Brian Cage & 7 Other Wrestlers AEW Is Failing

AEW has received plenty of plaudits over the last few years, ever since its inception. With a vast array of talent, lots of young blood, and plenty of experience, AEW has a well-rounded roster full of everything you need in a professional wrestling company.

AEW has received plenty of plaudits over the last few years, ever since its inception. With a vast array of talent, lots of young blood, and plenty of experience, AEW has a well-rounded roster full of everything you need in a professional wrestling company.

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However, like any other company, AEW is not immune to criticism, and much of this is down to the poor booking of some of their talent. With such a bloated roster and even more incoming signings, there are many names signed to the company that don’t get the correct treatment, booking, or spotlight, and the stocks of these wrestlers have dropped because of it.

8 Brian Cage

Brian Cage entered AEW making a huge statement, winning the Casino Ladder Match, and finding himself in the title scene straight away. Cage would lose, but not all hope was lost, with him still feeling like a big deal as a part of Team Taz. However, with some poor feuds and a lack of momentum, he began to grow stale, made even worse by his face turn.

As a face, Cage lost all of what made him feel important. He was no longer an intimidating monster, but now someone who wasn’t the right fit to cut babyface promos with no depth. Cage has been absent from AEW TV for months but is someone who should have been utilized better. It is all well and good saying that he doesn’t have the full package, but AEW signed him regardless, and should have found ways to use his upsides.

7 Ethan Page

Ethan Page has a tremendous amount of talent. Very solid in the ring along with great mic skills, he should be in a much more prominent position. The Men of the Year team along with Scorpio Sky is a good way to utilize these two men, but AEW have gone about it in the wrong way.

Teaming the two men up with Dan Lambert has left them being mostly overshadowed, even with their combined capabilities on the mic. A lack of progression, no move towards the tag titles, and being used as fodder during Lambert’s feuds, has left Page’s time in AEW to feel underwhelming thus far, even with a decent feud against Sting & Darby Allin.

6 Tony Nese

When he was in WWE, Tony Nese was viewed as someone who was great in the ring but lacked a certain charisma to succeed on a higher level, which made it a big surprise when he was signed by AEW. He answered an open challenge for the TNT Title, but has yet to appear on TV since, instead wrestling on Dark.

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AEW failed Nese by signing him, only to shove him on their YouTube show. If he were being used as someone to put over people on TV, it would be better than what he is doing now, which is a load of nothing.

5 Lance Archer

On paper, it may be strange to claim that Archer is being failed, after having several world title matches and multiple main event spots on TV. Despite all that, Archer couldn’t feel less like a threat due to losing so much when it comes to those big matches.

His only significant win came when winning a title which wasn’t even AEW’s own belt. Archer is a huge man and legitimate monster who should be a much bigger deal than he is, but the company have made him one of the biggest losers on the roster, which has damaged him, perhaps irreparably.

4 Sonny Kiss

When Sonny Kiss debuted in AEW, there was a big hope that they would be a featured member of the roster, not just for exposure, but because Kiss possesses a lot of talent. However, in the three years since the company has been around, Kiss has barely been featured on TV, despite impressing hugely on Dark, most notably during a feud with Joey Janela.

At this point, Kiss doesn’t look to be getting a push anytime soon, which is a shame considering how meaningful TV appearances would be in the name of progression, even if they came in losses within matches.

3 The Butcher

Although his tag team partner, The Blade, is strong in the ring, The Butcher has such a unique look that makes him stand out any time he’s in a match. Even with a strong following online, a great look, a good powerhouse style, and plenty of potential as a terrifying heel or even a fun-loving monster of a babyface, AEW has done next to nothing with him.

The Butcher has been a background member of the Hardy Family Office, which may be one of the more boring and mismatched factions of all time, which has made Matt Hardy's time in AEW feel stale. In promos, The Butcher stands emotionless at the back, doing nothing of note, and mostly losing matches whenever the stable competes in the ring. It is a shame considering how unique of an image he possesses.

2 Ruby Soho

Soho debuted in AEW to a huge ovation at All Out 2021, but the company made their first mistake by having her win the Casino Battle Royal. She earned a world title shot straight away, lost it, and then has become just another name on the roster.

RELATED: 10 Worst Things About AEW That Need More Discussion

AEW should have had her come close to winning the battle royal, but ultimately lose, setting up a redemption arc and a climb up the card, rather than a fall. AEW had the chance to build Soho as a big star coming in, but she has cooled significantly since her debut, and that is due to a lack of planning for her long-term.

1 Andrade El Idolo

In WWE, Andrade was considered one of the more underutilized members of the roster, and for good reason, considering his great look and wonderful talents inside the ring. Things should have taken a turn for the better in AEW, but after an underwhelming debut and lack of direction, he already feels stale.

Andrade hasn’t been featured in any true substantial feud since joining the company, hopping around midcard feuds with no move up the card, currently finding himself in the ice-cold Hardy Family Office stable. There is time to turn things around for Andrade, but he is currently not being used to best of his abilities.

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