Diamonds in the rough, aces up someone’s sleeve, or better yet, secret weapons. AEW has a myriad of talented wrestlers employed on their roster. Some are clear-cut megastars and others are still grinding their teeth to reach the upper echelon of the All Elite promotion. Having such a talented collection of men and women is a good problem to have for a wrestling company. It gives management fresh ideas as well as new and exciting matchups, which is an asset for one of the fastest rising wrestling empires in the industry’s history. But with all the talent at their disposal, there are still names that have fallen under people’s radars, and they are the real stars to watch in this year and beyond. Let’s put a spotlight on the wrestlers who will possibly have a huge chance of making a significant impact in AEW’s near future.
Wardlow
“Mr. Mayhem” as MJF referred to the big brute, Wardlow is not your typical run-of-the-mill big man. He may look the part but he definitely has more to offer than his appearance would have you believe. As evidenced by his “hoss” fight against Jake Hager, fans were expecting to see two mad trucks running into each other and trying to maim and mangle one another. Though fans did get that, it was Wardlow’s unbelievable athleticism that stood out. The man is 266 pounds and moves like he’s under 200. The monster not only has the physique, presence, and underappreciated charisma but also, the muscle of “The Pinnacle,” has his best days ahead of him. People should take notice this early as this man will be big literally, figuratively, and professionally speaking.
The Varsity Blonds
Griff Garrison and Brian Pillman Jr. are one of the most underrated tag teams in AEW right now. Whenever they get the chance they show up night in and night out never failing to impress. They went up against the likes of Team Taz, The Good Brothers, and the team of Chris Jericho and MJF. And in those matches, fans got to see glimpses into the bright future of this young up-and-coming tag-team. Their athleticism as well as their undeniable chemistry makes them a joy to watch however long or short they appear on fans’ TV screens and in the ring.
It’s hard not to compare them to Pillman Jr.’s father Brian Pillman‘s partnership with a once “Stunning” Steve Austin. The Varsity Blonds definitely took inspiration and some aesthetic cues from the legendary tag team. But the similarities just might end there because the teams differ in style. The Hollywood Blonds were technical marvels in the ring and liked to keep it physical and on the ground. The Varsity Blonds, on the other hand, can take it to the air and catch an unsuspecting opponent off guard. Thetwo AEW wrestlers also offer an unorthodox mix of offense that other tag teams might have a hard time preparing for. 2021 might just be the year these two wrestlers finally challenge for some AEW tag team gold.
Tay Conti
The Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu artist has been one of the biggest and most pleasant surprises of 2020 for AEW. The company up in Stamford might just be banging their heads against the wall for letting Tay Conti go now that they see what she’s capable of doing. Considering how she has rocked the latter half of 2020 and been firing on all cylinders to start the new year, there is no doubt that Conti’s talent was underlooked. If her match against Serena Deeb for the NWA World Women’s Championship is anything to go by, Conti is just getting started. Her Judo throws are quite the sight to see and inject some MMA-style offense in her matches. Conti can ground you and tie you into a knot or she can get physical and surprise you with her devastating strikes.
Conti might have the sweetest and most innocent face you’ll ever see, but behind those features, there is a devastating competitor when the lights are on the brightest. People throw around the statement “keeps getting better and better each week” a lot in the wrestling business. But that is exactly what Tay Conti has been achieving. Undeniably she will be a staple of the top wrestlers in the women’s division in AEW for many years to come. One of the hardest workers in wrestling right now, it will be no surprise if she happens to take over the AEW Women’s Division much sooner rather than later.
Eddie Kingston
The man is electric on the microphone, let’s get that out of the way first. Everybody should know it by this point. If someone has not seen an Eddie Kingston promo, do them a favor and implore them to do so and if it’s you, do yourself a favor and watch the above. His promos are heartfelt and he wears his emotions on his sleeve. Whether he’s undressing somebody and calling them how much of a waste of space they are or making fans an emotional wreck, Kingston can do it all. He’s no slouch in the ring either. He’s one of the most physical men you’ll ever see in the squared circle. A brawler by heart and soul, Kingston will fight you to the death if that’s what a win calls for. If one needs proof, just watch his match against his best friend, Jon Moxley, for the AEW World Championship back at Full Gear 2020.
That match was a perfect mix of brutality and beauty. Eddie Kingston would use genuine emotion as well as real history and weave it into a matchup that fans want to see through from start to finish. Recently, he used that same real-life friendship for the reason why he tried to save Mox from the exploding ring Kenny Omega conjured up. If only things went according to plan, it would’ve been a great start to Kingston Vs. Omega. But nonetheless, Kingston is one of the most entertaining wrestlers to watch on AEW on a weekly basis. Look for this man to ascend to heights higher than he reached last year.
Miro
“The Best Man” made his AEW debut in September of last year to the excitement of the wrestling world. He would be paired up with Kip Sabian and Penelope Ford against Best Friends and Orange Cassidy in a long-running feud. Many fans were concerned that Miro would once again go down a path that would ultimately lead him nowhere. But very recently, Miro showed his aggression and so much more. At Revolution, he and Kip brutalized Orange Cassidy and Chuck Taylor even before the bell even rang. Fans have never seen a livid Miro like this before. It was all brand new but it was just the switch that needed to be turned on for the Brute from Bulgaria. He looked like a killer in the following weeks, with this Jekyll and Hyde type of demeanor. It was night and day for Miro.
His split from Kip Sabian and Penelope Ford is inevitable, which will benefit both parties involved in the long run. If AEW and Miro keep heading in this direction, we could see the man who possibly takes the AEW TNT Championship from Darby Allin. Miro is not playing around anymore. He is ready to contend and dominate not only in 2021 but for the foreseeable future.
Stay tuned to the Last Word on Pro Wrestling for more on this and other stories from around the world of wrestling, as they develop. You can always count on LWOPW to be on top of the major news in the wrestling world, as well as to provide you with analysis, previews, videos, interviews, and editorials on the wrestling world. You can catch AEW Dynamite Wednesday nights at 8 PM ET on TNT. Don’t forget to check out AEW Dark: Elevation on Monday nights at 7 PM ET and AEW Dark Tuesday nights at 7 PM ET on YouTube.
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