10 Wrestlers You Totally Forgot Worked For AEW

Featuring Glacier, Gigi Dolin and a wrestler who, erm, wasn't particularly "Elite"...

Glacier Gigi Dolin
AEW

"How about every recent signing who can't even get on TV? HAHAHAHAHA!"

The rotating cast is actually a great thing; even on the rare occasions that Dynamite is mid, it's never redundant. It's a decidedly non-WWE approach that appears to have confused certain fans, and it's not the only one.

Sometimes, beyond the intricate storytelling, AEW will simply import a legendary or cult name either for the f*ck of it or to advance a storyline without burning through the destination. Death match icon Nick Gage and revolutionary luchador headcase Juventud Guerrera were both drafted in to provide very different challenges to Chris Jericho as part of the Labours of Jericho storyline, where Tomohiro Ishii tagged alongside Orange Cassidy because he was in the States and why wouldn't you book him?

Also, AEW will simply book young, relatively unproven talent on TV without guiding them through a playbook because there isn't one. The promotion unlike WWE embraces the history of and the modern expanse of the industry. They don't just hold JCP and Mid-South reverence; much like you or I, they appreciate a daft WCW deep cut almost as much.

The extent to which AEW trusts talent and adores almost every facet of the game has yielded quite the crop of "Wait, really?" cameos...

10. Gigo Dolin

Glacier Gigi Dolin
WWE

Gigi Dolin is currently being pushed as a leading act on what is effectively at this point Carry On NXT 2.0.

The NXT Women's Tag Team Champion is one third of Toxic Attraction, a group of mean girls who are filmed in various states of undress because WWE is attempting to reboot the Attitude Era in plain sight. Herb Abrams did a more successful job reviving the name of the UWF.

Promoted as a sexpot, Dolin can actually go to a level not seen on Tuesday nights; she drew raves for her United Wrestling Network war with Thunder Rosa in September 2020. The two women went the distance, proving that Dolin is more than a look.

AEW to WWE jumps are rare - this is why the Cody Rhodes news was such a seismic shock - but it has happened before. Almost, anyway; while Gigo Dolin as Priscilla Kelly was never under AEW contract, she did do a job to Dr. Britt Baker on the Jericho Cruise edition of Dynamite.

Baker's appearance was more memorable for the post-match heel turn, but she bested Kelly before burying Tony Schiavone.

 
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Contributor
Contributor

Michael Sidgwick is an editor, writer and podcaster for WhatCulture Wrestling. With over seven years of experience in wrestling analysis, Michael was published in the influential institution that was Power Slam magazine, and specialises in providing insights into All Elite Wrestling - so much so that he wrote a book about the subject. You can order Becoming All Elite: The Rise Of AEW on Amazon. Possessing a deep knowledge also of WWE, WCW, ECW and New Japan Pro Wrestling, Michael’s work has been publicly praised by former AEW World Champions Kenny Omega and MJF, and current Undisputed WWE Champion Cody Rhodes. When he isn’t putting your finger on why things are the way they are in the endlessly fascinating world of professional wrestling, Michael wraps his own around a hand grinder to explore the world of specialty coffee. Follow Michael on X (formerly known as Twitter) @MSidgwick for more!