5 WWE Wrestlers Who Should Jump To AEW (And 5 Who Shouldn't)

9. SHOULDN'T - Cesaro

Ali Cesaro
WWE.com

Cesaro is a sensational pro wrestler as fantastic at unhinging jaws as he is aiming uppercuts into them.

But he isn't a particularly charismatic TV star with an ability to draw people into his matches before their propulsive hard-hitting beauty unfolds. Beyond the promise of high-end quality, there's no anticipation in a Cesaro match. There is no undying need to see one or pay a not inconsiderable sum of money to do so. He can talk, but he can't promote. Much of this has to do with WWE's largely criminal modern creative philosophy, but Cesaro hasn't worked a series of must-see feuds. That's not the wrestler he is.

AEW Dynamite is episodic almost to a fault at its worst, a depth rarely plumbed. The company at times values build and long-term storytelling to its detriment - Miro has endured a horrendous run as a result of his frivolous and overlong feud with the Best Friends - and there's an argument to be made that Cesaro might fall into this sort of noble failure. The Miro run scans as an overcorrection for a long-held fan complaint: it's just boring and repetitive and counterproductive.

Cesaro is getting the push, is 40, and is mostly allowed to do his thing unimpeded. The optics of recruiting another imported WWE guy, purely because he can go, are suboptimal here.

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!