Predicting Where Every AEW Wrestler Will Be In 5 Years' Time
46. Matt Hardy
Despite his perception amongst critics, Matt Hardy has offered something to All Elite Wrestling: matches against Darby Allin and Christian Cage were low-key Dynamite highlights in 2021, and the first few weeks of his 'Broken' run yielded the expected entertainment value.
Realistically, it's not enough to justify the expense nor the TV time. Did Darby or Orange Cassidy need the rub? Did Matt elevate their careers in any meaningful way?
Hardy can go at a level that is more impressive than exhilarating. His talents are best left in the production room in 2021, much less 2026.
45. The Young Bucks
They'll still be the best tag team in the world by 2026, even if the niggling injuries are really starting to pile up.
If the blow-away awesome moves are fewer and far between, no matter: they've long since mastered the spaces between, and have mastered the art of character progression and outright reinvention.
They are also incredibly literate of the wrestling audience. Nick Jackson will get that fan-cast singles run at some point. It's what the base wants, and it will allow the older Matt, the more thrashed of the two, a long period of recuperation. But they'll come together as brothers again by 2026.
This isn't TNA.
44. Matt Sydal
Matt Sydal remains an excellent talent, but the general crowd reaction indicates that he's been stigmatised as a guy who loses all the time - and since he's not a hot young prospect, they don't invest regardless as they did a Jungle Boy or Sammy Guevara in 2019.
He won't be with AEW by 2026, but he'll have left the promotion in a better position - even if his contribution isn't directly recognised.