Predicting Where Every AEW Wrestler Will Be In 5 Years' Time

43. Michael Nakazawa

Michael Nakazawa
AEW

Phenomenally but very subjectively entertaining, Nakazawa is an hilarious goon whose act in the singles context is a note of kitsch too far even for AEW's range, at least gauging by the discourse.

A great bit-part player, his work behind-the-scenes is quietly important, so expect to be enthralled or irritated by the man for a long while yet.

42. Miro

Miro AEW
AEW

Already, there's a sense that AEW is struggling to balance the Miro act.

He can't lose too frequently. He's too good at being formidable and terrifying. But they also don't want him to win too often at present, since he's out of the title picture.

Like Cole, the real money with Miro is in a killer babyface run. A loyal badass with great patter, he's perfect for the role - and he will get over massively in 2023, possibly all the way to the World Title. That's how awesome the guy is.

By 2026, he'll have cycled back to a similar position he occupies currently.

41. MJF

MJF AEW
AEW

A multiple-time AEW World Champion who will only have just started to approach his wrestler's prime by 2026, MJF is effectively the North American TV wrestler equivalent to Kazuchika Okada. Both men are equally prodigious at very different forms.

It's a good job he's well-versed in acting, because it'll take a hell of a performance to convince anybody that he holds a serious interest in the scripted - and sh*t - world of WWE.

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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!