10 Wrestlers AEW Plucked From Complete Obscurity
2. Lee Moriarty
Another walking case study of the type of wrestler that may have fallen through the mainstream cracks had WWE not lost their North American monopoly in 2019, Lee Moriarty might never have transferred an illustrious independent run into something seen by millions of fans watching at home.
This isn't to say he's soaring on Wednesdays and Fridays just yet, but stat-padding on Dark and Dark: Elevation is far from wasted time, and the recent name checks from Bryan Danielson in his intriguing series of promos with Jon Moxley presented something of a dream match for both men on Dynamite as a result.
It's little wonder he's in demand from a guy doing this as much for the love as the money - Moriarty earned raves from the most plugged-in corners of pro wrestling, and stands as yet another crowning achievement for whatever scouting network AEW employ. For all the company is constantly dogged with the ludicrous criticism that they only sign "ex-WWE guys", the bigger picture is always more about the ones that haven't been tainted by Raw and SmackDown rather than those escaping from Stamford.