10 Wrestlers AEW MUST Sign Next

In the space of a couple of weeks, the professional wrestling landscape has completely flipped on its head.

CM Punk, Daniel Bryan, and Adam Cole are all being linked with heading to All Elite Wrestling. Bray Wyatt, considered a WWE lifer, was released by the company as far out of the blue as humanly possible. Chris Jericho, at 50-years-old, wrestled a deathmatch on mainstream television that involved actual light tubes.

This is unlike anything we've ever witnessed before.

What makes this situation particularly exotic is that the stories of the three in question are so vastly different. CM Punk was thought to have left the wrestling business for good following the 2014 Royal Rumble. Daniel Bryan, viewed as being with WWE until he retired in the same vein as Wyatt, was written off television both in kayfabe and for real; his contract had legitimately expired. Adam Cole was the hottest thing in NXT as recently as this year.

WWE is no longer the desired end destination. IMPACT Wrestling is once again a genuine option, with many of their top stars re-signing this year. Ring Of Honor is slowly coming back to the forefront, having done a marvellous job throughout the empty arena era.

And AEW? Well, they're about to get a talent boost...

Following the events of 1 January 2019, it seemed inevitable that Adam Cole would one day ink a deal with All Elite Wrestling.

It's headed up by his old running partners in Bullet Club, after all. On a more personal note, his real-life partner Britt Baker is their reigning Women's World Champion, having also been the company's first female talent signing.

He is going to be All Elite at some point.

A Fightful Select report states that the former Undisputed Era leader is a desire for either Raw or SmackDown, with Vince McMahon said to think highly of the guy. Then, on the same day as their meeting, twelve NXT talents were cut, including Cole's former UE partner Bobby Fish. How does Vince McMahon envision Cole remaining a WWE-contracted talent?

Adam Cole is one of those guys who meticulously fits the AEW criteria. He's quite literally the total package of a pro wrestler; the promo, the character, the in-ring ability, it's all there. NXT was always going to suit his style because at the time he came in, it was a hive of indie darlings. He'll flop on the main roster, needless to say. Should he re-sign, it'll be career suicide. Vince no doubt has made promise after promise, begging Cole to stick around.

Leaving is the only option for him.