, Wheeler YUTA and countless others in a strange and deflating position. They can't all win frequently, otherwise it would be illogical, were they not to contend for the World title.
Khan's greedy expansion drive has nuked fan investment, because the alternative - simply not using these awesome talents very often - is immensely frustrating. Roster members are cooled off as a matter of course.
Khan, obsessed with the jump, the debut, the moment, will not take that advice on board.
It is inevitable that Khan will sign several more stars - but who...?
9. Sheamus
Sheamus desperately wanted to win the Intercontinental title, or at least do something after failing to win it, and has expressed disillusionment with WWE more than once after Clash At The Castle in 2022.
Speaking to the Daily Star in August of this year, Sheamus - who in the aftermath of his Cardiff masterpiece woke up more than one library of a WWE TV crowd when in the form of his life - was "really bothered about the creative after that". He said, rightly, that WWE did nothing with him - and even went to the candid lengths of saying that WarGames was "sh*t" last year.
Did he dislike the babyface advantage?
Judging by comments later captured by the Daily Mail, perhaps the Bloodline is the cause of his discontent: he bemoaned the fact that the saga gobbles up so much TV time at the expense of the roster. Comparing the Trial of Roman Reigns to 'The Young & The Restless', he was disgruntled when the segment went over by 20 minutes. His subsequent match with Austin Theory was rushed into nothing as a result.
He loves a scrap, and a stiff one, and there are plenty of AEW talents he could indulge that with when his WWE deal - per Fightful - expires next year.
Sheamus Vs. Rush could be unbelievable.