10 WWE & AEW Wrestlers Set For A Big 2023

Last year, your writer penned an article predicting 10 WWE and AEW superstars who were going to light up 2022.

Let's just say, the predictions were mixed.

From the AEW wrestlers, Jade Cargill was on the list, and she has dominated all year, still maintaining her undefeated her streak and reigning as AEW TBS Champion. Thunder Rosa, also on the list, finally became AEW Women's Champion, but the reign never took off and injury took her out of the firing line.

Hangman Page, like Rosa, didn't have the best title reign and is now on the road to redemption. Malakai Black did next to nothing of note, and is now out of AEW for the foreseeable. Jungle Boy's feud with Christian Cage was sizzling but injury has doused that flame for now.

From the WWE predictions, Montez Ford's breakout year hasn't happened. Damian Priest's heel turn is starting to come good, Bron Breakker has been fine as NXT Champion, and sadly, any momentum Xavier Woods had was hit by injury. The prediction of Bray Wyatt having a big year looks like it's come good at the end. So... not the best predictions.

But that is the beauty of pro wrestling, isn't it? Whilst you can make logical guesses of who is in the frame for a push, an organic connection with the crowd or a horrible injury can change everything. It's nigh impossible to predict exactly who will rise to the top in a year's time.

So, let's do it again for 2023.

It's taken longer than it should have done, but Chad Gable has finally connected with the WWE fans.

The man's in-ring talent has never been in doubt, but multiple attempts to get him over just didn't workout. Who looks back fondly at his tag title run with Bobby Roode? We know for a fact absolutely nobody looks back at the whole 'Shorty G' fiasco with anything other than disgust.

After years of misuse or plodding tag teams, Gable struck gold with the Alpha Academy, and his seemingly strange partnership with Otis has proven a success. Not just in-ring, but the duo have been comedy gold and you only need to watch the spelling bee between them and RK-Bro to see how much Gable has connected.

2023 should see him ascend.

The heir-apparent to Kurt Angle (why they didn't pick him to be his son, we'll never know), the multi-time tag team champion has everything needed to become a force within the singles ranks. There are a number of tremendous workers in WWE, but beyond Gunther, there aren't many technical maestros.

The spot is open, and with his liquid wrestling and hilarious promo game, Gable would be an excellent WWE Intercontinental Champion and with the right backing, which he seems to have from Triple H, could become a dangerous man near the top of the card.